Kent`s Panther build

[colin fairweather]

one man and his panther

simply mega

[peter karlsson]

Hi kent!

that is absolutly a tru work of art kent,your attention for details is AMAZING!!!!!

regards peppe

[David Battson]

Hi Kent,
That looks excellent, you really have captured all the details, the thin shim plate used to build up the rear of the stop to meet the hull side plate is a great touch. I made one of these for my JP and as a note of caution do keep checking the swing arm clearances. The clearnce on mine was only 3.4mm to the hull side, so some details were slimmed down a little.
Regards, David

[Kent Wiik]

Hi again,

Ian, Bodo, Steve, Simon, Colin, Peter and David, thanks for the flowers!
Nice to see that someone reads my saga, much appreciated.

Steve and Simon//
Yes an all metal part would be the best, I agree on that but my plain workshop want let me have one...
Time will tell if my material of choice will do the job or not.
She will be a runner but only run gently in sunny and warm weather.

David//
Thanks for the heads up.
Yes it will be tight between the plate and swing arm and that’s why I skip the ring at the swing arm base.
Hope the ~1mm clearance will be sufficient...

Kind regards
Kent

[Kent Wiik]

Hi all!

Today something that is quite invisible at the low hull sides compared to the number of items I showed lately.
The little wheel behind the sprockets named “Return roller” in Panzer Tracts 5-3 and “Roller” in the manual.



The German name for them is “Stützrolle” (Support Wheel) and that is a better name as they are used for supporting the track links to meet the sprockets correctly avoiding them to jam.

This is how the kit support wheels look like:



And this is how the real wheel look like:



As they are so visible I decided to give them the hours needed and try using the kit parts as much as possible.

The first thing is their size as they are to small (30mm in stead of 36,7mm in diam).
Please note the text in the rubber saying “220 / 80 (diam / thickness), that is 36,7mm / 12,3mm in 1:6th

I wanted them in the same material (nylon) as the kit ones and went on a walk about in the house for useful items and once again I came out victorious

This time my kids table had to bite the dust as their wheels was perfect (no need for rolling tables any more I convinced them… )



Some Mr Dremel surgery and Super glue there we had the missing-size problem now solved.



Some work was needed to get the angled shape seen here in this WW2 drawing.
Not that hard to make and well worth the effort.



The centre disk I made from 0,5mm brass plate, diam 12mm brass tube (cone shaped) and part of a plastic tub from a pen… .
All silver solder together (plastic tube was super glued), the 6 bolts are 1,6mm steel ones and the lock tabs I got from a cannibalized old clock (another walk about…)
Sadly there are no one making small enough lock tabs so I was lucky finding that clock.

Grease nipple was made of a rounded 2mm bolt and nut, both reduced in height.

Work in progress:



I reduced the height of the kit part CH0311 and the height /diam of the part CH0304 as well as make a deeper countersinking in the Wheel CH0312.
That because the centre disk is in level with the wheel and needed a countersinking in CH0312.
A lot of planning was needed in order to get an accurate look as well as a spinning wheel, but for me that is ½ of the fun with my Panther build.

Work in progress:



Well this was the end result:





A lot of work but it was great fun making them.

Hope you found this worth reading and as always thanks for doing so.

Kind regards
Kent

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Kent
Great looking detail and description of how you got there
Cheers
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

Hello Kent
Realy like the way you got the support wheel sorted to your high standard. Finding the parts and then making them into something they were not originally meant for is great fun to do, especially if they look as good as those wheels you have made , great pictures as well .
All the best Nick

[simon_manning]

this build is like a great book, can't wait to read the next page, always interesting and sparks the imagination, well done kent, regards simon manning.

[Steve Lewington]

Hi Kent
Outstanding work just outstanding.
Thak you for posting all the great infomation and photos.

All the very best.

Steve

[John Fitzsimons]

Very nice work kent. I don't think it's the first time your kids have had to surrender their possessions for the good of your hobby.

[Christoffer Ahlfors]

Hi Kent!
Are you sure that was done with just a Dremel? Things look a little too perfect and symmetrical...
Anyway, I like your way of finding little things around you that make good details. I especially like the idea with the grease fittings.
And I am deeply impressed by your silver soldering skills! Last time I tried, the brass got totally distorted and the solder didn't quite melt...

Although I don't have a panther, this is still very inspiring!

Cheers,
/Chris

[Kent Wiik]

Hi Phil, Nick, Simon, Steve, John and Christoffer!

Thanks! Nice of you to spend your time writing those kind words, much appreciated.
Always good to know that someone out there finds my saga worth reading.

John//
Yes, my boys have made sacrificing more then once to keep their father going in his hobby...

Christoffer//
Honest, it is just Mr Dremel work you see.
Maybe I have exceptionally steady hands or maybe I was a dentist or a gold smith in another life...

I don’t know about the silver soldering skills, that was only my 2:nd attempt ever silver soldering.
Some trial and error and a lot of cleaning up before I took those photos.

Keep in mind I can always hide my shortcomings behind paint and chemical metal while you with your stunning bare metal Tiger I can’t.
So who is the hero here?

For all you other silent readers, members or not, (stunned I notice more then 1000 views last 24h) I say thanks for looking, and I hope my work can and will inspire others.
A huge workshop is not needed to build an accurate all metal tank but it would certainly make things easier...

Kind regards
Kent

[Simon Peck]

Hello Kent.
Just thought I'd add my compliments to those above. I always enjoy your posts, whether it is about the latest part to be completed, or about some research etc. I know you have helped answer a number of questions I've had over the last couple of years, either directly or indirectly.
Maybe you could share some of your tips on how to handle the Dremel, as I too am interested to see how you achieve the results you do with this tool?
Well, thanks again and kind regards,
Simon.

[graham broadbent]

Hi Kent,

I am one of your silent readers.

Your Blog on your Panther build is always captivating, particularly when you come up with obscure information on French Panthers or Swedish King Tigers.

The results you get with your Mr Dremel and improvisation are inspiring. Its reminded me to get on with my early Tiger (now in its 3rd year of build) but in no hurry to finish.

Best of luck with the next detail.

Regards Graham

[peter karlsson]

Hi Kent

ABSOLUTLY AMAZING!! as usual Kent.

you are a truly mcgyver;)


regards peppe