Hi everyone, I thought it would be good to post my most recent project:

A 'What if' Jagdpanther equipped with some IR gear and other goodies. It's the Dragon 'late' G1 JP and I bought some extra Griffon model kit and received a Griffon Panther D anti aircraft armour shields from a fellow modeller.

I don't know exactly when or how I came up with the idea of equipping IR equipment to the JP, but it's quite possible Pavel's Ersätz Tiger ausf B has got something to do with it






I will also add a 1946 panzer crew to the model. Figures are courtesy of French company Blast Models

I added some extra Aber detailing to the sleeves of the commander


That's it so far. I am thinking about which kind of night camo I can add. I was thinking of a red primer basecolor with some panzer grey streaks. What do you guys think?

Cheers

Hey Wouter, zalige Jagdpanther!

Love your Jagdpanther!

If you go with red primer then do it to your chassis and hull, not to separate parts such as wheels because these would be delivered painted, looking at the time-frame that would be Oliv Grün.

Cheers,

John

excellent buid! The IR devices you used where does it come from? Great Wall Hobby?
For your information, there are reports stating that some Jagdpanthers were equipped with the IR devices however there are no pictures available to confirm.

spit

Hey Spit, are you referring to Kampfgruppe Padderborn? I've read about their actions and yes, they claim to have had IR on the Jagdpanther....

J

I don't really remember. I just have read somewhere about those IR JPs. Could be Kampfgruppe Padderborn.

Very impressive work, I've read somewhere that some JagdPanthers had IR systems fitted (but who care's if they did'nt!) excellent stuff!

Any ideas on a paint/camo scheme yet?

well, it's been a while since I updated this one

After several attempts I finally ended up with a camoscheme which I like. It's the third attempt and I think these colors would suit a vehicle which operates at night...













Cheers

Love it!! The photoetch work is fantastic and the blue-grey on a tank. Inspired!

Looks like a nightmare coming out of a fog bank!

Cool...

Wouter;

Mondo COOL! A night-fighter Jagdpanther!

And really nice dress-up with the PE and such.

The camo looks pretty cool - though I must confess that I would expect that the prevailing technology and wisdom of ca 1945 - 46 would really have favored doing something in dark and darker! (And what is this fellow supposed to be doing during day-light?) - but it IS very cool regardless of however it "should have been"!

About that IR gear...

I think you've done some cool stuff here! I created a "nacht E-10" version a while back - used the same Leitz FG1250 device (the biltwandler viewing device) for my commander's cupola.

The "sort of" "issue" I pose for you is one I was thinking a lot about back when I did my build... HOW does the IR light and scope connect to the gun-sight and aim that main gun at night? I used a "mechanical parallelogram linkage" much like that used for naval guns in turrets - a metal-bar linkage between the rotational and elevational axes of the IR device and the gun sight - in some ways similar to the technology used for the remote MG in the "rundumfeuer" device on a StuG IV or Hetzer late in the war - or between the rear gunner and his guns in the ME 410...

I was looking to see something on your build - maybe you'll add in some bit to suggest such? Just a suggestion!

I didn't do this with my E-10, but I've been thinking that these nacht-jagers would likely have had a larger IR lamp so that they would be more independent of that big light Uhu as kitted by AFV Club, Dragon and Great Wall... (the IR searchlight rigs on halftracks). The small lamps you (and I, too) used were really only good for a few hundred meters - this Jagdpanther could have been a killer at 1500m, and would benefit from a bigger IR lamp.

Again, just an idea!

Here's a couple of pics of the E-10 to show one "shot" at this IR stuff. The second is a closer-up of the IR device treatment. You'll see the "metal-tape" connector dropping down from the front of the "1/4 curved plate" (which was actually a part of the mount as seen in some photos, so maybe used exactly like this!) thru a slot in the roof. It would attach inside to a metal parallelogram fitting that would move the gun-sight in the vertical and horizontal as the IR device was pivoted around. Anyway, that's how I figured it to be!





Really looking forward to seeing this big hunter come to completion!

Cheers!

Bob

John, many thanks mate, glad you are inspired by it

Bob, that's one mighty fine E-10 you got there mate, very inspirational stuff. I hear you on the 'elevation rod' issue, initially I thought to leave it off...but maybe I should scratch one ey. And concerning the big light...well, it wouldn't look nice on the NP I think, but you got a point. So I might look in to AFV's 251 with UHU infrared light to create some sort of scene, thanks for that!

Cheers

I'm not usually a fan of "What if" projects, because they often cross over into unrealistic Sci-Fi territory, but this looks like it could have been produced, had the war gone on into the next year. It looks great! Keep this track rolling!

Hi Steven, thanks for the compliment, that was the intention after all, glad it has succeeded so far ^^

did a bit more: paint the tracks, some moderate chipping, painted rubber wheels and the schürzen. These need to be weathered of course, and some may get another camo using the HS tech...sort of 'cannibalized' schürzen so to speak...






Cheers

Made a start on the weathering front. A pinwash using MIG Dark Wash was applied, and after that I did some fading using the oil dot method:







Cheers

and some more weathering using AK Winter Streaking Grime. Exhausts are basepainted as well



I also followed panzerbobs suggestion to make a link between the IR gear and the main gun.



And finally, I made a start with the figures


Thanks for watching

Cheers

update time again.

Some more weathering was applied and the skirts received some color as well






Thanks for watching

Cheers

Interesting concept there with the last station. I like where you're going with this as I too like the 'what if' builds.









~ Jeff

Spooky greatness!

Jeff, thanks mate, glad you like it

VonFlak, thanks mate, quite original commentary

Cheers

I love this! Great color choices.

An absolute stunning model. I LOVE the paint work... Looks futuristic and spooky.

Nice job !!!

wondering about the wooden jack block still in it's metal frame on the engine deck.

I could see the block tossed up there maybe, but the block and undamaged frame seems unlikely to me.

Overall I love this build and the paint effects.

Mike

thanks a lot fellas, very pleased with your comments

Mike: good point about the wooden block and it's frame...totally missed that one actually

forgot to post the muddy photos which I took a while ago, so here goes (hope you still like it)






still not finished

Cheers