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In-Box Review
Video Review included
135
Panther D V2
Panther Ausf. D V2
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by: Adam Mann [ MANNLOON ]

SUMMARY
Highs: Interesting rare subject of a big German cat.
Lows: Almost all parts date from 2002 Panther D kit, DS tracks, No PE, two piece barrel.
Verdict: Less than impressed by my first look.
Percentage Rating
68%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: 6822
  PUBLISHED: Mar 14, 2016
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 78.00%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 86.16%

Our Thanks to Dragon USA!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Adam Mann (Mannloon)
FROM: WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

I am a professional video game artist specializing in hard surface modeling and PBR texturing. I started making armor models a few years ago and have been trying since to translate my digital skills to paint and plastic, which isn't always easy. My specialty is German Armor in 1/35.

Copyright ©2021 text by Adam Mann [ MANNLOON ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Discussion from ML
MAR 15, 2016 - 05:35 AM
I never know how to rate these score, but I'm glad my point came across. I'm a teacher and something that is failing at my school is a 60. So I suppose a 58 would have been more appropriate.
MAR 15, 2016 - 08:41 AM
I am so pleased to have seen this informative review on this latest Dragon offering. Having always been deeply interested in WWII German armour and the development of the Tigers and Panthers this kit of the Panther prototype was on my "To Get" list. Not anymore. Having already easily accumulated far more kits than I can reasonably expect to build in my lifetime (what suckers we are...) I am at that point where I look back and wonder in abject amazement at the FREAKIN' CRAZY prices that companies like Dragon now insist upon, and to see a kit that would easily cost north of a $100 (CDN) for a reissue of 14-year old parts with feeble updates and necessary plastic surgery simply to fix what Dragon was too cheap and lazy to fix IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH! I, for one, won't buy a whole bunch more from any company that insults us by issuing four-plus versions of everything and then sliding a piece of questionable...stuff, past us like this kit, and others like it, for simply unsustainable prices. Who out there has that money to waste and when was the last time you saw a 14-year old modeler who could afford these prices?
MAR 16, 2016 - 04:44 AM
The low parts count can be easily explained- DRAGON has dispensed with "Magic Tracks", in lieu of the greatly detested "DS" Tracks- What was so "magical" about "Magic Tracks, anyway? They are "fiddly" to assemble, and great care must be taken with them, during and after assembly. I much prefer resin or metal Tracks for my German WWII vehicles. What would make sense, (to me, anyway), is if there were some way to manufacture "clickable" plastic tracks, or really convincing "link-and-length" Tracks- The technology exists to do so. If you will kindly notice, obviously the "high parts count" of many tracked-vehicle kits, (other than DRAGON's), is due to the inclusion of individual Track Links, not because of anything special, otherwise. Even certain AFV kits which include the extra parts for "interiors", will have an even greater number of parts because of the inclusion of "indy" Track Links, which is a GOOD thing...
MAR 18, 2016 - 03:50 PM
Concur- ANOTHER "NEW!!!" DRAGON PanzerCrapwagen that I WON'T buy!!!
MAR 18, 2016 - 03:55 PM
Dragon has followed up with an updated kit: http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/prodd.asp?pid=DRA6830 Didn't exoect it to be out that soon.
JUN 23, 2016 - 04:53 PM
JUN 25, 2016 - 09:12 PM
How does this kit vary from the other Dragon Panther proto-type, DRA-6830? Hopefully Dragon learned from the let-downs on this kit when they issued the latter. Anyone care to share any insights on this?
SEP 27, 2016 - 06:50 AM
See discussion here http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1466768231
SEP 27, 2016 - 07:07 AM
   
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