panther f mit schmallturm

[rabenga]

Here is an in progress shot.  Bunch of people seem to be building these up, awesome kits from Rubicon and heer 46'.  C and C always welcome and I will post more pics as I can.  Thanks for looking!

[Predatorpt]

It's on my "to do" list so thanks for the share. What are you planning on doing that made you remove all the printed details on the exterior of the tank? And did you replace the barrel? Mine isn't so big...I think 

[Ballardian]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

[rabenga]

I did replace the barrel, I wanted one of the up-gunned ones, even though it was apparently impossible.  Hey, it's weird war!  I thought the kit supplied barrel was a little lacking, not a fan of cast barrels.  I removed all the stuff on the sides because I like the stripped down, battle worn look of some of the larger models people have made of the F.  I am planning on adding the spaced armor to the turret top and back deck, along with some stowage, just wanted a blank slate, and I really love the look of those big slab armor sides without all the junk on them.  Think of doing the octo camo on this one.

[Predatorpt]

Can't wait to see more then

[Wyrmalla]

I've seen that many of that style Panther and everyone's doing something different. Hmn, I wouldn't mind seeing a stripped down one actually. My own has extra armour on every glacis...

Are you planning on adding anything else like infra red, exra fuel barrels, etc? I wouldn't mind seeing how you do the deck armour actually, as I wasn't sure how to do the same with mine.

[rabenga]

.   

Making some progress. 

[rabenga]

Working up the AA armor.  Still have the piece for the top of the turret to do, that ones a pain in the ass.

[rabenga]

My favorite part so far is the little nubbin sticking out of the top/front corner of the hull,. Apparently it was used to hook the tow cable eyelet on... Not sure if it was historically accurate, but they appear on a lot of other people's panther F builds...it's sooo cute!

[Wyrmalla]

Heh, yeah I had a go at the turret AA armour myself an it was a right hassle. Easier to make a paper guide first.

Are you doing anything with the front of the hull? IIRC the Panther Ausf.F and Panther II both had a thicker front plate (not noticeable on the models, bar the machine gun mount being sunken further into the glacis)?

[rabenga]

Had not planned on it... I may do something with the fascia, but I will most likely leave it alone.

[Ballardian]

Looking good, I like the deck armour

[plastic scouser]

Nice job on the Panther ausf f, looking forward to seeing this one finished

Are you doing anything with the front of the hull? IIRC the Panther Ausf.F and Panther II both had a thicker front plate (not noticeable on the models, bar the machine gun mount being sunken further into the glacis)?

The ausf f had the same thickness glacis plate as the ausf g which was 80mm
Panther II had the thicker glacis plate at 100mm
The hull mounted MG 34 was to be replaced with the STG 44 on the ausf f
( all info from panzer tracts )

hope this helps

Cheers Ian

[rabenga]

Sweet!  Now I don't have to add more armor!  Anyone know where I can get steel road wheels and better tracks?  I bileve the "F" had steel wheels similar to the tiger II.  I was planning on just leaving the "G" wheels on it and saying they were extras at the factory or some BS, but if I could find the steel ones....    My biggest complaint with the Rubicon kit so far is the tracks.  Everything else is spot on, you would think they could do a better job with the tracks.... The schutzen is crap too, but who actually uses kit schutzen anyway... .  Thanks for the C and C, and I will update when I can...

[Ballardian]

Putting steel resilient wheels on your Panther would look cool, but at the moment the only reasonable way would be to convert those that come with the Rubicon Tiger. Perhaps you could find someone in the Bazaar prepared to sell or trade them (if theyre making the early version) if you don't want the Tiger.