Scott Espin provides an in depth review of Panzer Tracts 5-1 "Panther Ausf D"
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REVIEW
Panzer Tracts Panther Ausf D
keenan
Joined: October 16, 2002
KitMaker: 5,272 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 12:46 AM UTC
Scott Espin provides an in depth review of Panzer Tracts 5-1 "Panther Ausf D"
Link to Item
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
H_Ackermans
Joined: July 11, 2006
KitMaker: 2,229 posts
Armorama: 2,221 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 06:53 AM UTC
I have to agree on the point about formatting, it IS a rather weak point in the Pt series, some good re-structuring might make certainly for easier reading.
About that sole surviving Panther-D being measured, AFAIK there's only one left, and that was located at Breda in the Wilhelmina-Park. It is, IIRC, being re-stored, as it was completely stripped of anything even remotely removable from the exterior and to prevent anyone from moving the tank(duh, who's going to pull away a 50 ton tank unnoticed?) the interior was poured with concrete.
Anyway, I can only echo the words in review, they are great sources of info but especially due to Jentz' insistence on only using documents to describe development, it lacks in certain areas where non-documented changes are concerned, and one can also find pictures that prove otherwise. Good example being a picture of an Ausf. G Panther at Elst, during Market Garden which clearly has a KampfRaumHeizung, 4 months before Jentz says it was introduced.
About that sole surviving Panther-D being measured, AFAIK there's only one left, and that was located at Breda in the Wilhelmina-Park. It is, IIRC, being re-stored, as it was completely stripped of anything even remotely removable from the exterior and to prevent anyone from moving the tank(duh, who's going to pull away a 50 ton tank unnoticed?) the interior was poured with concrete.
Anyway, I can only echo the words in review, they are great sources of info but especially due to Jentz' insistence on only using documents to describe development, it lacks in certain areas where non-documented changes are concerned, and one can also find pictures that prove otherwise. Good example being a picture of an Ausf. G Panther at Elst, during Market Garden which clearly has a KampfRaumHeizung, 4 months before Jentz says it was introduced.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 07:18 AM UTC
Nifty review, Scott!
Where is the best place for these kinds of specialized books in the US? RZM? Amazon? Most of the hobby resellers charge list and more.
Where is the best place for these kinds of specialized books in the US? RZM? Amazon? Most of the hobby resellers charge list and more.
thebear
Joined: November 15, 2002
KitMaker: 3,960 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 12:48 PM UTC
Damraska
Joined: October 06, 2006
KitMaker: 580 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 01:16 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Where is the best place for these kinds of specialized books in the US? RZM? Amazon? Most of the hobby resellers charge list and more.
Assuming you mean in the US:
Aberdeen Bookstore ( http://www.aberdeenbookstore.com/) sells all the Panzer Tracts titles at 10% off. You will find them under German Weapons. I have purchased from ABS twice and was very pleased both times--the books arrived quickly in pristine condition. However, there is no shopping cart so you have to phone or email in your order.
Aberdeen Bookstore also sells on eBay, but you get a smaller discount. Do a search for "Panzer Tracts".
Michigan Discount Models ( http://www.discountmodels.com/ sells Panzer Tracts titles at 15% off. You will find them under Books and then Panzer Tracts. Once again, the store does not have a fully functional shopping cart. I ordered Panzer Tracts titles from this retailer once and the books arrived with some shelf wear. That may be an aberration, but it was my experience.
-Doug
Damraska
Joined: October 06, 2006
KitMaker: 580 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 02:09 PM UTC
With regards to the review, I would like to know exactly how Panzer Tracts 5-1 stacks up against Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy by the same authors. I know Panzer Tracts 5-1 was published a few years ago (when?), and that Germany's Panther Tank was published in 1995, but I have read that the former (along with 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4) does not completely replace the latter. Since I own the older book, I would like to know exactly how much value I will get out of the newer volume.
I agree with many points in the review--Panzer Tracts books offer excellent, distilled information for the model builder, the drawings are very useful, but the formatting is terrible. The latter weakness plagues all of the Panzer Tracts titles I own (about 10).
-Doug
I agree with many points in the review--Panzer Tracts books offer excellent, distilled information for the model builder, the drawings are very useful, but the formatting is terrible. The latter weakness plagues all of the Panzer Tracts titles I own (about 10).
-Doug
H_Ackermans
Joined: July 11, 2006
KitMaker: 2,229 posts
Armorama: 2,221 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 07:36 AM UTC
Quoted Text
With regards to the review, I would like to know exactly how Panzer Tracts 5-1 stacks up against Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy by the same authors. I know Panzer Tracts 5-1 was published a few years ago (when?), and that Germany's Panther Tank was published in 1995, but I have read that the former (along with 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4) does not completely replace the latter. Since I own the older book, I would like to know exactly how much value I will get out of the newer volume.
I agree with many points in the review--Panzer Tracts books offer excellent, distilled information for the model builder, the drawings are very useful, but the formatting is terrible. The latter weakness plagues all of the Panzer Tracts titles I own (about 10).
-Doug
I have QFCS and I consider the PT 5-3 and 5-4 to be worth it to have as well. They augment the earlier book with updated info, plus the many 1:10 scale drawings are excellent additions.
Spiff
Joined: September 07, 2002
KitMaker: 807 posts
Armorama: 671 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 04:49 AM UTC
Quoted Text
With regards to the review, I would like to know exactly how Panzer Tracts 5-1 stacks up against Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy by the same authors. I know Panzer Tracts 5-1 was published a few years ago (when?), and that Germany's Panther Tank was published in 1995, but I have read that the former (along with 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4) does not completely replace the latter. Since I own the older book, I would like to know exactly how much value I will get out of the newer volume.
I agree with many points in the review--Panzer Tracts books offer excellent, distilled information for the model builder, the drawings are very useful, but the formatting is terrible. The latter weakness plagues all of the Panzer Tracts titles I own (about 10).
-Doug
I have Germany's Panther Tank, the Quest for Combat Supremacy and I would have to say it is a good idea to have both. The Panzer Tracts books on the Panther (this one in particular was published 2003) are a good supplement to Jentz's earlier work and in fact includes some other recently discovered information that is sometimes contradictory. When in doubt, I go by the Panzer Tracts book. The other problem with using only primary resources is that no field modifications are taken into account and like someone already said in these posts there can be photo evidence to the contrary which only further confuses those researching a particular Panther or variant.
To answer the question about whether or not you should buy it, well that's a tough one to answer. For me, I needed the information in Panzer Tracts 5-1 regarding the different variations of the experimental road wheels when I was researching for my review and build of Dragon's Panther D w/zimmerit. Many more variations of the road wheels were documented in this book that in Germany's Panther Tank. The additional drawings are useful, and will come in handy as I continue to work on that kit.
Spiff
Joined: September 07, 2002
KitMaker: 807 posts
Armorama: 671 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 04:52 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Nifty review, Scott!
Where is the best place for these kinds of specialized books in the US? RZM? Amazon? Most of the hobby resellers charge list and more.
There are several online stores where they are available. Many of them are available on Amazon.com sold by individuals. Also try Greatmodels.com as some are available there too.
Damraska
Joined: October 06, 2006
KitMaker: 580 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Monday, August 04, 2008 - 04:52 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I have QFCS and I consider the PT 5-3 and 5-4 to be worth it to have as well. They augment the earlier book with updated info, plus the many 1:10 scale drawings are excellent additions.
Quoted Text
To answer the question about whether or not you should buy it, well that's a tough one to answer. For me, I needed the information in Panzer Tracts 5-1 regarding the different variations of the experimental road wheels when I was researching for my review and build of Dragon's Panther D w/zimmerit. Many more variations of the road wheels were documented in this book that in Germany's Panther Tank. The additional drawings are useful, and will come in handy as I continue to work on that kit.
Thanks to both of you for your comments. I usually buy the correct Panzer Tracts book before starting a German armor project but have been on the fence with the Panther volumes. It appears I need to invest more money in the research library.
-Doug
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