I had posted a while ago that I was TEMPORARILY putting aside my locomotive project to try to get a model ready for the IPMS Nationals in Phoenix (two hour drive) in the summer of 2018. I had started this BIG Panther project all-the-way-back in 1993, revived it briefly in 1999, and this past summer dusted it off (literally) as something that COULD get done in time! The scale is 1/9 (like my tractor and Sturmgeschutz) making the hull about 27" long. The gun overhangs the front by about another 6", so the task of transporting the model is not insignificant, and being able to drive it to the competition is a welcome opportunity...
The turret is all new, and several of the old parts will be redone. Construction is mostly styrene with plenty of resin castings (track links, suspension parts and wheel disks) from my own masters and molds. As always, no commercial, found, kit parts or 3D printed parts will be used in any way-- all scratch. The green on the turret sides is is the putty for texturing the surface, and the whole hull will look like that before it gets painted. More to come!
Let's see if I can slip in a couple more photos...
Adequate. -- Russ
Very, very impressive, both in size and execution!
Thanks, fellas! Maybe some paint is in the not-too-distant future. Recent discoveries have me working backward just now, taking a couple of things off to rework them a bit... More to come. DF
What did that say... 2016? Well, the Summer 2018 deadline seems to have slipped away, but the project is still moving ahead. There are a few pieces left to build before the paint can happen, and the wheels and tracks are off so they can be coated with mud. Weathering will be interesting since the actual vehicle had such a short life (completed in late September of 1944, disabled and captured December 19 of the same year). Paint damage and rust will be minimal, so mud and dust will be my medium of choice, with a few scrapes from moving around. The episcopes around the commander's hatch have mirrored plex prisms, so they function like real periscopes. Here are a few pictures that should look a little different from the ones before... DF
A couple more photos... The gas cans are NOT in their final colors! Next is a shot of the rear plate-- the bolts for the various access panels include cotter pins to allow the nuts to be loosened without them coming off. The jack between the exhaust pipes is the one exception to the minimal weathering rule-- the design of the suspension often gave trouble and the jack was likely used often. Finally the spare track links hung from to turret sides to provide a little extra metal between the crew and the enemy anti-tank guns. DF
Wow! Nice work!
Thanks Ray! I was beginning to think I stepped into a Bermuda Triangle or something... DF
Oh? Are you near Bermuda right now?
You've built a seriously outstanding tank model but the forum has been quiet for the past ten days or so. You know how it is here; if you get a couple of compliments here it's equivalent to a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall.
Russ
Well, not Bermuda... but there IS supposed to be a similar time-space twist centered somewhere around Gila Bend-- not that far from Tucson! It sure HAS been quiet for a while, though. Hey, c'mon, Russ... I was hoping to achieve adequacy. Guess I'll keep working. DF
You did achieve adequacy, and then some. I'd go so far as to say the tank is satisfactory ... so far. -- Russ
Quote from: finescalerr on May 17, 2019, 10:39:40 AM
You did achieve adequacy, and then some. I'd go so far as to say the tank is satisfactory ... so far. -- Russ
Careful , Russ, you don't want to overdo it with the praise . The poor chap might believe he's doing a decent job of that bit of a tank he is cobbling together !
Nick
Amazing work... truly setting a standard here. I'm curious as to how you replicated the welds.
Almost everything attached to the Panther was quickly welded on, so I've had plenty of opportunity to practice! These welds are hardware store window caulk shot through a syringe with a tapered spout. I use a Luer Lock syringe with a replaceable tip to make cleaning and size changes easier. Unfortunately, the nicer welds on the rear deck and the boxy bases of the exhaust pipes were done years ago with a cheap generic caulk that is no longer to be found--replaced by products better for windows but not nearly as good for fake welding! I will put a how-to with pictures together to make this information more useful... Thanks, all! DF
Very nice Dave.
Jerry
Quote from: Dave Fischer on May 09, 2019, 03:39:24 PM
A couple more photos... The gas cans are NOT in their final colors! Next is a shot of the rear plate-- the bolts for the various access panels include cotter pins to allow the nuts to be loosened without them coming off. The jack between the exhaust pipes is the one exception to the minimal weathering rule-- the design of the suspension often gave trouble and the jack was likely used often. Finally the spare track links hung from to turret sides to provide a little extra metal between the crew and the enemy anti-tank guns. DF
Seems to be a very clean build. To me the wear on the jack looks amazingly realistic and I like your approach of minimal weathering:
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2737.0;attach=21038)
But I'm a bit concerned about the tools' handles, which don't look like real wood to me:
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2737.0;attach=21036)
The bolt clipper's cutting edges may benefit from building them from single pieces to get rid of the ' cast in one block'-look they have at your picture.
I think I'd better now jump the trench.
Volker
Thanks for the "other eyes"! Actually, the wire cutters ARE made in separate pieces and the division and wear at the cutting edges is not clear in this photo. The shovel handle is made of fine-grained wood (as are the axe and sledge handles on the other side) and is much more convincing in real life... I'll see if I can get a better shot. The handles of the REAL wire cutter were made of resin-impregnated paper, as were many late-war items-- gunstocks, periscope housings, even uniform buttons. They all had that patchy tan-and-brown look unless painted, and the model cutters are matched to the real thing. By the way, there are metal straps and tensioning handles to be added to each tool clip after camouflage painting and final assembly.
One other note: Roddy MacDougall, author and WWII historian in Scotland, has been a major source of the information necessary to build a model to this level of historical accuracy, both through his books and his photo collection. His interest and generosity have made the impossible possible. My recent email to him to share these progress photos went unanswered until an email from his wife told me that he had passed away last summer. His knowledge and dedication will be sorely missed. DF
Quote from: Dave Fischer on May 20, 2019, 02:05:14 AM
Thanks for the "other eyes"! Actually, the wire cutters ARE made in separate pieces and the division and wear at the cutting edges is not clear in this photo. The shovel handle is made of fine-grained wood (as are the axe and sledge handles on the other side) and is much more convincing in real life... I'll see if I can get a better shot. The handles of the REAL wire cutter were made of resin-impregnated paper, as were many late-war items-- gunstocks, periscope housings, even uniform buttons. They all had that patchy tan-and-brown look unless painted, and the model cutters are matched to the real thing. By the way, there are metal straps and tensioning handles to be added to each tool clip after camouflage painting and final assembly.
Dave, thank you for the explanation. I'm looking forward to another shot of the items. Indeed it was the shovels wood which looks rather somewhat spotty than grained in that picture.
So the more we learn about the actual tank, the better the model looks. That's typical of models on this forum. Ho-hum.... -- Russ
Wow, looking great Dave! I don't feel so bad now taking so long on my project. Very interesting regarding the material used for the handles. I also like the thinking regarding the weathering vs. the amount of time this spent in the field. Although there is beautiful weathering going on these days, it seems rare that consideration is given to the often short life spans of these tanks. Looking forward to more progress! Maybe in less than 3 years? Hee.
Russ-- I thought you would appreciate the fact that parts of a REAL tank are made of paper...
And Chuck-- I have to admit I have been envious of the speed at which you get things done. Maybe some day! DF