Steves Panther A

[Bodo Langbehn]

Sorry Steve,

I don`t have any spare parts from the Panther!!

Bodo

[Steve Norris]

A bit more progress.

Milliput added and blended in

Bit of clean up and a coat of primer to see how things look, a bit better than standard I think but not correct. Further applications of filler and a final texturing are still needed to see if I can improve the look.

Regards
Steve

[yves mouton]

Hello Steve,

Nice job so far.
regards Yves

[Steve Norris]

I have put the idlers to one side for the moment while I try to find a better solution for them.
So on with the hull.

The hull requires a bit of material removal around the interlocks before it would sit together correctly, this was not a great problem. This main issue arose when the hull top was fitted and I found that when butted up to the glassis plate the gap between the top and the sides tapered, something was not quite right somewhere.
In search of answers I turned the hull upside down and removed the bottom plates then back to right side up and reattached the top plate- success, the top plate fitted perfectly so on to its back again and try to refit the bottom plates. I found that the mounting holes on one side were about half a hole out. Thinking that the plates must have been miss drilled I was about to set about them and draw the holes into alignment when I checked the torsion bar mount.

I installed a couple of the bushes into the mount and checked the fit of the swing arm. As can be seen in the photo the bush does not sit centrally in the hole, I next swapped the torsion bar mounts around and found that the results were the same. This meant that the error was in the hull side plate itself and the torsion bar mount holes were slightly out on one side.

This shows the miss aligned holes in the bottom plates, unfortunately the error is in the side plate. As I have done a fair bit of work on the side plate I don't really want to change it so the only option is to try and pull the holes to reposition the torsion bar mount.
Regards
Stev

[mark lawson]

Looking good Steve, I’m just going to go into my workshop and get on with the 222 I have to complete that before I start on the Panther.

[Steve Norris]

Torsion bar mount has now been repositioned by adjusting the mount hole positions and re countersinking.

The swing arm shaft is now correctly cantered and the hull bottom now fits

Regards
Steve

[Tim Page]

Nicely done Steve. I thought that was going to be a lot harder.

Cheers
Tim

[Robert E Morey]

Following with interest Steve. As usual you are the Pioneer for us!

Nice work on the "adjustment".
Bob

[Steve Norris]

OK now the fun starts !
Time to start chopping thing up and moving bits around.

The rear plate requires some work, well to tell the truth quite a bit.
The engine access hatch is undersized and placed to high up the plate.
The armoured exhausts are slightly short and to wide.
The track adjustment covers are to low
The starter crank and coolant heater access covers are the wrong way round.

I am going to make a new engine access hatch 85mm dia and position it 40mm from the bottom of the plate.
The armoured exhaust will be chopped about a fair bit to get the right dimensions.
Track adjustment covers will be repositioned higher up.
Starter crank and coolant heater covers will have to be swapped over.

Regards
Steve

[yves mouton]

Thanks for the interesting info
Steve, so i am gonna make some changes on the rear plate
Regards Yves

[Steve Norris]

Ok first a new engine access cover for the rear plate.
I have made this 85mm dia. I have also cast a new access cover in white metal.
Mounting pins for the starter and counter boreing of the mount holes is still required
Regards
Steve

[Steve Norris]

More progress on the rear plate.

The parts required for repositioning the the various access covers and blanking unwanted holes have been made and await installation.

The white metal access covers have been fitted over the relocated track adjustment points and the starter crank cover the coolant heater cover still needs to be fitted. The reinforcing plates for the repositioned track adjustment bust has yet to be fitted.
Regards
Steve

[davidwilkins]

Hi Steve and all of the other Panther A builders,

Some great work going on with these builds watching with great interest. Although it will probably be at least 2 years before I start my Panther build (I have not long started my Tiger 131 build) so seeing your builds come together is very inspiring.

Keep up the good work and thanks for posting your updates.

Regards

David

[Phil Markham]

Hi Steve,

Great job, shame it needs so much re-working to be correct . Your lucky in that you have the skills and equipment to correct it. I'm curious as to what reference material are you using to get the correct dimensions and positioning?

Regards
Phil

[Tim Page]

Hi Phil, almost certainly using this by Thomas Jentz and Hilary Doyle.

Panzer Tracts No. 5-2 - Panzerkampfwagen "Panther"Ausf.A

I have quite a few of these excellent books.

They are accurate and highly reccomended.

Cheers
Tim