New member here, wanted to post my current progress on my Panther A late, Also included in the pictures, is the current progress on my Normandy Diorama as well. Dragon Kit used was No.6168 Sd.Kfz.171 Panther A Late Type.

Add-ons used: Atak Zimmerit, 1/35 Panther Accessory Kit, Spare Dragon PE parts and Aber tow cables.
Crew is from Tamiya kit German tank crew at rest. After a lot of research on Panther's of Panzer-Lehr-Regiment 130 I decided to use the subdued 3 tone Camouflage pattern seen on photographs of panthers from Regiment 130 during the Normandy battles.

Painting was done using Tamiya Acrylics. Weathering done with Various Mig Pigments and Pro-modeler washes. Other weathering work is still in progress. I will answer any questions and please feel free to comment with constructive criticism or any positive feedback. I will continue to update this thread and organize it a little better, with Build photos and any updates I make.

Very nice, cracking build and layout, realy like this one a lot, I have to keep looking at it as I find more things every time. The only thing that needs sorting is the track, you need to get that glued down again.


Regards

Dan

There's a lot going on here, a lot for the eyes to see. I don't know how accurate most of it is but it looks great, the only distraction would be the tracks which make it just short of being perfect.



~ Jeff

Very, very nice. Often dioramas look like a model plonked onto a base and never quite blend together, that's not the case here. seamless.

Rich

Thank you for the feedback guys I really appreciate it. I have built models as a kid but just got back into the hobby this year. The best part is that I have more passion about the hobby now then I ever did. A lot of research was spent into this build especially on the Panther, so accurate as I could make it... but I'm sure it can always be brought to a higher level of detail somehow. As for the track situation the Panther is not glued down to the diorama yet as I am still working on both. I will try to add some earth under the tracks to seem as they are settled down more. When I get home from my business trip I will add more photos, especially of the build process.

Hey Peter! Welcome back to modeling!

What we are referring to the tracks is that they should be laying on top of the roadwheels, giving it that 'sagged' look that a Panther has.

Your diorama is also fantastic for coming back into the hobby.



~ Jeff

Peter

Everything looks fantastic. The overall theme is very realistic! When you glue down the Panther, make certain it is weighted down so it's not floating on the road. Bring the dirt from the road up to the model. The track needs to be tacked down as it sat on top of the road wheels. Great job!

I too Just noticed from the pictures the track has came unglued off the rear road wheels. Will hit some super glue on them when I get back home.

Back in the olden days of modeling before we had the individual links I used to tie down the tracks with thin wire or thread. I put it in a place behind the outer roadwheels where it couldn't be seen.
I like you use of color and foliage,very natural and striking.
J

Peter;

Dude! Super nice kitty scene! Looks a lot like some Panthers in France in 1944 seen in pics - you have captured a lot of ambience and much of the "look" of a used Panther lived in by its crew. I really like it! GREAT job on almost everything and should go to a show.

There are a couple of fixes.

Those tracks... others have hit on it. You really need to settle those down. (But you know this and already plan to fix, so... )

The junk hanging around - specifically that nice clean-looking bucket on the side. I think it detracts from your otherwise nicely-used and holistic kitty! Maybe make it dirty and used - buckets were for mixing camo paint and doing stuff. I KNOW my household buckets never survive any uses without becoming rather used-looking (the one exception being my nice, sterile, protected beer-bottling buckets! You don't want those to ever become "used-looking" ).

And then there is what appears to be a jerry a molded-on rack sitting on the rear deck. Ugh. Cans lying around up there? Yes, of course. Cans in racks? Nooooo. If you plopped a nice plain can up there, it would make all nice!

Others have noted the relationship of tank and tracks to road surface... Panther was heavy - 45+ tons. He would dig down into any soft road. I would consider sinking his tracks down a little into the road - But maybe you could look at some pics of real Panthers and get a view on how they sat and decide from that?

Just suggestions, of course! It's a mighty fine build and dio, by me!

Just as a sort of idea-prompt; here's a pic of a bucket I hung on an old Tamiya Wirbelwind build. The bucket is actually a small brass PE item which came from a set of roll-your-own buckets with a wire bail. It is dented and tries to look like it was used to do the white-wash job on the tank...



Thanks for sharing your great job!

Bob

Thanks for your feedback It really means a lot. And also for the suggestions!! The 2 buckets are actually weathered and hit with some dirt pigments. I will try to upload some better pics when I get off work. As stated earlier I plan to take some better photos and Re-organize the thread. As for the jerry can it was mounted to the rear of the panther by the right storage compartment but came unglued|:( . I will remount it to the rear, but that bucket mount idea sounds like a must. I pretty sure I can scrap together some spare PE-parts to create one.

The process Of adding the Zimmerit was a cautious one... Since this was my first time installing these thin sheets of zimmerit I read a couple of tutorial beforehand. Gently sanding the rear sheet to release the carrier film I used Super glue to attach the delicate sheets which i dont actually recommend because you have to be almost dead on with the first placement and have only seconds to play... I suggest a 5 min epoxy for this process.

More of the Construction Photos:

Superb work! With the few fixes mentioned, I think you will be turning out a perfect scene.

After painting Completed:


Up close detail of Atak zimmerit: