Is there any difference between the track links on a Panther Ausf A compared to a Panther Ausf D?

I ask because I have my eye on a set of fruilmodel tracks on ebay, which are for a Panther D, but the panther in my stash is Dragon's Panther A.

TIA

I think, but am not 100% sure, that early Panther A's had the same trracks as the Panther D, these woudl be without Ice Cleats. Late "A's" would have the same tracks as the "G" did. but i stand to be corrected

Regards from the Swamp

Hawkeye

I wouldn't advise the early tracks for any Panther A, as they started production in Sept. '43 (well, 3 were built in August) which was the same month even the few remaining D's to be produced started getting the later tracks with the chevrons (Jentz, Panther: Quest for Combat Supremacy, although he does admit that "after the introduction of cleated track, the original track design was infrequently used as a substitute." p.47). While he doesn't explicitly state the A never had the earlier tracks mounted, he implies that that change had already been made prior to the A coming into production (for example, he mentions their introduction in the D section, not the A). So, while there may be a tiny bit of wiggle room (possible brief time overlap) according to my sources, I'd say it would be an exception only. Certainly if you were planning to enter it in any competitions be prepared to dig up and display source photos.
Anecdotally, I can say I've never seen a photo of an A with the early tracks, but perhaps someone has.