Either kit is very good from what I read. I have the Takom Panther A only because I already have a Dragon Panther G on display.

Please note you will need Zimmerit on your Panther A so select with care

I'm looking at both the Takom and Rye Field Models Panthers with interiors. Anyone have any insight on which is the better kit? I don't want two tanks, and I don't care all that much about A vs. G, other than does someone make Zimmerit for the As?

Please note you will need Zimmerit on your Panther A so select with care

The late kit can be built as a Command Panther as well.

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The late kit can be built as a Command Panther as well.

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It has the external parts for a Command Panther, and it has the turret internal radios and transformers, but I believe that the hull is missing all of the internal Command items - such as the extra radio set and the generator.

I'll be happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

David

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Please note you will need Zimmerit on your Panther A so select with care

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No you can build a Takom early A without zimmerit. There were a number of early A's without zimm, I just finished their early A as 'Elna' of Pz Lehr in Normandy:





Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

Sam

Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

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Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

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Thanks, Sam, but ease of build is not a factor. Best kit for accuracy and detail. The RFM kit seems to have more detail from what I'm hearing, but more parts doesn't always mean a more accurate vehicle. Build ease aside, are you still sold on the Takom?

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Please note you will need Zimmerit on your Panther A so select with care

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No you can build a Takom early A without zimmerit. There were a number of early A's without zimm, I just finished their early A as 'Elna' of Pz Lehr in Normandy:





Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

Sam

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Please note you will need Zimmerit on your Panther A so select with care

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No you can build a Takom early A without zimmerit. There were a number of early A's without zimm, I just finished their early A as 'Elna' of Pz Lehr in Normandy:





Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

Sam

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Sam,

Your Panther looks great! Is the turret barrel heavy, or is it an optical illusion from the camera angle? Based on your build I'll probably get the Takom A.

HI, no I think in the pic I hadn't popped the turret down properly. Id had the whole thing apart to photopraph (turret off, engine deck off, drivers hatch plate off) and sometimes when re-assembling i'll miss something like the turret sitting properly.

The way Takom engineered this kit, you can sit it on the bench and traverse the turret 360 degrees with your little finger, theres that much precision in it.

Sam

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Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

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Thanks, Sam, but ease of build is not a factor. Best kit for accuracy and detail. The RFM kit seems to have more detail from what I'm hearing, but more parts doesn't always mean a more accurate vehicle. Build ease aside, are you still sold on the Takom?

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Id take the Takom over the RFM any day. RFM radiators arent accurate, RFM is missing detail from the gun breech. Takoms' interior is more accurate, and carries more detail than the RFM interior, though on the Befehls there are some missing parts.

The engineering on the Takom kit is next level, an example is the drivers dial panel, which is mounted on the top of the transmission, fits with less than 1mm clearance, to the radio rack which is mounted to the upper hull. They got the tolerances that close.

Having said that, the hull parts are tricky to get together (the sponson floors particularly). The RFM interior fits well, but the turret floor is too tight in the hull floor plate, which scrapes paint off. The Takom turret basket assembly, on the other hand, fits perfectly into the hull floor area.

Hope this helps

Sam

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Please note you will need Zimmerit on your Panther A so select with care

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No you can build a Takom early A without zimmerit. There were a number of early A's without zimm, I just finished their early A as 'Elna' of Pz Lehr in Normandy:





Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

Sam

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Having built all the current Panthers - i'd go with Takoms' for accuracy, and ease of build.

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Thanks, Sam, but ease of build is not a factor. Best kit for accuracy and detail. The RFM kit seems to have more detail from what I'm hearing, but more parts doesn't always mean a more accurate vehicle. Build ease aside, are you still sold on the Takom?

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Id take the Takom over the RFM any day. RFM radiators arent accurate, RFM is missing detail from the gun breech. Takoms' interior is more accurate, and carries more detail than the RFM interior, though on the Befehls there are some missing parts.

The engineering on the Takom kit is next level, an example is the drivers dial panel, which is mounted on the top of the transmission, fits with less than 1mm clearance, to the radio rack which is mounted to the upper hull. They got the tolerances that close.

Having said that, the hull parts are tricky to get together (the sponson floors particularly). The RFM interior fits well, but the turret floor is too tight in the hull floor plate, which scrapes paint off. The Takom turret basket assembly, on the other hand, fits perfectly into the hull floor area.

Hope this helps

Sam

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This all jives with my research and supports my conclusion, so I appreciate the info here.

For my money, Rye Field is a bit off the mark; I have NOT purchased or built one of their kits, so I may be wrong on that, but I have watched a lot of review/build videos and for me Rye Field gets a red flag, much as Trumpeter kits do!

There are always exceptions though and I'd love to give Rye Field my money if they came out with a cracker of a kit. They seem to need a bit more time to get it right, however.