1:35 Panther Ausf. F with Schmalturm and Gummisparende Laufwerke (Sd.kfz. 171)

Panther Ausf. F with the Schmalturm 1:35 — Takom, Super Blitz line

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Panther in the Ausf. F configuration, that is with the narrow Schmalturm turret and with steel road wheels with internal rubber springing, which saved rubber. It belongs to the Super Blitz line, which the manufacturer builds on a lower parts count and an easier build while keeping its usual level of detail. The manufacturer further states photo-etched parts for the thinnest areas, a metal gun barrel, a twisted brass tow cable, link-and-length tracks, a choice of tool box and exhaust shape, openable roof hatches with infrared equipment and a Maybach engine for display.

The real subject

The Ausf. F was to be the last production version of the Panther. The narrow Schmalturm turret, drafted by Rheinmetall and brought to a working whole by Daimler-Benz, offered a smaller area exposed to hits and a thicker front. It never reached series production: only hulls and individual turrets were built by the end of the war, and the use of the vehicle in this form is disputed. Steel wheels with rubber springing were an answer to the shortage of rubber and appeared on late Ausf. G vehicles as well.

Building and painting tips

Finish and paint the running gear and the inside of the hull while the hull is still open; later you will not reach them. Glue the link-and-length tracks in sections directly on the wheels, so that the sag of the upper run comes out right. The end of the war means a roughly sprayed camouflage, unfinished details and rust on unpainted areas; apply dust and mud with pigments and a wash only over the matte varnish.

Who the model is for

• builders of German vehicles who want the Panther in a less usual form
• modelers for whom large sets of track parts take up too much time
• collectors of late development versions and prototypes

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