Panther G 2022 #15 Build

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Finally time to make a start with the Panther G #15 build.

Build workspace sorted and a hydraulic lift platform has been modified including the usual motorcycle lift.
A portable painting tent has been purchased as well.

Going to use the usual U-Pol degreaser and U-Pol grey primer along with red oxide.

Other than the RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb base coat the final paint scheme and vehicle id is yet to be decided, other than one of the 116th Panzer Division.
Interior will be painted in RAL9001 Elfenbein.

The motion pack has been ordered so I can check out the compatibility with my Jeti DS16 transmitter and all other packs with be added including the working machine gun and front light.

Power supply has again not yet been decided so I will be trawling through the forum for any advice on this.

How far the Panther will be additionally detailed is also unknown at the moment so looking forward to see how it goes.

[Gary Rafferty]

Hi Malcolm

Look forward to seeing you're build

Cheers
Gary

[Tim Page]

Good luck Malcolm
Cheers
Tim

[Malcolm.Plumb]

I have managed to put some time into the build over the last couple of days and so far so good.

Machine marks have been removed and threads cleaned up on the suspension shafts and threads also nice and smooth on the suspension arms.
Bushes smooth on the shafts.
I managed to use my mini lathe to speed things up using 600 grit paper on the unpainted sections and 320 grit for the rest.

The Suspension arms surface are still to be cleaned up ready for assembly and the torsion pivot blocks will definitely need quite a bit of work.

[Brian Ostlind]

I need one of those mini lathes. Nice work!

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Morning guys

I have a slight problem identifying a supplied part and its location.

They are the Torsion Pivots blocks.

There should be 15 CH2203B supplied and 1 CH2203A which is slightly different as per the instructions.

I actually have 14 CH2203B supplied and 1 CH2203A and one other part that has a different profile.

Anyone any idea where this part with the bevel goes as no mention in the build manual?

Thanks

[Adrian Harris]

That looks like the bevel you get around the end of steel bar stock, so I would say that this is the missing CH2203B part.

Adrian.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Oh, so the bevel from the bar stock wasn’t removed before the part was made then?
Strange?
Is that the norm then?

[Gary Rafferty]

Hi Malcolm,

I will check my parts later and send some pictures.
I had this part dry fitted for the front left swing arm and assumed it was made like that without the ridge as it would need the clearance underneath the motor mount, however I could be wrong.

Cheers
Gary

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Hi Gary
Yes,there is one different part as you mentioned for the corner of the model.
I have this part, It is the one on the right of the photo.
The odd one is on the left with the bevelled edge.

I have just this one from the standard ones that does not look the same as the other 14 and was wondering if it went anywhere special.

[Gary Rafferty]

Hi Malcolm,

All 15 of mine are the same with no bevel, so nothing to worry about on the placement front.
I have also decided to use cap screws rather than the supplied grub screws to retain the torsion bars.

Cheers
Gary

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Thanks Gary

I have spoken to Armortek this afternoon and as Adrian has already said it is the end of the bar stock.

Nothing to worry about where it goes.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Morning guys

First question on the Panther build.

Reference the small diameter bushes as per the photo.
Do these need to be forced into the pre drilled holes to get them in?
Holes look to be the same depth as the bushes but do not fully go in.
Didn’t want to force them at this time incase they get stuck and I can’t get them out.
Parts have been deburred.
Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Ed Groenenberg]

Morning guys

First question on the Panther build.

Reference the small diameter bushes as per the photo.
Do these need to be forced into the pre drilled holes to get them in?
Holes look to be the same depth as the bushes but do not fully go in.
Didn’t want to force them at this time incase they get stuck and I can’t get them out.
Parts have been deburred.
Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I had that same problem on 4 holes, with different depths.
Only on the one who did stick out about 1.5mm, I did grind away a little bit of material on the torsion bar which
goes between the bar and the pivot. Not sure yet if the other one (from pivot to swing arm) needs a little to be grinded off too.

If you want to do it properly, measure each hole before inserting the bushing.
Use a proper drill and deepen the hole a little, and then measure it again before inserting.
If you insert the bushing before measuring, it migh got stuck (as it did in my case, and I did not want to damage
it, so that's the one which is not glued, and sticks out the 1.5 mm).

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Thanks Ed

I can't get any of the bushes to fit fully into any of the holes and didn't want go altering any of them at this time.

If I have to deepen them then I will.

Holes are 12mm by the looks of it so have ordered a 12mm hand reamer to see if there is any material near the bottom edge of the hole that need to be removed.

Really these holes should all be the correct depth for the bush to just drop into with just a very slight protrusion - maybe they are???

Get any stuck and they really are not coming out without damaging things.