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Armor/AFV: Axis - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Axis forces during World War II.
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Meng/Takom Panther A
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 01:06 AM UTC
Well, I bit the bullet and ordered Takom's late "A".
Removed by original poster on 03/19/18 - 10:38:00 (GMT).
retiredyank
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 01:35 AM UTC
Wow. I didn't realize how much this thread had digressed. I'm of the opinion "buy what you want. build what you want". I prefer a kit, with an interior. It is nice that Takom has picked up the bill, on both accuracy and an interior. If you like Meng's price tag and don't mind sacrificing some accuracy, more power to you. Can't we set aside our differences and remember what this site is about? Modelers(and historians) helping modelers. I have little room to speak, but I hope that makes it ring more true.
Kraftstoff
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Canada
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 02:20 AM UTC
I dunno, but as a casual observer of this thread, I would be reluctant to pass any kind of judgement on a kit or kits that I haven't built.
Restaurant critics eat the food, movie critics see the movie...
It's pretty straightforward really.
janders
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: July 10, 2016
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 03:00 AM UTC
Agree with above. I'm very interested in both kits, so was following this tread.

Had to read Hilbert's post twice (as it didn't jive with my viewing of the sprues) to realize he hadn't seen / touched / built both kits, but was just offering conjecture based on prior experience with Takom and Meng.

And sure he has the right to free speech
And sure conjecture based on prior kits by specific manufacturers has some value.
But I admit I didn't find it added any value to the discussion.

Sure became a tempest in a tea kettle thought

27-1025
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North Carolina, United States
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 04:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Well, I bit the bullet and ordered Takom's late "A".


Same here. Ordered the mid-early production. Should be here by Monday or Tuesday.
Bodeen
#026
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 04:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Hubert is completely within his rights to have an OPINION on the kits based on his past experience with kits from both companies. Whethet or not his opinion carries any weight with you is a different matter entirely. I have not seen Black Panther but I can field an opinion based on the previous Marvel movies I have seen. Obviously, my opinion would not be as indepth or revealing as the opinion of someone who had seen the movie but that is for others to decide.

I have not built a Meng kit yet, but the Takom kit I have built was plagued by poor fitting parts and some lacking details.


You guys are in the wrong for being so dismissive and rude.


Youre 100% right, everyone is entitled to their opinions.

I just happen to base mine on having build both kits, rather than not owning either.

I agree with your position about previous Takom kits, they were challenging to build. Their A is unlike anything previous from them. Please excuse the gaps here and there (hull joins mostly) as the model still comes apart for painting.









And the Meng A:






I build the Takom kit up as I4 'Elna' and the Meng kit up as I1 'Ursula', both from I.Pz.Regt.6, attached to Panzer Lehr. Both these ladies were knocked out on 11 July in Normandy. I built them before they were KO'd.


FANTASTIC!!!! These kits are amazing. I guess I'll have to get one...probably the Takom kit. Thanks for sharing.
adamant
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New Zealand
Joined: March 25, 2009
KitMaker: 152 posts
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 04:28 AM UTC
I've been eyeing those three Takom kits up on BNA models (early,mid, late) and agree, they look the shizz wouldn't mind one of each! Hopefully, things work out and I manage to get one of each!
Grindcore
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New York, United States
Joined: September 23, 2006
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 05:29 AM UTC
I ordered the Early A and was going to order the other two, but then I saw Takom is going to do the Late A with Zimmerit, I'll wait for that.
Roast
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Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: December 08, 2004
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 05:30 AM UTC
Glad to see that we are talking about the original subject of this thread again.

Since I already have the Meng kit, I will order Takom's Panther A mid-production.
Thanks for input on these two kits, especially Sam's.
m4sherman
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Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 06:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Wow. I didn't realize how much this thread had digressed. I'm of the opinion "buy what you want. build what you want". I prefer a kit, with an interior. It is nice that Takom has picked up the bill, on both accuracy and an interior. If you like Meng's price tag and don't mind sacrificing some accuracy, more power to you. Can't we set aside our differences and remember what this site is about? Modelers(and historians) helping modelers. I have little room to speak, but I hope that makes it ring more true.


The Meng kit has issues? I missed that somehow. What are they?
sam_dwyer
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 09:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Wow. I didn't realize how much this thread had digressed. I'm of the opinion "buy what you want. build what you want". I prefer a kit, with an interior. It is nice that Takom has picked up the bill, on both accuracy and an interior. If you like Meng's price tag and don't mind sacrificing some accuracy, more power to you. Can't we set aside our differences and remember what this site is about? Modelers(and historians) helping modelers. I have little room to speak, but I hope that makes it ring more true.


The Meng kit has issues? I missed that somehow. What are they?


Some have called out that the dish shape in the wheels is a bit off, and that the bolt detail on the wheels isnt right. I see it, but theyre incredibly minor issues (i dont see the bolt thing, but i get the dish isnt 100% right).

Also some people pointed out the shape of the mantlet is off, well its been compared to the plans in Panzer Tracts and found to be spot on, so i'll discount that claim.

Sam
Venko555
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Bulgaria
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 12:29 PM UTC
I'm also curious what issues has the Meng Panther A, if there's any?
It's on my shop list
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 06:03 PM UTC
Did all late Panther As have zimmerit applied?
jbilbrey01
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 06:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I'm also curious what issues has the Meng Panther A, if there's any?
It's on my shop list


While I do not have the Meng kit, there has been some discussion about the accuracy of various portions of the hull and turret front [as well as discussions of the accuracy of the DML kit and plans used for the review] based off this review:

http://www.rochmmodel.com/SALON/RHS18.HTML

This is addition to comments about some flash and soft detailing on the Meng's roadwheels. Having seen Sam Dwyer's, David Parker's, and others' work, I think a perfectly good Panther Ausf. A can be built from the Meng kit.

I do have the Takom kit of the early Ausf. A. The reason I bought it over a Meng kit had to do with the "letterbox" slot for the hull MG and the possibility to build it without zimmerit. The presence of an interior was secondary.

After looking over the Takom kit and from what I have seen online, I don't know how practical it would be to try kitbashing the two into the "perfect" Panther Ausf. A. For starters, the lower hulls are constructed differently, so one cannot just place the Takom interior in the Meng lower hull. I would expect similar issues using the Takom turret interior inside the Meng turret due to the "frame" in the Meng's kit.
brekinapez
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 08:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Did all late Panther As have zimmerit applied?


Yes, the last five months of Ausf A production fell within the zimmerit interval.
Bodeen
#026
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Pennsylvania, United States
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Posted: Friday, March 16, 2018 - 04:19 AM UTC
Just ordered the Meng Ausf. A (late). Got it for 35.99 + free shipping. Couldn't pass it up. Looking forward to building it. Thanks to everyone here for their input. I hadn't thought about getting another Panther until I came across this post.
Pak_40
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Minnesota, United States
Joined: August 12, 2003
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Posted: Friday, March 16, 2018 - 05:19 AM UTC
I have the RFM Panther G, the Takom Panther A 267/171, and the Ammo Kingtiger 1945.

They all look very nice and will be great for building AU/'What-if' scenarios.

1). My AU Panther A will not feature 'Zummerit', it will be Afrika Korps and a command vehicle of the 5th Pz.Rgt./21st Pz.Div. The lack of a lot of PE is a very good thing IMHO.

2). The Late G will be either 3rd or 14th Pz.Div. AU, of course...

3). The King Tiger will be the C type with the L/68 and be with the GD Pz.Gren.Div. Also, AU...

Too many good modelers do real panzers from real units, good for them. However, I do not work that way.

BTW, I absolutely love all three kits.

Chris
cabasner
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Nevada, United States
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Posted: Friday, March 23, 2018 - 01:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I ordered the Early A and was going to order the other two, but then I saw Takom is going to do the Late A with Zimmerit, I'll wait for that.


Thanks for mentioning the Zimmerit forthcoming. I am in the middle of building a Dragon Panther G (the steel wheel version) which does not have Zimm, and if I do another Panther, I want one with Zimmerit, and I don't have the skill to do it myself.
retiredyank
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Posted: Friday, March 23, 2018 - 02:03 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I ordered the Early A and was going to order the other two, but then I saw Takom is going to do the Late A with Zimmerit, I'll wait for that.


Thanks for mentioning the Zimmerit forthcoming. I am in the middle of building a Dragon Panther G (the steel wheel version) which does not have Zimm, and if I do another Panther, I want one with ZImmerit, and I don't have the skill to do it myself.


Everything I've read/watched about applying zimmerit looks pretty simple. I have ordered LionRoar's zimmerit applicator and will be attempting it, with Milliput or Bondo.
freddietello
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Alicante, Spain / España
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Posted: Friday, March 23, 2018 - 03:33 PM UTC

Quoted Text

the RMF Panther will be ace.

I'm building the RFM kit and it's simply amazing, it's a modelling experience that I would recommend everyone. Even if it takes some, time to finish it, the finely detailed interior building gives you a true perspective of how these machines were built. The only thing I miss is a more elaborated painting guide for the interior.
https://www.facebook.com/federico.collada/media_set?set=a.10215230922223924.1073741862.1159840431&type=3&pnref=story
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