My Panther G Build

[silversurfer1947]

Just working on the final few additions. The Aber jack clamp is a tricky little thing. I decided to use a real nut and bolt on it, thinking it would e easier than messing about making them up. Has anyone actually tried to fit and tighten up a nut onto a 0.8mm bolt jut with your fingers? I had to do it twice, through my own fault. Having made up the Aber bracket, I lost it, so scratch built a replacement from some brass strip. Just as I finished tightening the bolt, I found the original, so had to undo it and refit it.

It just remains to fit it and the jack to the tank and I think I will call a halt. For the time being, it will remain unweathered whilst I find something to practice on.

[silversurfer1947]

Just a few photos

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Checking back, I discovered it's just 20 days short of a full 12 months since I took delivery of the kit. It's been a long slow journey, but I hope the end result is worth it.

[Vanguard]

Wow great job, really like the tools great detailing, and the camouflage is awesome, hope my Panther will look as good .

[silversurfer1947]

I don't know whether I'm being un-necessarily fussy/pedantic, but I appear to have a problem on which I would like the benefit of people's advice. I have a Schumo cupola MG34 and mount, together with an ammunition bag, kindly given to me by a member of this forum. Having a look on the web as to how it should all go together gave me this.

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It would s

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eem that the bag slots in at one side and hooks over on the other. Looking at what I have, it look like the supports on the mount are too far apart. What would be the best way of securing the bag? I could try bending up some small strips of brass or I could just glue it in place and hope for the bet. My concern is that, in the latter case, it is likely to fall off whilst trundling round the battlefield. Constructive suggestions welcome.

[Raminator]

Very fine work, the end result looks great.

With regards to securing the ammo bag, I'd probably shim the supports up with another thin layer of brass and build up the bag's side with a layer of putty. You'd be able to get a narrow pin through both to keep them together to help the glue.

[silversurfer1947]

I had a go at making up some brackets for the ammo bag. This is how it finished up. hopefully, it does not look too bad.

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I think that pretty much concludes my Panther build. No doubt I will think of something else. 12 months less 8 days!

[silversurfer1947]

You could say I've had a bit of a disaster. My Panther was sitting on a sort of pedestal. Whilst doing something else, I backed into the pedestal and knocked the tank off on to the floor. I felt sick as I heard the crash, but was really surprised when I turned round. The tank had landed on its tracks and was basically intact with only superficial damage. This has now been repaired. Amazing the strength of the Tamiya kit. I have not tested the electrics yet, but if the body survived, hopefully the electrics will have as well.

[PainlessWolf]

SS1947,
Having heard that noise before ( mine was the pup getting his training muzzle stuck on the barrel of a six month Pershing rebuild and pulling it off a desk onto the floor ) I sympathize with you completely. Great luck that it landed upright with minimal detailing damage! Here is hoping that everything inside is still secure as well.
regards,
Painless

[silversurfer1947]

Well, I took my Panther down to the BAD meeting yesterday so it could have its first run. Unfortunately, it didn't. There were a number of problems which will need resolving.

1. Despite shortening the tracks by the number of links as stated in the instructions, they are still too long - so long in fact that the drive sprockets rotated quite happily without locking into the track. This should be fairly easy to resolve.

2. This is little positive elevation and a lot of negative elevation on the barrel. Again, everything was done according to the instructions, but I guess some adjustment of the elevation linkage is required.

3. This could be the trickiest to resolve. The turret rotation was very limited. Only about 30 degrees left or right and it stuck. I had fitted the larger Schumo rollers as the rotation is a well known problem. However, I fear the addition of the metal mantlet and muzzle brake to the tank together with the kit's metal barrel have put too much weight at the front of the turret. I shall try counterweighting the back of the turret with some lead shot. Hopefully that will resolve the issue, otherwise, it's back to the drawing board.

[Jake79]

This guy had a few problems with the metal mantlet..Read down the page I think he used some weights too. Might be of use to you.
http://jbwid.com/art74f.htm