Rye Field Model Panther ausf.G - Finished

[406 Silverado]

Thought I'd start this thread now and will update once it hits the bench. I Have to finish my M113 and a commission UH-1D before I can dive into this kit since it has the full interior. Knowing me I might break her open and start cleaning some parts lol

[thug626]

Count me in Rob. I just picked this one up the other day. There’s only about fifty pages of instructions.
I’ll be taking notes while you build. Not to mention getting out my Schiffer reference books

[Leon]

I'll be following along when you start Rob!

[dierk]

I'll tag along when the time comes.

[406 Silverado]

Dave it's one hell of an instruction book for sure. Since the model can be done in two versions, early/late 44/45 you really have to double check the instructions. Thinking I will start with the hull floor first and tackle all the PE in that area. Then slowly work up.

[joelsmith]

If you haven't seen the Andy's Hobby Headquarters two part video, you might want to view it. I found it interesting, some of his color choices are unusual, but it gives a good overview of the kit.

[thug626]

Rob, When I first looked at the instruction manual, I had thought what the heck? I read back through it, and realized, it appears to be laid out as well as one could expect given the complexity of the kit. That being said, the modeler is going to have to be very careful during assembly.

Even the hull floor has its complexities. At least it doesn't appear to have the variables like the turret or upper hull.

[Tojo72]

Looking forward to it

[pt109]

Me too....

Paul

[406 Silverado]

Well I started on the hull lol. I ran out of crates and other stowage for the M113 so I thought I'd get a start on the lower hull of the Panther.
Sooo, there are supposed to be 9 C21 parts but the kit only has 8!! These are the parts that the torsion bars go through in the lower hull floor. They give 8 of the opposite side, C20, and you only use 7 of them. Not sure if you can use the extra C20 as a C21 but have no choice here.

Am not looking forward to all the PE bracing on the floor. They could have made them out of plastic since there are other parts that attach to the PE that are plastic.Scale thickness won't matter much since these will be covered by the hull floor and turret basket floor.

Pics coming soon.

[406 Silverado]

First stages of the build. The instructions have you start with the turret, Upper hull and then the lower hull. I decided to start with the lower hull as with any normal build lol.

Using the glacis plate and fire wall I assembled the hull side walls and sponsons.






While letting the glue set and dry on the hull walls I then cleaned some of the exterior side wall parts, then glued them in place.



Back to the inside of the hull and what I mentioned before about the torsion bar mount thingies. Only 8 of part C21 and I need 9!!! Opposite side calls for only 7 of part C20 and they give you 8, and so I will use the extra C20 as a C21 and mount this one in the motor comp. area where it won't be seen.



Going to get a bit more done in the hull floor area and then return to working on the Uh-1D Huey.

[Leon]

Nice start Rob!

[dierk]

Looking good Rob!
Was the parts layout designed by the guy who does the Dragon instructions?

[406 Silverado]

Well I have to say that I wasn't looking forward to doing the PE in the lower hull....but they have designed this area, the framing/support thingies so it all interlocks with bent tabs and slots. I assembled the long braces and cross members and carefully slotted them in the cross members that were glued into the lower hull. Had one tricky spot but got it in.

Spent a couple of hours last night cleaning roadwheels since that is the most boring part of a build, especially when it comes to the big cats with tons of wheels. Cleanup of the wheels was actually easy as they have the mold seam along the edge of the rubber tire, and not in the center as with most kits. It took a bit longer with the wheels because I wanted them a bit rounder without a sharp edge, and I also distressed the rubber tires.








I'm going to set the Panther aside for a couple of days so I can do more work on the Huey and M113. The next step in the instructions call for the assembly of hull parts such as the shocks, battery boxes, ammo bins etc. While I take a short break I will have to decide/think ahead as far as painting the lower hull. I may add a few parts and then start primer and Red Oxide before adding more parts etc that would be a different color. This will make it easier to paint since it would be hard to reach some areas and avoids a lot of masking. The trans and brakes will be assembled and painted separately as well.

Going to slap some primer and base OD on the M113 later today to get that one moving a long before the figs arrive and extra stowage.

[406 Silverado]

Spent some of yesterday and this morning adding more parts to the lower hull, then got some primer and base colors on her. All the dark gray parts are just dry fitted as these were painted separately from the hull.

Next will be the assembly of the ammo boxes and some light weathering in the hull. I won't do much in the floor area since nearly all of it will not be seen once everything is added and the upper hull in place.

[Leon]

Paint and primer are looking good Rob!

[406 Silverado]

Thanks Leon. Sure took a while due to trying to paint in and under all the torsion bars and supports. Figured I would just paint it using the Vallejo Red Oxide primer and no base coat over that since it's already the right color.

[tobias5555]

Very nice job

[406 Silverado]

Thanks Tobias

Yesterday I worked on the Trans. and steering stuff. Today was painting and light weathering of the tranny and other interior parts.

Test fit of the Tranny.







After a couple of hours of painting and gluing in the seats and other parts. Tranny is just dry fitted for the pics.

[thug626]

Your paint work is looking amazing. This is a nice update to peruse while having my morning java

[406 Silverado]

Slow progress as I haven't had much time at the bench, and also getting work done on other models.

Started the floor and ammo bins the other day and will try to get some primer and paint going today.

[ossie262]

Rob
you are just like David Parker always got something on the go and always seem to inspire us with your work and so DAMM quick man .
Great build mate

Ossie

[Leon]

Tranny and interior are looking good Rob!

[406 Silverado]

Thanks Leon and Ossie.
I always work on more than one model at once, keeps from getting bored lolol.

Floor,bins and tranny in place (not glued yet. Still cleaning all the ammo, very boring and worse than cleaning wheels lol. Once I have enough cleaned and painted they will go in the floor bins and then I can glue the tops to the bins in place.
The sponson racks and other items will get worked on and glued in place as well.

[ossie262]

Rob
That’s it I have to get one so I can make a berg Panther
Just looks fantastic

[mustang1989]

Man you just into a little of everything aintcha? Terrific work and good/ quick progress.

Tranny...............that's a word that a lot of auto techs use.

[406 Silverado]

Thanks Joe and Ossie.
lol yeah a bit of everything. Mainly comm work and a nice break from the rust buckets, although I'm itching to get back to them lol.

[sturmbird]

Wow! There's a lot of stuff crammed in there. I ordered the kit in, but still out there floating around. Can't wait to see how the upper hull and turret go together.
gary

[406 Silverado]

Gary there is A LOT in there. I won't be adding the motor comp. so that will save time and work. The kit comes with a clear upper hull and turret, which I hate. The plastic is harder than styrene and it's hard to see any details or parts locations. I've already primer the inside of the upper hull so I could see how it looks.

[pt109]

Nice one....the Takom doesn't have the clear parts, but should look pretty nice when done. I always thought the Trannys were Green but what do I know?

Looking great, Paul