So Takom is bringing their Panther A family into business now but what exactly are the differences between the 3 variants they offer? There is an early, mid and a late Panther A.
It seems the late version is a 2in1 with the option to build a Befehlspanther but there has to be much more changes to produce 3(4) types right?



cheers Chris

This thread is about the Meng Panthers, but has a picture of the Takom hulls.

Early had the flap type bow mg opening, mid has the ball type and late has a new periscope. I'm not sure of any other differences, but those are the ones that can be used to ID the variants.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/263929&page=1

Takom's images don't really show enough detail to be sure.

As far as I know, the only external difference on a late Panther A hull was that the joint between the top deck and the side armor was no longer an interlocked mortice joint--it was butted together as a straight, linear weld.

The switchover to this new hull was never really completed before the transition to the Ausf. G, so both types of joint were seen through the end of Ausf. A production.

Then it would make most sense to buy the 2in1(late) version to build the Befehlspanther if you already got the Dragon Panther A (6358) kit.
Thanks for info on this!

cheers Chris

According to people who have the kit, the Late version includes the following parts for the Befehls option:

External antennae
Radio set inside turret
Transformers inside turret

Which means that it's missing the following parts:

GG400 generator
Pen and pad holders for both radio positions
Power cables for turret radios
Additional boxes in hull and turret (about 10 of them I think)
Fu 8 radio set to replace the hull's Fu 5
Range control for Fu 8
Toolbox for generator

There may also have been a chair in the loader's position for a Befehlspanther - I'm not sure yet. But it's not in the kit.

Takom have dropped the ball with this option.

David

But it's still just a kit.. Not a 100% replica... And as long it looks like the real tank it's ok..even if not all rivets or radios are included... Remember it's just a hobby..... be happy they have released it....

No one is asking for 100% as that is impossible, but that is a fair list of missing items. Merely adding an extra antenna and radio doesn't cut it. If you continue to make excuses for shortcomings you will continue to get shortcomings.

It's more like they did a field expedient Befehlspanzer as opposed to a dedicated vehicle. Really disappointing how these interiors keep forgetting storage items that are clearly illustrated in manuals and photos.

We're beyond doing kits based on stripped captured vehicles?