Here are the masters for the Panther cupola. I have worked on this due to the periscopes needed for the cupola are the same as on the Tiger late cupola and I need to get estimates of these parts I am going to need, so I will be taking deposits to confirm orders for the first batch of cupolas. I am also offering a pay in full now deal that will save you an additional 5%. These parts cannot be easily fitted into the Armortek cupola, so at this time I will not be offering parts kits to upgrade the Armortek cupola, I will in the future offer spare parts from the kits, but it will get to complicated at the moment and I do not have a Armortek Cupola to work with.
PAN24A Panther Cupola Assembled Price $600.00 Pre-production Price $550.00
PAN24K Panther Cupola Kit Price $350.00 Pre-production Price $300.00
Pre-production price only available with a paid deposit of $100.00 by August 31, 2008. Full refund of deposit if you change your mind for any reason. Paypal payment refunds will be less my paypal fees.
Pay in full by this date and get an extra 5% of the pre-production prices. Your options will be reflected in the invoice I send you.
Just to clarify a pricing point. The kit prices for the Tiger 1-2 Cupola and the Panther Cupola are the same as production of the parts is about the same. The assembled price of the Panther Cupola is higher than the Tiger Cupola as the assembly will take longer due to the intricate parts of the periscope mounting brackets.
I have made this cupola as close to the real one as I can in 6 scale. Most parts are functional like the real one with the exception of the hatch raising mechanism. It looks like the real one, but the actual screw thread to raise the hatch will not function, if it did you would need to be inside the Panther to open the hatch. The hatch cover can be raised and turned from the outside and the inside locking handle can be in any position to do this. Periscopes are removable and the locking clamps almost work like the real thing, however there are some very small locking screws to hold the periscopes in place, not possible to include these in the detail. The periscopes are hollow so clear plastic optics can be fitted. It is undetermined at this time as to wether real glass optics will be produced for these periscopes.
There are a few things missing from the pictures, the hatch interior rubber head protector, the forehead protectors for the periscopes and top of the dial ring turning mechanism. These will be included. Also missing are six periscopes covers, six periscopes and fittings. I only made two periscopes and one cover masters. Once I have the first samples cast I will post new pictures with all fittings. I am also including the MG ring and mounting plates.
Here are the pictures with notes. Most parts are just balanced in place as I cannot drill holes in the masters, cannot cast them with all holes drilled.
Cupola external view. Closed
Cupola external view. Open
Opening Mechanism in closed hatch position.
Opening Mechanism in open hatch position.
Opening Mechanism from the side you cannot see once fitted. The gap at the top between the mechanism bracket and the cupola base is to allow for the tank deck. This is were the mechnism is bolted to the inside of the tank on the real one and were you will have to bolt the scaled one in place.
Real mechanism for comparison.
Here you can see what will be visable of the mechanism through the open hatch.
Periscope and Mounting Bracket. The mounting bracket looks and works like the real one with the exception of two miniature thumb screws that tightened onto the periscopes to hold them in place. Could not achieve this. The locking hook that goes through a hole in the side of the cupola works and is spring loaded like the real one. I selected this position to mount the sample as the cupola base is recessed and the hole for the hook is open like the real one. I could not drill full holes in the master in other positions as I cannot mold it with these holes. Hope that is clear to everyone, well I know what I am talking about and that's what matters. LOL.
Real mounting for comparison.
View of periscope and mounting bracket seen through open cupola.
Periscope Mounting Bracket with periscope removed.
Parts of Panther Cupola.
Hope you all like what you see.
E-mail orders for pre-production prices (No PM's Please)
Regards
Mike
