1/35 Tamiya Panther

1/35 Tamiya Panther (Part IV)

Well, the main paint job is complete. This old kit honestly looks pretty good: the camouflage paint scheme makes this panther really shine. I need to blacken the business end of the turret, rust up the exhausts, then add additional track to the sides of the panther (they used the sides for storage) as well as some steel frames for holding various equipment. Something tells me I should have painted those spare track pieces when I had the rust in my paintbrush. I plan on painting most of the spare track pieces rust, but one or two will be left a dark gray. This is to simulate the tank crew picking up new pieces at one of many tank outposts, and to show it still has old pieces on the tank.

The rust and brown really made the tracks stand out. This thing looks like it has seen some use down there, but recently got a good paint job. I am thinking about pastel work after a top coat, just to simulate some wear down in the wheels. Always remember that top coat likes to eat away at pastel work.

Positives of this kit: nice amount of detail for the price. Rust tracks and exhausts look great with Model Master Enamels. Paint application not difficult. Brass as engine exhausts saved the kit from laughter.

Negatives of this kit: tracks are VERY tight, and may break the main sprockets down the road as a constant pressure is applied to them. Detail is not super. Turret barrel a pain in the arse to prepare properly. Hideous engine exhausts.

Would I recommend this thing? Sure. I am not a nazi (pun intended) when it comes to super detailing models. Even in its current state I am happy with the tank in my panzer collection. I won't go crazy if it doesn't have the "latest" photo etch. I am happy with the way it is- it is just at 90% completion. Someone remind me to go get jewelry chain for this guy and paint it...

1/35 Tamiya Panther (Part III)

Working on the base coat. I can't paint my normal colors until the brass exhausts are installed.

1/35 Tamiya Panther (Part II)

Adding a human figure of appropriate scale next to a model allows the mind to see how big something really is.

I was astonished at how big the panther really is!

Cat wanted in.

Lack of vent detail. Cut off plastic exhausts and will repalce with brass.

This is an old base I am using- it is the perfect size for the panther.

Puddy wanted a pet.

Again, to show scale.

1/35 Tamiya Panther

I bought this kit a while back- and never had the chance to build it. Panthers served on the main line of the Germany Army in the later years of World War II. Not enough of them were made, as excellent as they were. In addition, the panther was over-engineered, often being a complication in the field. As for the wheel design... I'm not sure what those crazy Germans were thinking (I'm part German!)

Tamiya has a nice kit here. This is one of their older, repackaged Panthers. I forget the price I paid for it- if I remember correctly, $27.99. I have a few quirks with the kit. The engine vents lack any detail out of the box. Two, the exhausts are hideous. Three, the barrel of the main gun. Four is the fit for the upper and lower hulls. Most of these problems can be overcome, and for an out of the box build with simple scratchbuilt parts, it isn't a bad kit. Certainly could be better.

I am finishing up putty work on holes I am not using, and the barrel. The barrel is mostly smooth, but a line is still present, even after liquid plastruct (which fixes a lot of that issue most of the time, but not in this case). To remedy the problem, putty/sanding will be the only solution.

Panthers had a camouflage paint in the field that consisted of the following colors in a sharp, yet feathery fashion. They are the same colors I used on the Panzer II, in addition to a new brown-red. I will replace the exhausts with brass, then go over them with a base coat of gray (my base coat of choice in most cases). Later I will paint them rust.

What's the best news of the day? I found my dremel, and dremel accessories. SCORE.