I need a project to give me a break from my Panzer IV ausf H. I find I tend to lose interest if I keep working on the same project for too long.

I found this partially started Jagdpanther amoungst the stash in my garage. It was almost straight from the box, it has the Tamiya Panther/Jagdpanther etched grill set. However upon opening the box again, I found the front armor plate had a large crack in it. I managed to seal it up with superglue, but was worried about how the filled crack will effect the final paint finish.
I was browsing the net for Jagdpanther zimmerit as a cover and came across the Verlinden Zimmerit kit for the Jagdpanther, at a discounted price, so there was the solution!

I'm expecting an Armorscale metal barrel to arrive in the next few days too.

I'm not overly keen on using the kit supplied rubber tracks. The more I read about them, and see them on finished models, I'm leaning towards Friul Indi's. Has anyone mounted these to their Panther G/Jagdpanther?

I've started the basic interior. The gun breach has been assembled and painted with a white oxide primer. I think I will leave this finish as is, apart from maybe 1 or 2 more coats of the white primer. Roadwheel halves have been asssembled, but I forgot to take pics of these.

Hope to get more progress posted this week!

Hi, I'm not an expert on jagdpanthers but Tamiya kit represents a late production vehicle. Mate production vehicle = no zimmerit if you want to be accurate. I don't see the crack you're talking about but if you polish it well it won't be a problem. I would use the CA glue from the inside and than putty from the outside. Like this you don't have any problem.

spit

Thanks Spit, you are correct in that the Tamiya is the late version, and that it wouldn't have zimmerit. In the instructions it states you can make Production type A May to Dec 1944 or B Dec 1944 onwards. According to the instructions blurb, the saukopf mantlet (late model) was fitted from October 44. I'm in kind of a dilemma now, as the order to cease applying zimmerit was made in September 44? I guess I shouldve read the instructions alot more first

Good start Andrew, I think if you fill in and smooth the crack you're referring to, all will be well. I'd also put a coat of primer on though before you apply the paint job, so you can be sure of the crack being unseen.

Keep at it! Cheers -

Tim

Thanks for the kind words Tim

I'm still kinda kicking myself that if I wanted to build a historically accurate Jagdpanther, I wouldnt be able to use the zimmerit.

I may get rubbished by historically accurate builders, but I may still use it, along the lines of a "What if" scenario, as I paid US$25 for the zimmerit kit, and now that I know it's not correct for the kit it was designed for, I would feel bad trying to sell it on to another model builder to make my money back

I seem to be doing more accumulating rather than building in the past several days. I've got a roll of 0.5mm wire for replacing grab handles, a bulk lot of panzer IV details, and some lionmarc 0.6mm brass screwheads.

I have managed to get some work done to the Jagdpanther, I have fitted almost all the zimmerrit to the kit. It's not a direct fit, sanding/filing was required to fit around some of the kit parts. I am happy though, it adds a bit of weight to the upper superstructure.

I've fitted the resin Armourscale Saukopf to the Tamiya breech. I have to buy some low temp solder for assembling the muzzle brake.

I'm not sure how much will get done tonight, have drunk 8 Heinekens, and am watching the Black Caps give it to the Aussies! Australiia are 6/116 after 35 overs woohoo!

Heres some pics of the Jagpanther

Andrew,

As a lower-cost alternative to the Friuls, you might consider Tamiya's own Panther Indy link set, #35171. LuckyModel has those listed at about $13.00 (USD) plus about $3.00 shipping.
http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=TA%2035171

Thanks Phil, I had thought of those, but I've got my heart set on some Friuls lol I've been shopping around, and have found some for GBP29.50 delivered to me in New Zealand. It will be a week or two before I purchase them though, been busy buying other kits and detail sets