Improving the Panther with Tamiya kits

Let's continue with the detailing of the Panther G (the beginning of this article can be seen here).

First I have to state (as I did before) that I don't work or have any association with any of the brands and companies mentioned here. Why use the Tamiya kits? Because I actually have them.

Tamiya offers a several kits to detail their Panthers. Two of the most interesting ones are the individual tracks and the metal grill/mesh set.

Tamiya German Panther type G separate track links 1/35 (35171) is a small box with 6 black sprues (marked B) containing 192 numbers of individual track links molded in styrene for the Panther G. According to the information on the box, 83 individual links are necessary to assemble each track (166 for both sides).

These are high quality plastic parts with great detail. It is a bit tedious to build the track, but the result is great.

It does not come with an instruction booklet but all the relevant and necessary information is printed on the back of the box.

According to the information printed on the back of the box, this set is not compatible with Tamiya 35065 Panther A or Tamiya 35069 Jagtpanther. It should be used with Panther G (35170) and onwards.

Cement is required to assemble the tracks (they are not the fully workable type) and the track should be fit to the wheels while cement is still flexible.

There are many other brands (like Modelkasten and Fruilmodel, for example) that specialize individual track links for tanks, some of them in metal with full workable links, and I'll try to cover them in another post.



Tamiya German Panther type G photo Etched Grille Set 1/35 (35172) comes in a small plastic pack that contains a photo etched set in silver metal. This is a finely crafted detail kit.

This kit includes:
- 4x ventilation rectangular shaped grill meshes for air exhaust.
- 2x circular shaped grill meshes for the air intakes.
- 1x small mesh for the rear deck
- 2x commander's direct sight for the turret cupola
- 1x sight for the anti aircraft MG 34

According to the information printed on the instructions, this set is not compatible with Tamiya 35065 Panther A or Tamiya 35069 Jagtpanther.

This kit comes with clear and simple illustrated instructions in black and white.

To assembly this set it is recommended the use of superglue (cyanoacrylate) to bond the metal pieces to the plastic parts, and the use of a sharp blade and a steel ruler. The only part that needs to be bended to the proper shape after being freed from the fret (the instructions provide an illustration of the procedure) is the commander's direct sight for the turret cupola.

There are many companies that offer photo etched sets for detailing tanks (for example Aber, Eduard, Royal Model, Legend Productions, Lion Roar) and I'll try to cover the relevant ones in another post.


Next: (Intermission) Small Scale Weaponry