Panther - Early A - Q&A

[Mike Duynhoven]

I'll start as stating that I'm a complete newbie when it comes to large scale modelling, let alone full motion RC versions...

Military design and technology however always interest me to a fault sometimes. (I could spend days at Canada's war museum just looking at the static AFV's).

correct me if I am wrong... Please.
The early A panther that is planned for this run... Just how early? New turret design, new cast cupola, but not the addition of the glacis mounted MG, nor the removal of pistol ports on the turret?

For those interested in the Panther:
http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/en/ ... enderungen

[mark lawson]

Although the Kuglblende started in December 1943 Demag still used the letterbox port for the hull MG but then again there is nothing stopping anyone from backdating the A model to a D model indeed updating to a late A model or anything in-between, the kit is based on a Demag built Panther.

[Dave Boller]

Hi: Based on the features I'm seeing in the only two pictures of the model shown here, I'd say a production run of Sept.43'(start of the "A") to middle of the following Nov., when the "Kugelblende" comes into use. Can't see any of the upper deck stuff. Here's some general FYI.for you within this production run: Turret pistol ports disapppear after the Close Defense Weapon is incorporated (12/43'). Gun mantlet monocular sight used(11/43'). All the following: Vertical mounting of 20ton jack(prior: 15ton jack, horizontally), metal starter crank guide, convoy tail light wiring appiture (2/44"-4/44"). Keep in mind, many of these dates and features evolved into production, and are not hard numbers. Supplies permitting and differences in the manufacturer, often decided what rolled off the assembly line with what features. "What" had "what", with "what", and "when", is not so cut and dry with this I'm affraid. Some features existed on only a few vehicles within a production batch, then discontinued altogether. Throw in field modifications, later cannibalizations with rebuilt vehicles, and things can really get murky. If I had only one book to recommend (and I have many), it would be "Germany's Panther Tank, The Quest For Combat Supremacy" by Thomas Jentz, (Schiffer Pub.). Great reference material for your build. I would urge you to get it. What I like about this book is, it has a time-line chart for all the production features, of each version. Jentz is a reknown author in this area, and the information is well organized and easily accessed for doing your builds. Well-illustrated, and comprehensive, I think it will give you a much clearer picture of what features to go with on your build. You might even find a particular tank to replicate, which makes things much more straight-forward. Often there are multiple photos of the same tank from different angles to facilitate this. Good luck on your build. Hope this helps.