Well here it is, Dragon #6268.
It was a fun build and some few needed mods.
I started with asking my LHS for an exchange for the upper hull.
I got a warped kit from start, luckily only the upper hull was the only part that suffered the most warping.
The LHS happily let me have a new upper hull from another Dragon 6268 box.
Since I start with a warp kit I dont know if anyone had the same problem or not, but here are the list that I had to adjust for this kit;
The track rack is to big. You wont be able to hang those tracks. Probably because Dragon needs to accomodate the hole for the locking pin. This is corrected be replacing them with part from Dragon Panther D. Now just add holes for the locking pin.
The supplied tracks does not fit correctly and make a nice joint. This is replaced with Friul.
The wood rack was 2mm to long. This collide with the wire hanger next to it.
Be careful with choosing the last road wheel. If you choose the metal road wheel, then the torsion bar is different.
The right fan’s screen wont fit because the diameter was 0.7mm to big.
Those are what I can remember of the top of my brain.
Ben it looks really good. Like the texture added to the side of the turret.
I built the steel wheel G and you’re right about those hangers. That’s why I only put the spares on the turret. No fit problem with the screens on mine.
Don’t know if everything is glued up or your have some stuff dry fitted for the pics. The left drive sprocket looks like it has a little toe-in.
No zim for this model. This will reflect turret number 421 belong to the 11th Pz Div. Bavaria. It has no zim because it is a late G model.
Yeah, them hangers are a pain to figure the approach to have it mod.
Them wheels, and the rest are not yet glued. I just dry fit them to make sure everything is supposed to be what they are.
And keep in mind that Friul tracks add considerable weight after you put them together.
Wow dispite all the problems you mentioned the kit turned out great! and I would never have gesed thare was enything wrong. can’t wait to see finished pics.
Geez, what is it with DMLs Panthers and warped hulls? I just built the late A Premium and Cyber Hobby early G and both had warped upper hulls. Also, I even had to ream out the Friul track links to get a decent fit on the track rack. A PE rack is probably the way to go if your solution using the Panther D rack is not an option. Can’t say I encountered the the problems that you mention.
Nice build, Ben. Can’t wait to see it with some paint. Are you planning a hard edge 3 tone camo scheme?
You guys are scarring me with these stories of warped hulls. I’ve got both the PzV A Prem. and the G from DML in the stash pile.
One way to get around the track hanger issue is to scratchbuild it out of plastic stock. How did you do the texture on the armor plate. I like the way it looks.
Thanks for the word guys. Will begin the fun part this coming weekend.
Don-
Nope, its gonna be be 2 tone camo to represent the 421. I think that is a 2 tone.
Alex-
Overall it is worth to get and fun to build.
With all Dragon kit no matter how easy they may look, you will still need refrences.
You have to remember that Dragon likes to mix and match new sprues with old sprues.
Alittle bit about the warped hull.
I’m sorry that I did not explain this at the beginning.
My hull was warped it’s not because of Dragon fault, but my LHS fault.
All of his Dragon #6268 was warped because the way my LHS kept it in his warehouse was somehow got direct afternoon sunlight causing some parts inside to warp.
Here is the latest update on this tank, sorry for the slow update. I still cannot afford to build a tank factory under my basement yet [8D]
I basically simulated tire damage for each of the tires to represent wear and tear since I believe at this time towards the end of the war, them panther must be really worn out their tires since replacement tires will be hard to come by.
I think I just over do it.
And yes, even AFV needs to have their preshading done.
As you can see that the turret part has been preshading and repainted just enough to let the shadow appear.
I have also paint the wheels (mostly green) with several different tone of green. This is just to make the color of the wheels more interesting instead of just a single dull khaki green color.
Coming along nicely Ben, I like the idea of subtly varying the wheel colors, especially since the inner and outer wheels would be subjected to different levels of exposure depending.
Your Panther is looking good so far, the preshading looks nice. Varying the color of the roadwheels is neat. It should add upto a very cool Panther. Thanks for the update.
Sweet looking kitty you got there!! This is one piece of German armor that I dont have a kit of in my stash and seeing yours here definetely makes me want one!
Very Nice![tup] I like the idea that you wore the road wheels. Also varying the color between green and yellow adds a nice touch. Great thinking on what would be during that time period.
