I have only been a once in a blue moon modeler for the first 46 years of my life, but recently my wife (God bless her) told me I should try getting deeper into the hobby. I bought as a first attempt a Tamiya 1/35th scale Panzerkampfwagen V (Sd.kfz.171) Ausf.A and of course I hit a stumbling block in the first step. The model has two mufflers, the one on the left has two side pipes. From what I have read these were cooling pipes. However, since I am new as a serious modeler I am very limited in my research material, and I have not seen a photo of this assembly. I have no reason to doubt what I have read, but if I am going to do this seriously I am going to be serious so I want to see it with my own eyes. If anyone can direct me to a book or a website that shows this assembly I would be appreciative.
I hope this helps you in your build. It’s not a dead on shot of the rear, but it’s a walk around. It’s as easy as google my friend! http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gallery/ptgal.htm
They are indeed intake pipes for cooling the left side exhaust manifold.
Squadron Publications has a book on the Panther usually around $10.They cover the different exhaust layouts in detail.It’s a good start for research on your build.The book is called Panther In Action.
My thanks to one and all for your help and comments. The website did indeed have a photo that helped, although if the cooling pipes are on the left hand muffler then the negative was flipped before placing on the websit. And a special thank you to TD, I will have to add Panther in Action to my modest research material. The $10 price tag makes it almost foolish to turn down. Thanks again folks.
I think if you really want to get serious, you’ve got the wrong kit. The old Tamiya Panther is full of accuracy issues. It was good in it’s day, but, since you seem to be concerned about exhaust pipes, I would look at a Dragon D or A or Tamiya Panther G. The old Tamiya kit is a dog.
Steve
Thanks for the suggestion Steve. I didn’t mean to sound anal about the cooling pipes, but I saw no reason to include such an obvious mistake (if it had been) when it would have taken little or no effort to clip them off. However, I will check out the other models ASAP. And thanks for the advice.
Ozo
Welcome to the forums Ozo. Although Steve’s right about Tamiya’s Panther A being a rather flawed beast, it goes together pretty well and is actually nice easy transition back into the hobby. I built that one last year, and with a bit of effort, it made a fine looking Panther.
Nice looking model ABARNE. Hope mine looks half that nice when finished. Also I don’t know if you realised it or not but your photo helps to answer my original post. The cooling pipes on your model can be clearly seen sticking over the back of the tank body. Thanks for sharing.
I think the old and pretty cheap Tamiya kits are perfect to work on your basic skills. They go to gether pretty easy and if you make a mistake it won’t wreck your weekend. Just my 2 cents.
TC
John
Aye, I’ve had a few of the old Tamiya kits in my stash (ancient King Tiger, old Sherman, Tiger and Jagdpanther), and used those the past couple of years to get my mojo back and experiment! Great way to tune up modeling skills. [:)] Now that my old Italeri Panther is just about done I’m going to start tackling all these great Dragon kits in my stash. [8D]
I’m doing (slowly) the old Tamiya Panther now and using it as a zimmeritt guinea pig. I most likely will finish it, just to give perspective to all the Shermans in the display case. After carving pieces out of flash wafers to build Trumpeter’s K88, it’s pretty refreshing in its ease of assembly.
YES! Speak out people, don’t be ashamed of building your old seeming worthless kits! Aren’t they plastic too! [soapbox]
[:)]
Well they are certainly NOT worthless, unbuildable, - or in fact, cheap.
They can still be built into decent replicas, but issue is that they are stil being sold at modern expensive prices over the net, at HobbyLobby and the LHS’s - if you still have any.
And if/when these oldsters do show up on ebay “cheap” - well they don’t stay that way for long! Someone’s paying too much for those old-mold kits.
The point was that there are now nicer kits available for the same cash.
hey Kykeon[:D]-- I consider you to be one of the most knowledgable guys here on the forum-- you have helped me personally a couple of times(thanks dude)-- I gree with you about the cooling pipes, I am just curious-- why are the both on the left side?— thanks man— treadwell[:P]
I can answer that one if you don’t mind. [:)]
During the Panther A production run a crew compartment heater (Kampfraumheizung) was installed which used warm air provided by a fan in the left motor cooling system. In order to pull that off, the fan over the the left radiator assembly was modified so that it turned in the opposite direction to the fan on the right side (normally the purpose of these fans was to draw hot air out of the engine compartment to cool the exhaust manifolds). This fan then pulled air in from outside, forcing it through the radiator and into duct work connected to an outlet on the firewall. Flaps installed at the outlet were used to control the heater, and thus provide heat to the crew compartment.
But now, unfortunately, there was no longer a fan to duct heat out and cool the left side exhaust manifold. So in January of 1944 two pipes were mounted parallel to the left exhaust pipe on the rear of the Panther and attached at their base to holes in the armored guard. These were connected internally to the sheet metal cover that surrounded the left exhaust header, which re-established a path for cooling air to flow past the left exhaust header and out of these two pipes.
During the hot summer months when a crew compartment heater was not needed and to help with additional exhaust manifold cooling, the fan was reversed again to help keep the left exhaust manifold cool.
The cooling pipes were ALWAYS installed on the left side. However, there are a few photographs that show them mounted on the right side… but these were mistakenly remounted on the right side after they were captured. Several Panthers in museums also have them on the right side due to the restoration team mounting them incorrectly on the wrong side. [banghead]
Also, you might have seen a photograph or two where there is only one cooling pipe… in these examples it’s simply a matter of the other one having been damaged or broken off.
I hope that answers your question Treadwell. [:D]
p.s. My primary reference for this is a fantastic book called “Germany’s Panther Tank - The Quest for Combat Supremacy” by Thomas L. Jentz and published by Shiffer
holy smokes scott!!thanks for the quick answere!![:D]-- i totally understand it-- you really know your panthers!!- let me take this opportunity to say what a beautiful, beautiful job you have done on your latest[tup][tup]-- thanks man— tread[:P]
Thanks Treadwell, I appreciate it! [:)]
It pays to have a well stocked reference library my friend. [:D] I always do a lot of research for every build, and pick up a few references along the way. I really got into the Panther while doing my Panther Ausf. A for the Italeri build and I think it’s tied with the Tiger now as my favorite tank. [8D]
Hi - that looks great!
I just got back from the store with the same model and I’m a newbie looking for advice.
So, where should I start - as per instructions which seems to be assembly first then paint, or the other way around? I was thinking I should probably paint the base coat of yellow and then crew members and any metallic parts first…
Whaddya reckon?
Hi Dazzjazz. I see you brought a 4 year old thread back from the dead.
I assemble all base color parts first i.e. hull, turret, gun etc. I will paint them the base. If the wheels are rubber, as in this case, I paint them separately. Some modelers will assemble everything including the tracks and spray it all base and then paint the appropriate parts their required colors. It’s a matter of preference.