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Hi all,

Long time since I posted any build progress on my Panther but as I have decide only to build when I feels for it, and have him as accurate as possible I will probably be the slowest builder on the planet...

Let me be clear on one point - I post this only to give others a view what can be done to the kit parts without making completely new ones.
I do not say I am not pleased with the kit because I am pleased with it and would love a Jagdpanther but has to much un build projects already
Post this to maybe inspire others to do customizing themselves and the incoming Jagdpanther has the same air intakes.

This time the engine air intakes.
Finished one first and it did not take so long but then there was still another 3 to do...
Must admit that for the first time I was a bit bored and focused on other things then Panther build.

The grills in the kit are a bit plain compared to the real thing.
Others have told about the bends but there is more.
At the ends there are raised surface with cut outs for spacers so the size of the squares is a bit inaccurate.
At the outer end there was a sloped surface covering 2/3 of the open area.





Used a JB Weld like stuff for the "add" areas and my best friend Dremel (+ tons of patience) for the "remove" areas.
Oh do I envy you guys with a mill!



As the real items were roughly caste, that surface was made with the wonder stuff Mr Surfacer 500 I used for the first time here.
Awful smell but wonderful result!



Mike Stannard makes excellent aftermarket mesh covers but with my customizing his items became too big.
Kindly he helped me deliver them in a new, smaller size - thanks Mike!



New drilled and thread holes were done when Mikes items had arrived.
His Looking tabs were also used - nice stuff!

Here is a photo from Vince showing the real thing.



And here is the final result.



Was it worth it?
For me it was as if I had not I would stare at them regretting not to having done this - but that is me
I had fun time doing this and who can blame me for that...

Thanks for watching
Kent

Nice work Kent, glad the grills fit and you liked them.

Mike

Great work Kent. No surprise there. Your Panther will be worth the wait for sure.

Kind Regards

Tim

Only three words: wonderful Swiss-like work.

Amazing workmanship Kent .. Keep up the good work . Dale

Hi Kent
Thats a good job on the grills. I thought of adding a quater round section
to get the curved section.
At the moment I have not done so but having seen you grills I may now....

Inspiring as normal....

Derek

Super job Kent. I may have another look at mine as well. Thanks for the great photos.
Bob

Hi Kent
Could you provide a bit more info please
What is the thickness of the added bit at the ends?
Also what is the profile of the curved/slopped area in section?

Hope you can help

Derek

Hi Derek,

As my grills now are painted I can not give you the measure how much I did add at the ends - sorry
I think Scale from my photos above is the way to go.

The sloped area covers 2/3 of the total free area in length and 1/3 is left open.
Please observe that all this is done after I had reshaped all the 8 squares.

All of this is hand made so a difference between them are there as on the real thing and to give an exact measure is impossible.

Hope this helped

Cheers
Kent

Hi Kent
Thanks for the reply.
I have bent the center of the grill in to the wave pattern and I have cut through the 2 places as shown.
I have milled out the center area to give the raised sholders at the ends.
because this area is shown below the deck area on a few photos I have of the real Panther G.
I have also made some insert bits for the sloping area and the idea is to
try and cast a set of these in the next couple of weeks so they are a
Componant part that can just glue in to the supplied casting.


Derek

Hi derek, i would be interested into the inserts you plan to create... Just let me know...

cedric.

Hi Cederic
IF !!!! the parts mould ok I will let Dave Dibb at Armorpax
have the patterns and moulds so the parts can be added to his range.

The parts have been made to fit the kit grills that I have bent the middle
rib to form the S curved effect

None of these will be ready for moulding for at least another 2 weeks.
after that I will pass the stuff to Dave to see what he can do.

I will keep you posted here.

Hope this helps

Derek

So I finaly got around to casting my insert bits and I must say the results look good.I have used white metal for mine.
I have a good cast finnish and the flat extension is there as in Kents as well as the slope.
These have been made obviously to fit my modified grills.
these are for the slope end only.
I have also done some bits with the inner edge flat so they could be used by those that dont want to bend the middle web on their grills these are wider than the gap in the grill so the inner edge can be sanded down to fit,
I am tomorrow or thursday going to fit these parts and try to get a couple of pictures.
If all is ok I will send the spare items and the masters to Dave Dibb at Armorpax who has told me he will try to cast them in resin to add to his range if they come up to his standards.

I hope this helps

Regards

Derek