1:35 80cm Steel Road Wheels for Panther G/F, Panther II (16 cs.)

The real subject

The late versions of the Panther received road wheels with a steel rim instead of the earlier ones with a rubber tire. Rubber was in short supply and on a heavy machine it crumbled quickly; a steel rim with internal springing lasted longer, even though the ride was harder and noisier. The wheel is in reality 80 cm in diameter, which in 1:35 scale corresponds to roughly 23 mm, so it is a prominent element on a model and tells a late machine apart from the earlier versions at first glance.

What the set contains

Sixteen replacement steel-rimmed road wheels in 1:35 scale. They are intended for the Panther Ausf. G and Ausf. F and for the Panther II. How many wheels you need for both sides of a particular kit is worth checking against its instructions, because the number of axles differs between versions.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene and ordinary cement for plastic does not hold on them; use cyanoacrylate glue and check the procedure in the manufacturer's instructions. Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little off the part and sand the remainder. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting. They are easier to paint before fitting: spike the wheels on sticks, spray the base shade and once they are seated you only tune the transitions. Apply dust and mud from the bottom up, the way they settled on a real machine, and let the steel rim show metal through on the contact face.

Who it is for

For builders of German vehicles in 1:35 scale who are building a late Panther and want wheels matching that version. The kit, the tracks, the paints and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.