Part 1 ~ I don't know what it's called but this chain mounted plug when the bow machine gun is not being used:



Photo credit from:

http://missing-lynx.com/gallery/german/panthergdb_1.html


Now part 2 of my question... does anyone have any detailed images of the real thing or where to read up on this?



Thanks for any help!!!





Jeff

never seen it ,
doubt you'd want that thing swinging around the barrel .

If there was such a thing , I doubt it'd be chained there


EDIT -- seems to be one on that world famous pic of the G with the infrared system ....
EDIT Edit -- no mention in Spielberger book .

Hi Jeff,

Photo of the actual plug in use....it is real.



Cheers,
Joe

Oh, thanks Joe! I knew it was real I just couldn't find ANY actual images of it. Any clue as to what it's called?

This is a beautiful start... at least I know what it looks like when in place.

Now just what the rest of it looks like but I will continue looking!





Jeff

Now I'm interested if it's for fording or just weather .
I'm surprised there is no text concerning it in Spielberger's book

... this is the pic I was referring to :

Considering how stripped down that particular tank is, I have to wonder if the plug is something that was only present/used on vehicles at the factory or in rear-area maintenance depots, or otherwise in transit to/from the operational unit.

Also not completely convinced that's a chain and not just a piece of string. Could be either from that photo.

What are they loading into the tank in Joe's picture ?

Radio equipment , yeah ?


......... and is that a female face peaking out of the hatch ?

Hi guys,

Here is a close up of the plug and chain.



Cheers,
Joe

Thanks Joe! Beautiful! Anymore you can find I'd appreciate as I'll owe ya buddy!

Pictures ARE worth a thousand guesses, huh. I knew it was a chain anyway.




Jeff

I did find that the correct verbiage for this is a MG ball mount plug.

Now to do more searches under that title.

If I could only see the detail of how the chain is attached I think I can manage the rest. Joes help has been tremendous!!!





Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Go here to Ken's Panther build.....excellent detail photos of the plug and mounting method.

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1121&p=41611

Cheers,
Joe

Totally indebted to you Joe!

I am finishing up an RC 1/16 Tamiya Late Production Panther G and installed the hull MG flash in the mantlet, so this "plug in" will come in handy since I don't want to splice two flash units together.

So now I know how to replicate one.





Jeff

What's equally interesting in the 3rd pic (the Houffalize Panther) of Kent Wiik's build is the vestiges of original color. The dark yellow looks more like a light creamy yellow.

I can see why these are so rare. Hanging off that little chain it would be easy to snap off and lose in battle.

A similar case would be the spare tire retaining rod that secures the spare tire in the back of VW buses from 1968-1979. Small and easy to misplace.