Another Panther 🐆

[Steve Norris]

Here we go again,
This is the start of an early Panther G build that a very trusting Chris Hall has asked me to build for him.
The plan is to build a Panther that was captured in Italy and named “Deserter” by its new owners.
I am sure Chris will fill in all the details of this tanks history and new owners at some point in the future.
Deserter was an early Panther G so much of what is supplied in the kit will be applicable, but a few changes will be made along the way to better model this particular tank.

I have decided to start with the hull lower sides
.

First step has been to mark out for the torsion bar covers. It’s easier to do this before the hull is assembled

One of the covers just placed in position, these will be fixed in position after the hull is assembled. It’s worth noting that not all covers face in the same direction.

Regards
Steve

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Hi Steve

Also had the same idea along with Ed with the cover plates - just finished mine yesterday.
I like how they look.

As you say they are not all fitted in the same direction but you will find that two can not be orientated as they should.
One due to the fowling on the front gear case and the other to one of the main bump stops.

Not really a problem though.

[Chris Hall]

This is the start of an early Panther G build that a very trusting Chris Hall has asked me to build for him.
The plan is to build a Panther that was captured in Italy and named “Deserter” by its new owners.
I am sure Chris will fill in all the details of this tanks history and new owners at some point in the future.
Regards
Steve

Not trusting at all - I've seen Steve's work, and I know he'll do a much better job than I would . So my role on this one is Historical Adviser, although I'm also leaning heavily on Mark Lawson's encylopedic knowledge of German armour. As I've always said, it's not what you know, but who you know - and what they know .

The first thing to declare is a change of plan. I was intending to run Cuckoo of 4th Coldstream Guards in North West Europe 1944-45. But, for reasons I'll eventually comment on elsewhere, I felt the need to do something related to the Italian theatre in 1944, which is currently unpresented in our historical lineups at shows. Deserter fits that niche perfectly. So a quick discussion with Alex Easten and we agreed to 'swap' (well, he always wanted to do Cuckoo anyway !).

I'll put up more research about Deserter as I uncover it. In the mean time, I return you to the engineering side, which is in Steve's more than capable hands.

All the best,

Chris

[Steve Norris]

A little update on Chris,s Panther.
I have primed and loosely assembled the hull to do an initial fit check. Everything went together without any trouble and this is a sign of Armortek’s continued product improvement process. There are still a couple of items that need addressing before i do a final bolt together but these items are fairly minor (some of the interlocks need the corners squaring up and the plate joints need chamfering to accept the weld seams).

Just tacked together for the moment

I am also waiting for some parts for the rear plate which will be easier to fit with the plate removed, another reason to leave things loose at the moment.
While I wait for the rear plate parts I have decided to have a go at the wheels. These new pressed steel wheels are very nice but do have a major visual problem. The rim of the wheel protrudes well beyond the edge of the tire which is wrong. This is only really an issue on the outer 8 wheel assemblies as they are the ones most visible.
The fix for this is quite easy if a little messy (no lathe work required)
I have assembled each wheel so that it can be held in a vice with a tire fitted and the used a power file to carefully remove the excess material, any marks on the tire can be hidden by reversing it at final assembly.

Before and after

The wheel set up in the vice with the trusty power file about to do its work

Regards

Steve

[Jae-seung Roe]

A little update on Chris,s Panther.
I have primed and loosely assembled the hull to do an initial fit check. Everything went together without any trouble and this is a sign of Armortek’s continued product improvement process. There are still a couple of items that need addressing before i do a final bolt together but these items are fairly minor (some of the interlocks need the corners squaring up and the plate joints need chamfering to accept the weld seams).

IMG_0948.jpeg

I am also waiting for some parts for the rear plate which will be easier to fit with the plate removed, another reason to leave things loose at the moment.
While I wait for the rear plate parts I have decided to have a go at the wheels. These new pressed steel wheels are very nice but do have a major visual problem. The rim of the wheel protrudes well beyond the edge of the tire which is wrong. This is only really an issue on the outer 8 wheel assemblies as they are the ones most visible.
The fix for this is quite easy if a little messy (no lathe work required)
I have assembled each wheel so that it can be held in a vice with a tire fitted and the used a power file to carefully remove the excess material, any marks on the tire can be hidden by reversing it at final assembly.

IMG_0946.jpeg

IMG_0947.jpeg

Regards

Steve

Hi Steve,

Good to see another Panther building post and good advice of resolving protruded metal rim part! nice! it may seem to require careful and a bit of skillful control of filing to prevent too much filing of excessive rim part. looking forward to another building post!

Cheers,
Jae-seung

[Steve Norris]

Two weeks in and I still haven’t completed the wheels, when done I don’t want to see another Panther wheel for a very long time

More m2.5 nuts and bolts than I care to count !

Regards

Steve

[Charles A Stewart]

Two weeks in and I still haven’t completed the wheels, when done I don’t want to see another Panther wheel for a very long time



Regards

Steve

With you on that one

Charles

[Steve Norris]

A few more Panther update pictures.
I am not going overboard with the posts as the Panther is already well covered, I will just add where there has been changes to the standard kit.

The back end has been enhanced with the addition of Werkstatt 5 access covers and jack. I have also fitted exhaust heat shields.

Various parts awaiting final assembly

More parts to add

Regards

Steve