12.8cm L/55 auf Pz.Kpfw. V "Zerstorer".

[Cpl Overby]

12.8cm L/55 auf Pz.Kpfw. V "Zerstorer".
This is a model I did back in 2006

When I started...,
I kept seeing this pic in various books 



but that wasn't really enough to go on......
then I bought a book titled "Exotic Panzers in Miniature"
and this chapter got me going,
It had all the views I needed, and seeing them helped a lot



So I  took a hull from a Hasegawa Panther G,
added the upper case mate by gluing splints to the sides,
and then gluing sheets of scrap styrene to them
(this allowed the slope of the side armor,
to be translated to the case mate as well),
once these were dry I cut a pour spout in one side and poured in resin to strengthen the whole thing.
Once this all hardened, I sanded and filed till the shape was right.
new frontal armor was made by sanding away the hull mounted MG,
and adding a new slab/sheet of styrene to the front
To reposition the engine deck,
I cut away the hatch area from the front of the hull,
Cut away half of an ESCI Panther engine deck, and glued this in place.
I then fashioned the new rear end, from sheet styrene and resin,
and scribed the details, added a hatch from an ESCI Jagdtiger,
the exhaust from a Revell Panther variant, added the bolt/rivet detail.
from here I took a different route
and primed the model before the molding process,
boy am I glad that I did.
A whole plethora of bubbles (pits), and fine line seams showed up.
I promptly filled these with super glue (which actually makes a good filler if the spot is small enough)
and sanded them down.
After all this I primered the model and the results are good.
then there were several small details that were added
Namely the Periscopes, Roof Details, and the Stereoscopic Range Finder.
to this was also added a "travel lock" from a 1/76 NITTO Jagdtiger.
The position for the main gun and ball mounted MG are from one of the Dragon Jagdpanthers,
to this I temporarily glued on the gun.
The copula and other roof top details are from the spare parts bin and scratch built.
I also placed this on a temp set of tracks to see how it would sit.












I then removed the Gun and tracks, and gave the model a coat of primer in order to see if there were any imperfections.
At this time I polled the Braile Scale DG as to what would be a good suspension for this model,
and the choice of the Panther II running gear was made.
Now it's important to note...... there was on WoT at this time......
so there was No Jagdpanther II.
The Choice of these tracks was solely based on the fact that they "looked" Bad Ass.





Since I cannot get my airbrush to work, I decided to brush paint the model.
I Decided that since this meant to be a "Tank Hunter" that a nice ambush scheme
would be appropriate.













Some time later (a few years in fact)
I decided to revert to the suspension that was intended for this beast......
the Standard Panther suspension.











Well that's it for the
12.8cm L/55 auf Pz.Kpfw V "Zerstorer",
Hopefully I'll get the ones based on the Pz.38(t) and the Pz IV
off the ground (One of these days).
Please tell me what you all think.

[Kelgtar]

Again amasing models mate ... love to see more of your work on other exotic types.

[Cecil Gaybody]

Dear Boy,
You are very talented .
I would love to game 1946 scenario , with Germany still in the war , with these Beasts
up against British Centurions .

Keep it up
Cecil

[Cpl Overby]

Again amasing models mate ...
love to see more of your work on other exotic types.

Glad you like it.....
working on others.....
one you'll really like will be coming soon

[Cpl Overby]

Dear Boy,
You are very talented .
I would love to game 1946 scenario , with Germany still in the war , with these Beasts
up against British Centurions .

Keep it up
Cecil

Thank You....
this is one of my older ones
if you scroll down through you'll see a few more.

[Cpl Overby]

The process of "evolution" is a strange thing.....
I have been pondering my Zerstorer.... and decided that there were a few things wrong with it.
Looking at this draw by Doyle has helped me decide to alter it.



as you can see.....
the "height" of my original vehicle is too great.....
and due to the design of German Guns....
the commander would not be on the "right" side,
so I changed that, as well as changing the gun and mount to more closely match Doyle's drawing.
I also "beefed up" the Range Finders.
I hope you like



















Please tell me what you think

[Wyrmalla]

I thought I had de ja vu seeing this, then I checked the thread age…

Ooh, I’ve been thinking of making one of these myself (though maybe with Tiger II tracks). Hell I have a Panther which I’m turning into a command tank right now, I may as well tear it up instead. …I’ll see what happens. 

Aye, that looks pretty good. The rear casement’s always looked weird to me, and oddly tends to be uncommon those with paper panzer builds. The front mounted one’s what they used in the war, so I guess that’s why people use that, but IIRC the Germans were transitioning to rear casements for better gun balance at the end. Oddly they must have gotten over this, as their Post-War casement mounted guns all had the gun at the front.

I take it you guessed at a load of details/ copied other’s builds? That radar mounted above the gun seems like a common feature, though I’m not sure how well it would fit (I’ve seen entire turrets dedicated to that mount). Heh, and yes I was looking at where you place the commander’s cupola original and it did seem out of place….

The exhaust configuration looks a bit odd, but I suppose that comes from the original. In order to accommodate that there’d need to be pipes running along the length of the vehicle from the front mounted engine. I suppose they’re better protected a the rear, though they could have been mounted on the sides instead (which is more common with forward mounted engined vehicles of that period).

I take it that the driver’s in the rear casement? Is that his view port on the right, or is that the gunner’s?  …Or is that the gunner’s sight on the left above the MG? I only ask as that style of engine block mounting is common with paper panzers, but I always wonder where the driver’s supposed to sit. With my own forward engined Panthers I cut off half the vents and stick a driver’s hatch in, then assume that the engine’s either mounted sideways or something).

Oh, but I’m perhaps coming off as a bit critical. I’m just curious myself in case I nick the idea.

[Ballardian]

Another little gem, or in this case an old one re-cut & polished All I can say is that you make it really hard not to start a 20mm/1/72 collection (again), really lovely models.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

That is really good.