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French Post-War Panther(A) pictures?
Shalta
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 06:50 AM UTC
Hello... No idea what discussion group to use, as there's no 'Cold War' or 'French' category.
But I'm curious if anyone happens to have any pictures or information regarding the markings used by French Panthers?

Just wondering as I've intended on building one for quite a while now, and I have no idea what to do about markings for it.

I saw a decal set that had a Panther A that was either what-if or not actually used for one in Indochina (It said the plan was cancelled*), and I've seen a few pictures of a display piece with a big blue and white French emblem (Dont know it off the top of my head) on it, but I'm not certain it's period-correct.

Thanks for any help I can get.
Also kinda curious about Czech post-war Panzer IVs, if anyone has a picture of any, but it's not an immediate worry.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 12:43 PM UTC
A good source of French Panthers pictures (both FFI and post-war): http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/engins-blindes/chars?task=view&id=76

Panthers of the Free French Forces:















ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 01:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I saw a decal set that had a Panther A that was either what-if or not actually used for one in Indochina (It said the plan was cancelled*)


It is believed that the French sent a single, heavily modified Panther to Indo-China for evaluation under tropical conditions, however AFAIK the story hasn't been verified up to this date. Some say it was returned after a few weeks, some go even further and say that the NVA actually captured this vehicle and put it into service(!); a few American soldiers swear they saw a Panther sometime during their tour in Vietnam (at least a decade later).


Quoted Text

Also kinda curious about Czech post-war Panzer IVs, if anyone has a picture of any, but it's not an immediate worry.


Everything you wanted to know about Czech (and basically any post-war usage of) Pz.IVs (article in Czech, feel free to use Google Translate): http://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/59715/-Pz-Kpfw-IV-v-sluzbach-cudzich-armad
Frenchy
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 06:17 PM UTC
Captured Panthers (Dompaire, Vosges 1944) :







H.P.
phantom8747
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 07:05 PM UTC
Any 1/35 decals for the French Panthers?
joepanzer
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 07:19 PM UTC
At first glance, it looks like they're wearing a Maple Leafs logo!
TheGreatPumpkin
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DECALCOMANIACS
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 07:45 PM UTC
Hi Bob,
This is a "yes and no" answer. No, there isn't too much out there. BUT, I can make you up a set of markings for a couple of vehicles. PM me if you are interested.
Regards,
Georg
Shalta
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 08:35 PM UTC
Ok, thanks for all the pictures! Ill take a look at that link soon and see if I can find anything else.
I didnt expect to wake up to seeing my question answered, but that was certainly a pleasant surprise.

Edit: Re-read the post, and thanks for the link about the Czech Pz IV too!
davejr
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 09:13 PM UTC
Very interesting subject!!
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 09:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Any 1/35 decals for the French Panthers?


Although not a dedicated Free French/post-war French Army Panther decal sheet, Brach Models' '1/35 German Vehicles in French Service 1944/1945 Decals' set does supply decals for at least two (perhaps even more) Free French Panthers:



'Kayserberg' (see the winterwash scheme in Frenchy's post)...




...and 'Dauphine'.








Shalta
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 10:22 PM UTC
Any idea where to buy that Brach decal sheet? A quick google search shows that it has decals for the specific vehicle I'm interested in (The Panther G in Frenchy's last picture*), but I cant seem to find the sheet on eBay, which is a bit sad.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 10:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Any idea where to buy that Brach decal sheet?


http://www.brachmodel.it/cataloghi.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=garden_flypage.tpl&product_id=185&category_id=11
ianalderman
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 11:25 PM UTC
Note that the decal sheet spelling of "kaysersberg" is incorrect.

Ian
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 11:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Note that the decal sheet spelling of "kaysersberg" is incorrect


That's right, an 'E' is missing...

Mrclark7
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 12:56 AM UTC
I too like that kayserberg version.
Shalta
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 01:13 AM UTC


Thanks again! Couldnt navigate their site myself. (Just woke up, low focus)
Luckily I'm not getting it for the whitewashed one, but for the one with the big blue and white markings on it. Alot more visible IMO... And I've never tried whitewash, So, I'd rather not mess it up.

Going to order those in a few days!
Mrclark7
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 01:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text



Thanks again! Couldnt navigate their site myself. (Just woke up, low focus)
Luckily I'm not getting it for the whitewashed one, but for the one with the big blue and white markings on it. Alot more visible IMO... And I've never tried whitewash, So, I'd rather not mess it up.

Going to order those in a few days!


I like the white wash version, however I have never done zimmermit and would worry of messing it up, lol
Shalta
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 01:33 AM UTC

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Thanks again! Couldnt navigate their site myself. (Just woke up, low focus)
Luckily I'm not getting it for the whitewashed one, but for the one with the big blue and white markings on it. Alot more visible IMO... And I've never tried whitewash, So, I'd rather not mess it up.

Going to order those in a few days!


I like the white wash version, however I have never done zimmermit and would worry of messing it up, lol

It does look nice, but I'm mostly trying to keep to a minimum of using the same pattern for a vehicle... Planning on trying whitewash for a what-if KV-5 someday.

Though, Never tried zimmerit myself, but I'm a bit less worried about messing it up compared to whitewash, I've already got a Soviet captured Panther A (T-V*) to build 'soon' that needs it, lol.

... And no, I dont know why I like captured Panthers so much.
Mrclark7
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 01:52 AM UTC

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Thanks again! Couldnt navigate their site myself. (Just woke up, low focus)
Luckily I'm not getting it for the whitewashed one, but for the one with the big blue and white markings on it. Alot more visible IMO... And I've never tried whitewash, So, I'd rather not mess it up.

Going to order those in a few days!


I like the white wash version, however I have never done zimmermit and would worry of messing it up, lol

It does look nice, but I'm mostly trying to keep to a minimum of using the same pattern for a vehicle... Planning on trying whitewash for a what-if KV-5 someday.

Though, Never tried zimmerit myself, but I'm a bit less worried about messing it up compared to whitewash, I've already got a Soviet captured Panther A (T-V*) to build 'soon' that needs it, lol.

... And no, I dont know why I like captured Panthers so much.


I also lean towards captured's also. If I build another Mark IV I it will be German.
Shalta
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 02:08 AM UTC

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Thanks again! Couldnt navigate their site myself. (Just woke up, low focus)
Luckily I'm not getting it for the whitewashed one, but for the one with the big blue and white markings on it. Alot more visible IMO... And I've never tried whitewash, So, I'd rather not mess it up.

Going to order those in a few days!


I like the white wash version, however I have never done zimmermit and would worry of messing it up, lol

It does look nice, but I'm mostly trying to keep to a minimum of using the same pattern for a vehicle... Planning on trying whitewash for a what-if KV-5 someday.

Though, Never tried zimmerit myself, but I'm a bit less worried about messing it up compared to whitewash, I've already got a Soviet captured Panther A (T-V*) to build 'soon' that needs it, lol.

... And no, I dont know why I like captured Panthers so much.


I also lean towards captured's also. If I build another Mark IV I it will be German.

Can't blame that, lol.
Personally, I usually prefer to build vehicles in service with their original country, but I like captured German stuff... No idea why, the idea just appeals to me.
BootsDMS
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 03:21 AM UTC
The Chars Francais site indicates that the Panther was used post-war by a tank battalion (503 RCC?)- but my limited French is letting me down here.

If so that would indicate, I imagine, around 30 - 40 Panthers serving on after 1945, presumably until eventually replaced by M47s.

I just wonder if these were repainted - olive drab perhaps? And whether the MGs were replaced by say, .30 Brownings, although I suspect there would have been no shortage of 7.92mm ammo.

I am interested in this as a model Panther on the display tables, in say, OD with French number plates (any other markings?) would look sufficiently different and interesting.

Can anyone help in confirming any of this - or indeed - with any further information at all?
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 01:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I am interested in this as a model Panther on the display tables, in say, OD with French number plates (any other markings?)


I was wondering about the same. AFAIK, most of the captured German vehicles used by the allies in the Western Front (well, at least by the Americans and the British...) were repainted in OD. Any thoughts?
Frenchy
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 02:15 PM UTC
According to Char-français website, 2 units received Panthers after 1945 (A and G variants) : the 503e RCC and the 6e Cuirassiers, but other units may have received a few as well...Regarding camo, there are some infos here :

http://www.milinfo.org/article-nouveautes-librairie-peintures-de-guerre-un-siecle-de-camouflage-de-l-armee-fran-aise-125511921.html

Most of the captured German or Italian vehicles were painted overall green (US Army OD and maybe British dark green), but some remained in the former users colors.

Markings are usually missing, save for the French Army registration plates...

H.P.
ayovtshev
#490
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 02:35 PM UTC
Shalta, speaking about captured Panthers's:


These were used by Bulgarian First Army in Hungary(spring 1945).
The caption says where they came from.

Pictures are for discussion purposes only.
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 02:59 PM UTC
Thanks, Frenchy. Did captured German AFVs retain their original secondary weapons (MG 34/42) while serving in the post-war French Army? Also, what was the standard color for French AFVs during the late 40s - early '50s?

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