PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. A turret track bracket question

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I’m currently working on the old Italeri PzKpfw Panther Ausf. A and I’m at the point in the assembly where it’s time to attach the spare track brackets to the turret sides. The kit instructions are a bit vague as to exact placement so I began digging through my Panther books and scouring the internet for photos and diagrams (gotta have something to do while my wife watches her chick flicks so I don’t start jabbing a pencil in my eye to ease the pain [:O] [:D]…but I digress…).

What I found was only one or two photos that show the brackets mounted on the turret, the rest did not have them installed, and this is out of probably a couple hundred photos that I looked at.

I’m beginning to think that I’d be better of not even installing them. I would imagine that when the designers/engineers at Italeri were designing this kit they must have used one of the few that had the brackets on the turret as their “inspiration” for engineering their kit.

What do you all think? As it stands right now I’m building mine as a Panther A as one that served with “Grossdeutschland”.

2

Scott, I’d say it comes down to personal choice. I found about a half-dozen pics in my references showing the track links hanging from the turret but it was difficult to make out the brackets themselves. The specific pics I found showed both vehicles in the field and vehicles loaded onto railcars for transport to the front.

3

Here is a GD Panther with spare track on the turret;

Since this is a field modification, I wouldn’t worry too much about exact placement.

HTH

4

Beautiful!!! That’s a pretty clear shot, and as an added bonus I now have an “inspiration picture” to model my Panther after. [8D] [tup] [tup] Thank you Kykeon! [:)]

Any ideas as to where that photo was taken?

5

Mt Squadron book shows all three versions with and without links. More photos are without. I agree with Ruddrat. Might come down to personal choice unless you can prove that a particular unit used them exclusively.

6

Sorry Scott, no location was listed at all. The photo is from Schiffer’s; Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland, page 112. Note the piece of schurzen on the turret roof.

Also note this is a early Ausf G, not a A.

Here are some turrets in a scrap yard, note the two different types of placements for the spare tracks and the two types of hangers;

The foreground turret looks like a late Ausf D with the pistol port, but with the later model cupola.

7

Never seen that. I figured you were mentioning the rain guard, but I can see that is not the case.

8

Since it was a field modification then the only thing I really need to worry about us have the pairs spaced right so the track fits on the racks.

Great stuff guys, thanks! [:)]

9

Hey if you guys are interested in some cool Panther mods, check out the book PANZERWRECKS #1 available at www.panzerwrecks.com There are some very cool shots of Panthers with Supplemental turret armor and wierd engine deck armor–HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!