My PANTHER

[Michal Matata]

Hello everybody,

The PANTHER is one of my favorite tanks. It is the perfection of shape and armament. The whole concept is perfect.

Now I am starting the new project My PANTHER. I hope It will be at least as good as my Halftrack.

I am sending a few photos from start.

Michal

[Stephen White]

Michal

I so enjoyed your half-track build that I'm looking forward to your Panther saga.

There is a direct association between the Panther and the Centurion which was designed to counter the late war German tanks. Its design was heavily influenced by the Panther. In the UK National Archives, I found a British report dated August 1945 comparing the Mk 1 Centurion equipped with a 17 pdr gun with a captured Panther.

The report concluded that there were similarities between the Cent and Panther, they were evenly matched in both armour and firepower although as a heavier, longer vehicle, the Cent might have been less mobile. Of course, the Mk 1 Cent didn't reach production and when Cent was introduced to regimental service, it was upgunned with a 20 pdr which would have over-matched the Panther in 1946. The subsequent development of Centurion was driven by the new Soviet tanks, particularly T-55.

The tests were conducted with a British 17 pdr and the German 75mm fitted to the Panther and an 88mm PAK against representative armour arrays. At closer range, the Centurion's armour was more effective, whilst the Panther was better as range increased but the difference was marginal. This graph summarises the results from this Secret report:



Of course, had Centurion met Panther in late 1945, the German crews would have had the benefit of a vehicle which by then was well tested and more reliable, although their logistics would have been a challenge. Interesting to see the two side by side as Armortek models.

Good luck.

Stephen

[mark lawson]

You also have to consider that even by late 1944 German Veteran crews were in short supply as was fuel, new crews had very little chance to train in tanks due to this lack of fuel , some crews only had 1 days training before being sent to the front and regardless of how good your tank is it’s only as good as its crew.

[Michal Matata]

Hello Guys,

Thank you for the perfect lectures about british tanks. I learned something again. I most prefer the german and russian tanks and I hope I hope I manage to build a nice collection of these beautiful machines.

I continue finishing of bottom parts of the PANTHER. Are finished the imitation of welds plates and all covers manholes.

Happy day for everybody.

Michal

[Robert E Morey]

Michal
The panther is one of my favs too, I will follow your build with interest. Are the small bottom side hull fittings (drain plugs, torsion bar caps etc) part of the kit or did you make them? Nice additions in detail!
Best regards,
Bob

[Michal Matata]

Hello Bob,

I made some bottom covers myself, but some ones I bought with the kit. I don´t know if it is the part of kit, because I bought the expanded kit with some others accessories.

Now I completely the bottom view. I had to extend the side plates and add the front amplified armor.

It is prepared for painting.

Michal

[simon_manning]

hi michal, lovely work, regards simon manning.

[Michal Matata]

I am finally able to continue in the building of my PANTHER G. I finished all the welds on the hull. I decided to rebuild the sprockets gearbox and to make a new tracks. I started to prepare the prototype. I hope I will make some progress this year.

[Michal Matata]

Only for comparison

[Michal Matata]

I finished new front mudguards. It is made from a brass plate 0,8mm. I changed the fixation of mudguards.

[Robert E Morey]

Very nice details, your mud gaurds are really nice.
Bob

[Steve Norris]

Michal
Really nice job on the Panther, love what you,ve done with the final drive housings
Regards
Steve

[Michal Matata]

Hi guys,

Thank you for nice coments.

I am making the new complets for instruments. But I have a some problem with the space. The original holder is small for all instruments.

[Michal Matata]

I finished all the instruments and holders on the right side. Now I Could continue on the left side. From the original parts I used only the traks holder.

[Michal Matata]

I finished some left side holders and I am making new tools box.