CHALLENGER 2 PRE-ORDERS
OPEN ON THE 6TH FEB 2025


Kent`s Panther build

Forum for discussion relating to the Panther
Post Reply
Kent Wiik
Posts: 425
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:18 am
Location: Northern Sweden
Has liked: 6 times
Been liked: 194 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Kent Wiik »

Hi all!

And thank you guys for the kind comments, much appreciated.

Today some more work on the wheels again. :D

With much interest I have follow the customizing some of you have made on the inner wheel
at pair 2,4,6 and 8 and might try something similar myself later.
Sadly I do not have a lathe as a lot of metal has to be removed on them. :oops:

One thing that struck me is that no one have mention how to customize the outer wheel on pair 1,3,5 and 7.
Looking at the real thing you notice the darken row that appears on those wheels

Image

Something our kit wheel doesn’t have but might get with not that much effort.

Image

That row is there because the wheels are made up from steel profiles bolted together.

Image

Here is a drawing showing how the wheels were built up.
(please note it is early Ausf D wheels with rivets and not bolts but the layout was the same on all Panthers)

Image

As I mentioned above I do not have a lathe but that was not going to stop me as I wanted that row badly…
And raw hand craft was all that was needed (+ a lot of time and patience… :shock: )
A file, grind paper, Mr Dremel and a small sharp scribe tool was all that was needed.
(with a lathe this work would have taken no time at all)

Image

The final result:
(only 8 units this time in need for custom)

Image

A lot of work but I am glad I did this as they now look as I want them to look.

As always thanks for looking
Kind regards
Kent
Last edited by Kent Wiik on Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It´s all in the details!

User avatar
Robert E Morey
Posts: 2310
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:59 am
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Has liked: 130 times
Been liked: 779 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Robert E Morey »

Wow Kent, another magnificent detail - and one I missed completely! I could not have done a better job using my lathe! It looks great!
Best regards,
Bob

Steve Norris
Posts: 1228
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 11:42 am
Location: Manchester
Has liked: 8 times
Been liked: 697 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Steve Norris »

Kent.
Very nice job on the wheels, i wish i had your patience.
Regards
Steve

Nick Farrugia
Posts: 547
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:08 pm
Location: South Wales Glamorgan

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Nick Farrugia »

HI Kent
there you go again ,that extra mile :lol: ,it makes a big diferance looks great keep these extras coming always good to see :D . I also wish i had your patience and eye for detail and skill .
all the best,,,,,,,,,,,, nick

simon_manning
Posts: 2032
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:51 pm
Location: new forest,hampshire,u.k.
Been liked: 1644 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by simon_manning »

the panther lesson never ends, superb kent, i will do mine on the jadgpanther,informative post, regards simon manning.

colin fairweather
Posts: 253
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:34 pm
Location: athlone rep of ireland
Been liked: 9 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by colin fairweather »

hi kent

great job as always :shock:

one thing came to mind though what about a photoetched ring maybe 0.50 thick if their was enough interest maybe our kit suppliers would do them just a thought

colin :)
Image

2003 first batch tiger 1 mid still fiddling with it

2006 222 SOLD

2009 pzr111 046 SOLD

Paul Morris
Posts: 1559
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:44 pm
Location: North Lancs
Been liked: 68 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Paul Morris »

Hello Kent.
Very nice job as always you do have a gift for observation and correction.
If you don't mind I would really like to ask how on earth you managed to do the work with the tools in the photo? surely you must have had the wheel turning on something??
Cheers Paul
Paul's Tank Workshop. Complete Tank builds and re builds zimmerit and paint to museum quality standard. pjtigerman@aol.com
01524 720977
https://www.facebook.com/PaulsTankWorkshop

Kent Wiik
Posts: 425
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:18 am
Location: Northern Sweden
Has liked: 6 times
Been liked: 194 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Kent Wiik »

Hi all,

Thanks guys! Glad to see someone read my saga.

Colin:
That would might work but work better on a new wheel and not one with their dummy studs assembled.

Paul:
Yes I was as a kid the fastest one in the child game comparing 2 drawings and "find five errors" :D

No rotation device just rotating in my hand… :shock: honest :!:

Image

Begin with the scribe tool making a fine row and then after a while press harder to make it deeper.
Use the top of the file and widen the row.
Use Mr Dremel and flatten out that last 1/3 of the slope that has another angle then the upper 2/3.
Make the row deeper and grind the Dremel-worked surface into a smooth surface without any dimples.

Image

Do a little distance at the time and don’t hurry!
To high lighten the row a 0,3 pencil can be used.
As the wheels are made of soft aluminium this is quite easy to do, if they was made out of steel… without a lathe forget this!

The first one took longest time but once made you never regret this started.
1 wheel/evening it took me and was not that hard to do.
(all 8 would be finish in an evening if a lathe was used… :oops: )

Kind regards
Kent
Last edited by Kent Wiik on Sat May 19, 2012 5:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
It´s all in the details!

Paul Morris
Posts: 1559
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:44 pm
Location: North Lancs
Been liked: 68 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Paul Morris »

Hello Kent.

Well I have to say that is all the more impressive now! I take my hat off to you for painstaking attention to detail and determination you have to be the master 8) .
I was sure you had spun the wheel on something . . . please don't be offended by that at all, its very impressive.
Kind regards Paul. :wink:
Paul's Tank Workshop. Complete Tank builds and re builds zimmerit and paint to museum quality standard. pjtigerman@aol.com
01524 720977
https://www.facebook.com/PaulsTankWorkshop

User avatar
Robert E Morey
Posts: 2310
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:59 am
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Has liked: 130 times
Been liked: 779 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Robert E Morey »

Kent,
I totally agree with Paul. As a machining guy I cannot fathom doing this by hand. I thought the same thing - how'd he get them so perfect without spinning the wheels? :shock: Its great inspiration to show just what can be done with a Dremel and hand tools. Between the muzzle break hollow out and these wheels its a tough choice to decide "best Dremel project of the year".

Keep up the great work Kent. Thanks for the inspiration, :mrgreen:
Bob

John Fitzsimons
Posts: 1825
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:11 pm
Location: IRELAND,Dublin/Meath
Has liked: 5 times
Been liked: 672 times
Contact:

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by John Fitzsimons »

Amazing job with a dremel and some small tools. Great to see what can be achieved.

Kent Wiik
Posts: 425
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:18 am
Location: Northern Sweden
Has liked: 6 times
Been liked: 194 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Kent Wiik »

Hi all!

First thanks guys for the positive comments, much appreciated.

Today something special in for the weekend, nothing to add my “pile of metal” but some information about the Panther tank bits and bobs.

Do you remember those 8/side plugs for threaded holes I wrote about here a year ago and wonder what they was used for?

Image

Image

Image

And what were those threaded holes in the wheel centre cap used for?

Image

Well they had something in common as they were needed together.

The Panzerfiebel (Panther manual) page 74 and 75 give a hint and explanation.

Image

When changing road wheels or swing arm a device was used with the jack to lift the wheel above the track link guide horns enable the wheel to be removed.
That device was bolted to the wheel centre at those threaded holes.
There was at least 3 of those holes, 1 or 2 was hidden under the double lock tabs depending on how the tabs was attached to the bolts.

One hole:

Image

Two holes:

Image

When the wheel was jacked up high enough a shuttle bar (is this the English word for this? :oops: ) was assembled to a pin on the swing arm and then bolted to one of the 8/side threaded holes in the pannier floor above each wheel.

Image

This was what the manual said the crew how to do…however wise guys at all time have always found their own way to do things and those German Panzer crews was no exception.

A crow bar and hard labour was a much faster way to do business: 8)

Image

Not that gentle to the Panther but time is money… :D …specially while under fire…

As always thanks for looking
Kent
Last edited by Kent Wiik on Tue May 01, 2012 8:57 am, edited 2 times in total.
It´s all in the details!

Steve Norris
Posts: 1228
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 11:42 am
Location: Manchester
Has liked: 8 times
Been liked: 697 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Steve Norris »

Hi Kent.
Interesting piece of information, I guessed the holes in the lower pannier were for supporting the axles but was not sure how.
Please keep the info comming
Regards
Steve

Pierluigi Patri
Posts: 142
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:36 pm
Location: Genoa
Been liked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by Pierluigi Patri »

Hi Kent,
many thanks for the interesting post . You help to understand :idea: some "strange things".
Pierluigi

simon_manning
Posts: 2032
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:51 pm
Location: new forest,hampshire,u.k.
Been liked: 1644 times

Re: Kent`s Panther build

Post by simon_manning »

the kent" panther build saga" is one of the most viewed posts on the forum, and this is why, always interesting, regards simon.

Post Reply