hi guys.need feedback on this one,to make sure got it halfway right,paint is enamel and oils,all brushed on,all comments and questions welcome
cheers arthur

Like it !
Is the turret fixed to the hull ? Appears that way .

I'm just learning these myself . What is the barrel wrapped for ?

Keith

hi keith,yep the turret is locked down,the barrel is wrapped in tissue paper with super glue

Ah -- but do you know the reason the barrel is wrapped ?
I don't think for camo -- it just makes a horizontal element even a bit bigger .. ?

Maybe insulation for consistent trajectory . ?

as to the wrapping on the barrel,it shows onseveral pics i have seen.so maybe someone can enlighten us

I'm not aware of them wrapping barrels for trajectory. cam would be the best answer. Even though it is still a horizontal object, the outline and obvious texture of a barrel is obviously covered and would aid in camo'ing the vehicle. Even though I haven't seen WWII german armour do this, I think it looks well done. A little more effectice camo would be having more small strips hanging down from the barrel.

I used to do the same thing in my army days. I wrapped the barrel handguards of my C7 (M16A2 for you yank types) in cloth strips.

Thanks , Dave .
I'm starting a Panther G that will be in a dio and plan ( maybe ) on the " 3-D " camo -- branches and what-not .

I've seen modern armor with this type of covering - though a Bit more tidy from the factory - but I thought is was to minimize the thermal expansion and contraction of the barrel to control accuracy .

I really like the coloring and contrast with the wheels on this one , Arthur .

Cheers ,
Keith

dave if you look at the side views,there small strips hanging down

The track don't seem to be level. And the base panzer yellow can't be seen very well.

take your point about tracks maybe,look at the last pic the yellow has faded as the rest pf paintwork,cheers for comments,they are welcome

Getting those tracks level can be a pain in the you know where - I know from bitter and frequent experience. As for the "dark yellow base paint", at the end of the war the base paint is more likely to have been green anyway.

Apart from that, I can't see if the retaining pin s for the spare track links are there or not.

regards

Rob

hi rob,i should have explained at the beginning as to armour,i'm on a complete learning curve as this is only my second tank,so wouldnt know a track retaining pin if it jumped up and bit me on the backside.i had a stroke several years ago and it affected my hand,eye co ordination,so this is my way of getting back into the hobby,and yes tracks are apain in the butt.
cheers,arthur

I have not seen any WW 2 German armour with anything wrapped on the barrel, but if you have photos of it, it is for camo purposes only. Thermal wraps are only on modern vehicles, those past about 1970 or so. The Chieftain may have been the first in service.

Allied tanks in WW 2 (especially Brit Fireflies with their long barrel) commonly wrapped them in camo nets. The Germans, not so much.

Modern vehicles may have both; a thermal wrap to reduce differential heat efects and a cam net to increase camouflage.

One thing that would be unlikely is the placement of the spare road wheel on the Panther engine deck as you show it. In that position it prevents the turret from rotating fully and that would be very unlikely to be permitted, especially in the free-ranging defensive combat that the Panthers found themselves in for the latter part of the war. You never knew from what direction those pesky Shermans or T-34s would show up on the battlefield.

All the best.

Paul

hi paul,my thanks for your comments,i went back my photo,and it turns up as netting wrapped round the barrel,maybe to attach camo debris,and your point on the spare wheel is well taken.it all helps.
cheers
arthur