I am trying to find a good book on the Panther at my LHS but no luck. I bought two Tamiya Panther G Steel Wheel kits #35174 thinking this was a late G version and I could build one with steel wheels and one with normal rubber wheels. Few questions I need help with:
Is this Steel Wheel kit a late G?
Did steel wheel version ever have the side skirts on?
Tamiya has a Panther G late with different air filter exaust and different peices for the top vents on the haul, can anyone explain to me the difference in these kits and peices?
The single most useful book for Panthers is Jentz’ “Panther: The Quest for Combat Supremacy” by Schiffer. HB about $30 or so. Clearly and concisely lays out the production evolution for the line, along with prominent external feature changes so modellers can recognize which era a particular Panther was made in.
The Achtung Panzer #4 is the detailer’s dream. Lots of drawings of various Panther marks. Great accompanyment to Jentz’ book.
Tam Steel Wheel Panther: It’s an ausf G, the final major type. It has “mid” Ausf G production features like the rounded mantlet and normal engine deck. The Steel wheels are an oddity (only a few ever seen in photos) but if you use the rubber wheels, you’d get a “common” ausf G
Steel wheels w/skirting. Photos are rare. google for images. Maybe yes, maybe no. Certainly not prohibited. The mounts were standard. Photos will show you either way.
The boxed housing on the engine deck was a later modification, allowing for crew heating. This accompanied revised flame dampers on the exhasts to prevent glowing of pipes at night. Began in 10/44 production lines.
The large “can” with what looks like a fan on top were flame dampeners for night operations, the extended fan housing on the left side was for a crew compartment heater, all late Gs had them.
Addendum: Panthers with all steel wheels never made it past combat trials, the first set of road wheels would crack the track links so they were changed back to rubber tires.
Also I believe that some of the very last Panther G’s built by MAN were release with steel wheels on the rear station. It’s not known whether this was a trial or due to a shortage of rubber tyred road wheels.
Uhm…not quite. Steel wheel panthers did indeed make it into combat. A couple that spring to mind that I have seen pics of, at least one was in Kampgruppe Peiper of the 1rst SS during The Battle of The Bulge, another assigned to I/PzRgt 24, attached to the 116th Panzer Division at Aachen in the autumn of 1944. Check the link posted above my post for pics of a few more. Only about 20 or so were made but they did see combat, and I’ve never read or heard anything about the wheels cracking the track links.
I know this sounds lame but “I read it somewhere”! [:D]
I can’t remember where and wish I could but it said something about the steel road wheels at the first station cracking links when stricking objects like large rocks, railroad rails etc. and for this reason none went past combat trials.
I don’t know how accurate the info is and I’m the first to admit I can’t verify it right now so take it with a grain of salt. [B)]