1:35 Jagdpanther (italeri)

Jagdpanther 1:35 – additional equipment for the model

This accessory from the brand Royal Model is intended for a model of the German Jagdpanther tank destroyer in 1:35 scale. It deals with the places where a plastic mold does capture the shape but cannot give it the right thickness or crispness: the covers, the grab handles and the small hardware on the sloping surfaces of the casemate. The set is intended for the Italeri kit.

The machine in question

The designers took the chassis of the Panther, dispensed with the rotating turret and used its space for a low armored superstructure with an 88 mm gun with a barrel 71 calibers long. The result was a machine that could destroy Allied tanks at distances otherwise beyond reach at the time, and that still kept the mobility of a medium tank. It entered service in 1944 and the number built ran into the hundreds, so the Jagdpanther could never influence the course of the war; its reputation came rather from the balance of its design. The sloping walls of the superstructure also gave it a silhouette that modelers still choose today.

Building advice

The large smooth surfaces of the casemate forgive nothing, so sand them carefully before the finish and check them against the light. It is on them that the fine hardware the set brings will stand out. When painting, reach for soft transitions in a three-color camouflage and keep the chipping sparing, mainly around the hatches and on the edges of the fenders.

Who the accessory is useful for

• Builders of German tank destroyers
• Modelers who want crisp edges on broad surfaces
• Makers of scenes from the end of the war in Europe
• Experienced builders used to fine work

The finish, the putty and the glue stay up to the modeler; the package holds only the accessory itself.