Turning a 25 year old Ausf. A turret into a late model
Ausf. D Pantherturm-Pantherstellung
I have had this Tamiya Panther A kit in my closet for almost 25 years. Finally found some use for it. Old and outdated as far as the really “Slick PE Enhanced” kits of today go, I decided to fabricate what I needed for this build, thankfully I’ll only be “Scratchbuilding” some of the outer turret components. I don’t posess the talent or the patience to upgrade the whole 1970’s Tamiya kit with a scratchbuild and it would be easier (and smarter) to buy the Dragon version if I was doing the whole tank.
As you can see there is a lot of filling to be done.
The gun mantlet received a larger and deeper hole for the coax mg. The twin small holes for the gunsight (Ausf. D) were drilled, replacing the single large hole common to the A and G models.
The cupola hatch required some detailing as well.
Here’s the actual original -
Here’s the Tamiya original -
Here’s the modified Tamiya -
New “hoist points” were made from small paper clips cut off at the bend and attached with tenax liquid weld. The grab handles on the cupola hatch, loader’s hatch and above the loader’s hatch were modified from those in the kit. The pistol port plug is from the “parts box”. A quick coat of paint was applied to expose any need for additional filliing/sanding.
Settled on my crew and got the majority of the artillery damage done to the AA MG mount rail, simulated damage (bent and slightly twisted) to rear hoist-point as well. The hacksaw in the right hand of the walking crewman is an old H&R Castings piece, I had to fabricate a new blade from sheet styrene as the original was a mess. Loader’s periscope removed and hole filled.
Styrofoam pieces used for the ground ‘build up’. Smoke-stack/vent-pipe is a 1/48 scale Model Railroad accessory. Got the base coats on the figures and a bit more paint on the ‘pantherturm’ itself.
razorboy
WHOA, HOLD ON RAZORBOY!
The Pantherstellungs I’ve seen did NOT have the commander’s cupolas on them–they had a modified hatch, just flat on the turret top; no projecting cupola at all! There was also no AA rail on the turret top!
Like a driver’s hatch from KV is what they looked like–can you get that cupola off the top?
Here’s a pic I got from the web…
yeah I get that a lot Doog, here you go -
With an Ausf.D turm :
Here’s one with the late model cupola and AA rail.
Not all of the pantherturms were the “Manufactured Version” with added roof armour and flat back armour with no cupola. Many turrets were scavenged from the rebuild shops and sent to both the Gothic and Hitler Lines as they became available. There were over 200 Pantherturms in Italy alone and unless someone can produce a picture of each and every one of those, mine has a late model cupola and AA rail mount on it.
Thanks razorboy
rb
Well–.A pivture’s worth a thousand words then! [:D]
I learned something today! [8-]
I Started on the “HE Damage” tonight, here is what I’ve done so far:
rb
I learn something everyday - if I’m lucky!
No Worries doog, it’s all good!
rb
The work looks great so far!
did thay just manufacture the turets like that or are thay from damaged tanks?
Both ways stick man. The flat roofed models with a “Ferdinand” type hatch was probably made for that purpose, the Ausf. D and A model turrets were most likely commandeered from rebuild shops when production couldn’t meet the need.
rb
Worked a bit on the base today. Got down the celluclay and static grass, also did some touch-up to the shell crater area. Still lots of work to do everywhere but it had been a while since an update.
More pics when I progress further,
razorboy
rb
I like it! I like it a lot!
looks great so far this is an intresting build to wach because I’ve never seen one of thouse before!
[:)]
Razorboy, wouldn’t you think that the hatch would be open if they were all sitting around outside? What if they needed to jump in quick as a tank appeared n the horizon?
I’d open that hatch!
shouldnt there be some minor artillery damage to the sides too?
Doog, the hatch on top is blocked by the broken and bent AA rail, the rear is slightly ajar, left that way to show where they exited but not open enough to reveal no interior… THe hacksaw is for the AA rail in order to open the top hatch.
As for the damage to the sides, yes there will be, I’ve not even started to weather the turret yet, still working on the base and groundwork effects.
Thanks Guys,
razorboy
Added some small trees just blooming into early spring leaves. These are actually a weed common to this part of Virginia (Not sure what it’s called, sorry) and I picked it out of my side field. The trunk and limbs painted grey-brown and the new leaves were painted an apple-green. Still more ground work coming … soon I hope.
razorboy
razorboy, looks nice, but you should consider that they trees would have probably been cut down to prevent fouling the turn radius of the turret/gun. You should probably consider that and chop down the bigger ones where they’ll interfere with it.
Wouldn’t ya think that turret would be camo’d too? It would kinda stick right out there in plain dark yellow I would think? A dark green camo would really have blended it more, and if I were in that thing, I’d be fighting for a camo scheme!?
Bear with me doog, I’m not done yet.
Sapplings that size on the sides of the turret wouldn’t obstruct it’s movement, most of the pantherturms that I’ve seen pics of were placed facing forward towards the “Threat Area”. Small trees on either side would provide some degree of cover and in the case of this diorama setting I think they would have been left up, I’d a left 'em up if it was me. Not done painting the turret, trying to find the paint cup for my old Paasche airbrush so I can ‘pattern’ it.
I’ll keep you posted,
razorboy
Still have some more veggies to install but it’s coming along, thought I’d share a look with you guys. Very, very time consuming to get all of those weeds / grasses in place, one at a time… tedious man!
I also removed and reattached the lifting lugs on the turret roof front in the proper configuration - I had them in all wrong, too big and wrong angle but they’re straight now!
It’s still not finished doog -
I will finish the turret and the figures once the base is completed,
razorboy
Hey razor–looking good, really, I would see what you could do about weathering that turret though–not that it would get dirty like a tracked vehicle wouldm but some washes and fading/staining/streaking would take that “factory-fresh” look from it. It just looks a lttle too clean to me…[:-^]
Have you thought about adding some foliage loops to the side and maybe sticking some twigs, branches, etc, into them to add some additional camo?
The groundwork really looks great!
Razorboy I like this, a very interesting subject and use for an older kit.I like the guy with the hacksaw look’s like he’s in no mood for the job at hand [V].
A couple of thing’s, the vegetation around the impact crater should be bent away from the blast and not so high. Also the broken sapling should be either sheard off completly or also bent in the direction away from the blast.
Thanks panzerguy,
As I have said, not done yet.
The bent tree will be bent off of the base away from the blast once everthing is done, this will add … I don’t know exactly what coming off of the base will add but it will add something … I guess. The grass around the crater will actually be burnt somewhat, disfigured and cut off in different configurations.
Good eye and thanks for the response,
razorboy