1:35 Pzkpfwg.V Panther A Late 2 In 1 [Sd.Kfz.171/268]

Takom 1:35 Panther Ausf.A, late production

A plastic kit in 1:35 scale from the Takom brand. The subject is the German medium tank Panther in the Ausf.A version of late production. The box is billed as two in one, so two configurations can be built from it: the gun tank and the command version with extended radio equipment. The kit is supplied unassembled and unpainted.

The real subject

The Panther came about as an answer to the Soviet T-34 and combined a powerful long-barreled 75 mm gun with sloped armor and surprisingly good mobility. The Ausf.A version received a new commander's cupola and a revised machine gun mounting in the hull front. Command tanks carried additional radio sets, which meant less room for ammunition but a better grasp of the situation.

Building and painting tips

Decide at the outset which version you are building, as the parts differ for the two configurations and the change is hard to make once the turret is glued up. Finish the running gear and the lower hull before you attach the side skirts. The sloped surfaces of the Panther are rewarding for a camouflage scheme and for weathering alike, because transitions between shades show beautifully on them. Add the antennas on the command version from stretched fishing line.

Who the kit is for

• for collectors of German equipment in 1:35 scale
• for modelers who want the choice between two configurations
• for builders of dioramas from 1943 to 1945
• for more experienced modelers

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.