I have a question concerning the panther starter crank: was this tool (B39, featured on the back half of the left side, above the sledge hammer) was a solid shaft, or hollow? I am going to rebuild the part with either hollow brass pipe or solid rod. I seem to recall it should be hollow but I find it hard to believe Dragon would leave that detail out. If you happen to know off hand it would really help out a lot. Thanks in advance.

D.

Not sure what kit you're working on, so the reference to part B39 is a bit of a mystery.

If you're talking about the tubular tool above the hammer on the rack on the right / starboard center side of the Panther G, then that's a wrench for adjusting the track tension (through holes on the rear hull).

(On the DML Panther G with Steel Wheels, kit 6370, that part is C46.)

One end (the rear end when in the tool rack) is a hex bar and the remainder is a hollow tube. There are two sets of two holes on the opposite end (forward when in the rack), each of two holes in each set are at 180 degree and the two sets are 90 degrees apart. These holes accept a metal bar (track pin) that's used to turn the wrench to adjust the tracks. The bar is slipped into which ever set of two holes will give the user the best leverage.

When in the tool rack, the rear set of holes is also used to secure the wrench to the rack. The rack has a short tube extending away from the side of the tank, the wrench slips over this, and a cotter pin made from strap (not round) steel goes in the short piece of tube to hold the wrench in place. The rear (hex) end of the wrench is secured in an open strap metal "box" on the tool rack.

On the Panther G, the hand starter crank handle is located on the right / starboard side forward tool rack above the ax, above the fire extinguisher, and below the "C" hook.

On Panther kit 6370, the starter crank handle is part K18.

HTH,

Please forgive me. I forgot to mention this is for a late Panther. I think this is the same tool you referenced, but the kit part in the Late A kit is a solid rod. I had thought it was hollow, and you seem to confirm this. Thanks.