Hi guys:

I am almost finished with the DML panther that started with a few months back (thank God).
Attached are some photos for your evaluation....some are in my gallery...





Comments/criticisms are very much welcome...I need them for improvements...

THanks

Great to see your project is nearing the finish line ..Your Zimmerit looks very good ..not easy to do free hand...a couple of things I would do is add a bit more of a wash in the sighting hole an the mantlet as it doesn't show up in the pictures...second paint the coaxle machine gun and add a bit of staining from the gun.. I know I'm going to get flak about this but ...your muzzle is way too black...you have to remember that these crews knew that their gun was the their survival...They would clean the cannon before they would eat...I believe in staining the muzzle darker from the heat but I have never seen a picture of a tank with then end of the barrel blackened this much if any at all. Remember that by the second world war they were using "smokeless powder" and not black powder.

great job congrats on a job well done.
Rick

Rick,

You are right, the muzzle is too black (my fault, I had excess black in my AB...just rtried spraying it....#:-). I'll be implementing your suggestions . Do you think I over wearthered that tank?

Thank

Not at all your weathering is fine ..(other than too much black on the muzzle) I could even give you a few extras to do if you want ...you could add a steel color to the rims of the inside road wheels(not the rubber part but the lip holding the rubber) as they always rub against the track teeth...also you could do the same for the idler wheel in the back give it a bit of a shine with a pencil ..you could use the pencil for the inside road wheels too. a few scratches where there is no zimmerit ...Sideshirts and fenders come to mind. One trick I use when I add mesh over the intakes on the back of tanks is I use the the rounded end of a paint brush handle and rub it down so as it looks like the crew have walked on the engine deck and the screens have pushed into the grooves ..I also use an exacto and make a few holes in the screens to show damage...but it looks just fine the way it is ...You have done a great job on it ..Where's mine ?? Still in the box !! So you are one up on me !

Rick

I like it. The exhausts look really good. Not too overdone.
One question. Where's the Hull mg?

Very nice!
My only suggestion would be to add some gloss black to the periscope glass faces on the upper hull there in the second picture, also perhaps add some scopes to the commanders cupola.
I really like the Fine Molds clear molded scopes for this purpose. I've used them on DML and Tamiya Panther G versions, but not on an A.
Aber makes some psychotic etched brass scopes and bracket hardware, if you're into that sort of thing. I built up one set and while they were a LOT of work, they come out looking very nice. Only drawback is that you have to add the 'glass' with Krystal Kleer anyway.

Mike

Guys: All of you have very good, valid and very wonderful observations and recommendations, I'll get on to it now.... BTW, I can't put a dent on the screen because it is woven plastic...it came from a purse w/c I bought from a department store. I also used real soil with white glue thinned with water for the additional track and roadwheel weathering.

MLD: Are there other alternatives regarding to the scope of the commander's cupola? Its hard to find here in the Philippines some of the aftermarket parts...that is why I usually scratchbuild or find alternative materials (the zimmerit was done using elmer's wood putty for example).

Petro: Thanks for reminding me , I forgot to paint and glue the MG in the hull

There is a white glue like product in the states called Krystal Kleer. It's essentially very thick Elmers type white glue that dries mostly clear. You apply it with a toothpick around the inside of the opening and then 'pull' it across the opening to glaze it over.

I've also seen people use small pieces of 35mm film negative (the darker brown ends) .

I forget now, does this kit have an open bottomed cupola so that you can get into the bottoms of the scope housings?

If not just fill the opening with white glue, which should shrink a bit to represent the glass within the housing, and paint it a dark glossy color.

If you're really motivated, paint a dk yellow rim around the inner edge to show the frame around the glass #:-)

hth..
Mike

MLD: Yes, it does have an opening at the bottom...I just need to remove the turret and its visible. I think I could do your suggestion/tip...should the glue level with the edge of the opening or just a little bit inside?

Thanks again

That is one good looking tank. Other than the muzzle being too black, I think it is great work. The tracks look great. Good work, Steve

I wouldn't pour just Krystal Klear into the holes ..as these were really periscopes and not just glass ...I would use some thick Plastic strips...cut the top at an angle and paint them black, this would look much better than just filling them with glue...In my humble opinion that is...

Rick

When you say periscopes do they look like the same as those on the hull?

Thanks

Just a bit inside. I'll try to scan and put a pic into my gallery this evening.
Mike

Thanks MLD, I've searched the net for a pic, but I seem to unlucky....

here's a picture to show you what they look like ..if you have the Tamiya Steel wheel Panther G you get them in the box.


hope this helps
Rick
p.s. I found this picture on the missing linx gallery ..and just used it as an example..

Yup, that definitely is a big help...now I can proceed....thank you very much

Very, very nice kit man... one thing i would like to add is that exehausts look a bit too even rusty... maybe one more wash on them or sumtin, otherwies u got urself a GREAT looking model

Cheers!

Sensei

sorry basketball game and then some semi-emergency home repair last night...

If you're still looking for a good pic, I'll scan one tonight.

Mike

MLD: Thanks, I guess the pic provided by thebear will probably be fine for the mean time...thanks again

There are three temp pics in my gallery (MLD) of Panther A and G cupolas from Achtung Panzer #4 and Panzers at Samur #2.

If I were a html-guru I'd link them in..

but I'm not... #:-)

Mike

mld: Thanks I got it now..much better...it ver very helpful

You're welcome.
Those two are about the best 'real pictures of real tanks' references for Panther A's and G's
The Trojka books and their CAD artwork are nice but I like real pictures.

Drop me a line if you need other pictures, I've got them all :-)

Mike

it look good. the zim job came out nice,
the muzzle looks good.
there is no such a thing as over doing it on a muzzle when the had a day of battle

Because of the pics and ideas that came from you guys I was able to scratchbuild a periscope. While I was looking a clear plastic to use I chanced upon a damaged compact disk case case...I will post it here as soon as I finish shaping and painting them.....

Thanks guys...

MLD: Thanks for the offer....

I've finally completed my panther....I also cleaned the muzzle as advised and added some pencil lead to some of the high parts....







I also attached a close-up of the coupola with a periscope...just made a mistake of coloring it black...
Thak you very much for the tips ...it helped me improve