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Building a 1:8 Scale Panther: Part 2
Editors Note: Here is part 2 of a 3 part series by Peter Mealing
on his amazing 1:8 scale Panther build-up/conversion. If you like to start
with
Part 1 that would probably be a good idea. Peter's work has been
recognized with a silver medal at the 2002 Model
Engineers Exhibition in England. This was quite an honor with 760
competitors in the running. Peter's other large scale tank, a Russian T-34
won the bronze medal. - Jim
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On to the Deck! |
The entire turret turning mechanism was removed from
the turret and relocated in the hull. The logic of this being that there
would be less electrical/RC connections to break when wishing to remove the
turret.
Silicon moulds were taken directly off of the deck of the various components
that I would require. All of the detail was then sanded off leaving a bare
hull. The 4 radiator grills on the tank are of the single bar type for the
Ausf. G, the Ausf. A had 3. I made yet another master, a silicon mould,
removed the original single bar grills and replaced them with the older
type. Not easy as the mouldings are quite thin. Once in place they were
reinforced with thin brass wire. To conceal the void beneath each grill
dummy radiators and fans were made and fitted. The centre circular fan
grills were also removed and new hollow ones made with f/g/resin. I wanted
this particularly as the speakers for the Maybach engine sound and the WW2
German taped music will be played through here.
New scratchbuild detail was added including the handrails, hatches, bolt
heads, hinges and the mesh covers for the 6 grills. I then moved on to the
front of the deck. The original mg ball mounting was ground out and an
acrylic ball with holes for both the mg and its sight was fitted into place
using body filler, the hole then filed and sanded to the correct shape.
New hatches for the driver/radio operator were made from plasticard and the
actual removable ‘transmission access hatch’ was grooved in and its 30 odd
bolt heads fitted. There were 2 types of barrel locking mechanism. The Ausf.
A normally had the later. This consisted of a frame with a bike like chain
and locking mechanism that secured the barrel when the tank was being
transported or ‘on the march’. A total of 63 parts and a whole 5 days work
produced a working scale barrel lock. Various other parts were made
including the air extractor, scale periscope guards, hatch retaining catches
and 2 masters was made for a periscopes and by use of 2 more silicon mould,
a total of 12 periscopes were made to include those in the cupola.
(Different size for the cupola).
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Project Photos
Major problem. The side armor plate angles on the model are for an Ausf. A Panther. The deck detail is for a later Ausf. G. with the much steeper side armor. Solution make a mould for an A, cut out the wrong G items and refit.
The 4 false radiators and 2 false 'working' fans to 'fill the black
holes' beneath the mesh. All from f/g resin.
As with the rear deck, the original detail e.g. hatches, periscope
guards etc. was for the Ausf. G. All now to scale for the Ausf. A (sixty
three different parts in the new working barrel lock).
Rear view of engine deck showing mesh over radiator/fan openings.
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About the Author
About Peter Mealing (trackpins)
Copyright ©2021 by Peter Mealing. Images and/or videos also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely the views and opinions of the authors and/or contributors to this Web site and do not necessarily represent the views and/or opinions of Armorama, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2003-01-05 00:00:00. Unique Reads: 11643