Matthew Lenton reviews Dragon’s new ArmorPro Late Production Panther D, and attempts to work out the exact day that it might have been manufactured... and doesn’t quite succeed.



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Thanks!

A shorter but very interesting review of this kit. I've seen it and the early version around but had reservations with the first and now with this variant. Thanks for informing us of what's up with this kit and sadly, showing that Dragon is still missing the boat! Same applies to these recent Flakpanzers (BTW, your review of the 55 mm was enlightening) and the lack of screens with their Panther G variants! As others have commented, what's with all the steps backwards from what used to be a standard?

Thanks and regards,
AJ

Dragon is unnecessarily, deleting necessary PE on all scales, whereas other companies are including increasing amounts of PE. Dragon isn't even trying any more.

Matthew,

Interesting and different "tack" for a review and I am not disappointed to see that Dragon is continuing with their "one step forward, two steps back" policy. The two raised '[' sections on the bottom of the back plate in photo 19 are indeed a mystery. If we can use Dragon's use of these types of features from the past, they are usually meant to be used for a part alignment. I've looked at previous Panther instructions and these "/features" are only present on the Early and Late 'D' models. The instructions for the Early version show them and there is not removal indicator. Perhaps these features are for some future Panther incarnation?

As for Panther D's in general, very confusing. From my various sources it appears that there were about three or four distinct variations of this tank.

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks for the encouraging comment on the review; I thought I'd rely on Jan's very good build review for that element, and just talk about the new bits.

I think I may have figured out the raised [ [ marks on the back plate - I think they must be for the big spade implement that attaches to the back of a Bergepanther. So, they've just released the "Berge-Panther mit Pz.Kpfw.IV Turm" though that doesn't appear to feature such a spade; perhaps this all suggests a straight Bergepanther with spade etc. to come, based on this Ausf D kit? I was quite surprised to see, when checking out the Dragon site, that there is only the Bergepanther with the Pz IV turret in 1/35 scale as well, no straight Bergepanther.

As a braille builder I don't see why they felt a need to release another kit when they could have easily released an update set for the early D - I've been building the Revell offering recently, and I assure you if I had to choose again, I would stick to the Deutscher Plastik - and in the future - I will not pay more if the Dragon has nothing more to offer, and a higher price tag. I remember when Dragon meant that someone was going the extra mile and that an OOB build could easily be as detailled as one with extra etch and some scratch-building - but that day seems to be over, and all we have to look forward to is paper tigers from the Den while Ol' Smaug sits on our hard earned gold.
Count me out, Smaug.