Both were early Panther Gs that fell into British hands. Deserter spent a few weeks in combat before being shipped off for testing and evaluation. It’s ultimate fate is unknown but was likely either destroyed during testing or scrapped once the war was over.
In contrast Cuckoo spent five months in service with a unit of Churchill tanks providing long range fire support. Cuckoo ultimately broke down because of a fuel pump failure, and with the crew unable to acquire a suitable replacement it was abandoned. By all accounts Cuckoo’s crew spoke highly of the tank, with particular praise directed at the 75mm Kwk 42 gun.
I envisaged the Panther being acquired in late 1944/early 1945 with a Red Oxide primer coat from the factory, as was common at the time. It’s new owners painted the hull and turret in Olive Drab with markings and livery but owing to time pressure left the running gear as it was, figuring it would not be in service for long. Later on the crew would scavenge side skirts from destroyed or abandoned Panthers in the field, giving them a hasty coat of Olive Drab when possible but leaving them in a much more deteriorated state compared to the main hull. While the side skirts would be in quite a state, weathering on the tank would be somewhat restrained, as it would be fairly new and given the lack of part supply chains would not have a long life.
This was to be a Taigen Panther G and after my positive experience installing HL 7.1 electronics in my Tiger this would use the same system. My original concept looked like this.
This is the finished result.
In addition to the 7.1 system, it has Taigen 7:1 gearboxes, a HL recoil mechanism, barrel flash and smoke and a HL J4 CNC smoker. The gunner sight has a HL IR emitter and the turret roof has a magnet in place for an IR receiver; the wiring is presently missing but will be added at a later date. The side skirts were scratchbuilt with plasticard and plastic square rods, and I added some extra detail with track retention pins made from nickel rod and access hatches for the stowage bins made from plasticard and nickel rod.
I also added some quality of life features:
• I sealed the bottom of the hull and relocated the power switch to be accessed via the radio operator hatch.
• The battery to MFU lead can be accessed via the driver’s hatch and the battery charged while inside the tank. I use Ni-Mh batteries and never charge unattended.
• The refill tube for the smoker can be accessed via the radio operator’s hatch.
• The refill port for the barrel smoker can be accessed via the commander’s cupola.
• It uses a HL slip ring which is fully compatible with Taigen turret rings.
• Under normal circumstances the tank does not need to be opened up aside for repairs or maintenance.
• The side skirts are pressure fit and can be added or removed at will.
Unfortunately it hasn’t yet had an opportunity to go play in the mud, but I’ll be sure to get some photos when it does.
Someday if you have it open, I would be interested in seeing how you set up the charging wiring to the hatch and apparently the smoke fluid filler tube, too. I, too, use still NiMH batteries when there is enough space and LiIon batteries in tight spots. I once got to carry a burning LiPO out the door into the dirt. Quite dramatic! (No harm to me, machine, or any animals. Much laughter among the other Make Modeling Mediocre Again gang.)
Someday I'd like to do such an arrangement and use a HengLong 7.1.