Panther G (2008 ?) No. 45

[Chris Hall]

I'm now the custodian of a Panther ! No, it's not mine (my allegiance to the WW1 Mark IV remains rock-solid ) - I'm looking after it for a friend who doesn't have the room to store it (I'm sure he'll introduce himself on the Forum soon). It's fun to play with, though .........



It's had 4 previous owners (including Steve Norris, who renovated it - we've had a chat), and is in great condition. I've opened it up and had a good look around (it's scary in there - give me a simple Mark IV any day ) but I can't find any sign of an Armortek build number (unless it's obscured by a motor or add-on pack).

Should there be one ? And, if so, where ? From the ownership record I guess this model dates back to at least 2008 - did Armortek number their kits then ? In general, any information about this Panther release would be most welcome.

All the best,

Chris

[Tim Page]

Hi Chris.
My Panther is a 2009 model and is stamped 0035 in the turret on a plate that the gun barrel screws into behind the mantlet.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Tim

[Chris Hall]

Tim -

I'd never have thought to look in the turret - I'd assumed it would be on one of the big hull plates. But, when you told me where to look, I found it - 45. Do you know how big the production run was - the 'usual' 50 ?

I thought it was older than 2009, though - the first owner was posting about it in 2008. Perhaps he was buying extras in advance ......

Thanks for the tip,

Chris

[Tim Page]

Pleased to help Chris.
I have no idea what sized production run was.
I am sure someone can answer though.

Cheers
Tim

[simon_manning]

the first panther production run i believe totals 95, then the next was the universal hull, panther, bergpanther, jadgpanther, not sure of that number, it is a great kit to make and they run lovely, as with most armortek models only 10 per cent make it on to the forum for our pleasure to view, proberbly 40 per cent still half built, regards simon manning.
p.s. just remembered, also a run of jadgpanther kits that came after the panther, 35 kits i seem to recall, a rare one to find these days.

[Kent Wiik]

proberbly 40 per cent still half built

Good to hear I'm not alone...

Cheers
Kent

[Chris Hall]

Simon -

Thanks for all that - the picture becomes clearer ! Do you know when the first batch was released ? The instruction book I have for it is dated 2007 .....

It certainly is fun to drive, though - I can see the attraction of WW2 armour now , especially when the turret is tracking while the tank is motoring along. I'm glad this one is now part of your 10% !

Kent -

Just press on ! I'm not sure I'd have wanted to build this Panther, especially as the instructions are in a more narrative style. The current style of exploded diagrams and numbers seems much more helpful to me (thanks, Mark !), albeit that I've only actually built one model .....

All the best,

Chris

[Chris Hall]

Today, on a lovely early Spring day, my friend John finally came over to play with his Panther, which he bought in December ! I couldn't have waited that long ........

Suffice to say he loved it ! A bit tentative at times, but he seemed to get the hang of it -



Next I'll get him to join SAG so this great model can become part of the 'circuit'.

All the best,

Chris

[Tim Page]

That looks great running outdoors.
Id love to have a garden that i could run my Panther in.

BTW, would i be able to join SAG as I live in Buckinghamshire, which i think is still classed as the South.
I have been looking but not found any viable site or forum for it.

Cheers
Tim

[Chris Hall]

Tim -

The garden really belongs to my lovely wife. When we bought the house I never dreamed I'd be running r/c tanks around it - fortunately she's very understanding . If you're ever in the area we could run the Panthers together, or even take them up on Salisbury Plain (which I live right on the edge of).

As for joining SAG .... John Davie's a member and I think he lives north of you ! So I don't see why you shouldn't join if you're prepared to make the journey. I'll send you a PM with the membership contact details.

All the best, and I hope to meet you in person at Abingdon,

Chris

[Tim Page]

Hi Chris, I am less than 2 hours from you so a visit could be possible some time if you are OK.
John Davies is about half an hour east of me.
See you at Abingdon.

Tim

[dennypatterson]

hello, and when you fit the uprated suspension, as both my Panther and Jag have, its even better!!! Denny.

[Chris Hall]

Well, the Panther is all mine now .... my friend never took to the hobby (Denny scared him away ), so I bought it off him. It was too nice to move on, and it makes a lovely contrast to my growing Battalion of Mark IV's.

I'm adding a few bits, and touching up some of the paintwork. The big change will be an animatronic Commander, which I'm sorting out with Sym at Churchill Creations (hopefully long before TankFest).

But I'm now getting it out on the show circuit, where there are currently very few Panthers (just Denny and Tim, I think), although that may soon change when the Panther A's start appearing. I took it down to Tiger Day at Bovington on 29 April, where it performed faultlessly over Denny's 'knife edge' and received lots of admiring comments from spectators.

And I've just been sent a video by Ian Watkins, who took a 'Commander's Eye' video which is now on YouTube ( and Facebook ( I'm very grateful to him, and I hope you enjoy them.

All the best,

Chris

PS. Ian wouldn't let me drive over the knife edge, as the camera would have fallen off !

[Tim Page]

Hi Chris, i was forgetting that the Panther was yours. I would have taken a better look at it.

As you say, there are not that many panthers displayed currently and I was suprised that there were only 2 displayed at the World Record day and that there were far more Jagdpanthers present.

I hope that there will be a few more once some of these ausf.A get completed.

I had to leave the Panther at home for Tiger day as i wanted to run the Comet at it's first show since i got it. I expect to run my Panther again at some of the remaining shows this year.

Cheers
Tim

[Steve Norris]

Hi Chris
Great to hear you have bought the Panther, it's a great model and runs really well as you already know.
Regards
Steve