1/35 Tammy Jagdpanther Late done

[reserve]

Probably will not be able to start this tomorrow, more likely this weekend if we don't get rained out at work. This is what I'll be working with





Yeah I got lazy and picked up a metal gun barrel for it


I'll use but one figure out of the figure box, just enough to fill the hatches. It'll be interesting to see how the tracks go together as I've not used this type yet

[Tojo72]

Chomping at the bit

Looks good

[deafpanzer]

SWEET! You totally have my attention. I don't blame you for picking up metal barrels as I tend to avoid plastic barrels especially that comes in two pieces or more.

[adt70hk]

Cool!

[Tobi]

May 31, 2023 16:34:35 GMT -5 reserve said:

Yeah I got lazy and picked up a metal gun barrel for it

That is okay Mark, you are pardoned. 

[reserve]

Welcome honored colleagues

12 hours of torrential rain (for Montana, anyway) has transformed the place where I drive into a quagmire and as some of you may know heavy trucks are helpless in the mud. You can't steer or stop, and they without fail like to slide toward the edge of the twenty foot deep pond we are digging out. Translation: I get a tank day hehe.

It seems PostImage is being bitchy at this time so no pictures. I did get it started, however, and will try again later

[dupes]

Mmmmmmm...an oldie but goodie. Have you used the TREX tracks before? Do you like them?

[reserve]

I have not. I did assemble a short run to see if they fit the drive sprockets which they do quite well. They require no cleanup but are made of resin so they are delicate...I think I prefer Fruils. We'll see how it all floats at the end

[reserve]

Worked this time

Seeing how big a base I'll need

The T-Rex tracks may be delicate but they are superbly detailed

and they even fit the drive sprockets

I was originally gonna articulate the suspension but with this track set I don't dare. Perhaps next time I'll be able to find Fruils

[dupes]

Do these tracks click together? Or do they need superglue?

[Joe Rix]

Appears that you are off to a grand start there Mark. I'm excited to watch you build this nice classic kit. I have this one in my stash and as I recall some AM parts including a metal barrel.

[deafpanzer]

The tracks look very nice! I have been always a big fan of Friuls but things have changed for last five years. And I don't want to cough up $50+ for a set so I will be following your build closely.

[hasenpfeffer]

Yeah, the tracks look awesome. I'm curious what is making them "delicate"? Is it the short pin engagement, or do they snap together like Dupes asked? The 3D printed tracks are great but I've been trying to find alternatives so I'm not spending as much on tracks as I do on the kit itself! The last Panther I built back in 2013 I used Bronco tracks and they were fragile as well. The snap fit smashed down the "nubs" that served as the pins a bit making the very loose in spots.

With that 88 sticking out the front... damn how long are these things? LOL

[reserve]

Dupes the go together with pins from either side





H delicate as in fragile, easily broken. They are cast out of a fairly brittle resin so the pins have to be treated with care and the guide teeth are prone to breakage. The gun in the JP is the same one in the Tiger II, the 88mm/L71 which had an overall length of around twenty feet, I think, if I've done the math right which I may not have. Yup they's long.

Thanks Joe and Andy

[Leon]

Those tracks look really good Mark!

[Tojo72]

Haven't used T-Rex yet,but 3-D tracks are nice alternatives

[ogrejohn]

Not used the T-Rex either so I'll be watching to see how much fun you have with them.

[reserve]

Well, according to ScaleHobbyist Fruil Panther tracks have been discontinued so I guess it's the T-Rex to the end. I can't say as I care much for them; the guide teeth like to break off the links and the pins (glueless friction fit) fall out of the run when you pick it up. They look awful good, tho which is the only thing keeping me from using the kit bandies.

Other than the track set the build is pretty much done





I've filthied up the lower hull with MIG acrylic mud and paint, next will be paint the roadwheel tires and mud them up also. This time I'll fit the tracks before assembling the hull halves due to the fragility of the track runs then mask 'em off with foil to finish painting.

As predicted I used almost none of the PE set. After seeing in the instructions that they expect you to make a precision bend in the middle of a part that's .100" wide and 2" long and use solder to join the parts I cut out the engine deck screens and tossed the rest. Some guys like this sort of stuff but I ain't one of them

[hasenpfeffer]

That's some amazing progress, Mark. I mean, it is only the 4th, right?
Can't wait to see it joined up! I think we are getting a little sneak peek at your scheme.
Sucks about the tracks. I've been seeing that issue for quite a few of the 3D printed tracks. Makes it all the more painful when they're $40ish. Looks like RFM makes some plastic ones for both Panthers and Jagdpanthers. If they are anywhere near as good as the Pz III/IV tracks I got, they are worth a look.

[deafpanzer]

Too bad about the tracks but at least you tried and shared your honest feedback with us. I almost bough one at AMPS Nats but I wasn't ready... I guess I am one of those old schoolers using metal tracks like us!

[406 Silverado]

Good progress on the wheeled portion and track build up so far Mark. I don't blame you for tossing alot of that PE set especially when it comes to soldering. Nah.....not for me either. Looking forward to more on this one bud.

[armornutii]

  Awesome work on a fine kit. IMHO indy tracks in 35th are almost always a pita no matter the medium they are made from. I make great use of the english, french, german and klingon to mush through. The results are worth the frustration.
       I also want to try soldering my PE. Ihave years of exoerience soldering avionice equipment however I know when it goes wrong it gets there in a hurry. Maybe if I have left over parts or frets I could practice on the technique.

[406 Silverado]

Jun 5, 2023 9:55:11 GMT -5 armornutii said:

  Awesome work on a fine kit. IMHO indy tracks in 35th are almost always a pita no matter the medium they are made from. I make great use of the english, french, german and klingon to mush through. The results are worth the frustration.
       I also want to try soldering my PE. Ihave years of exoerience soldering avionice equipment however I know when it goes wrong it gets there in a hurry. Maybe if I have left over parts or frets I could practice on the technique.

Man that's crazy right there. I'd have to see the results of that. I solder electrical connections at work and can't stand that so I can't imagine what it would be like to do the same thing in scale.

[reserve]

Right then

Got a set of RFM plastic tracks on the way. I'm certain the T-Rex runs would dissolve under weathering and fitting so I'll waste no more time with them. Another life lesson, eh?

Thanks for the comments and looks

[hasenpfeffer]

Jun 5, 2023 9:39:58 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Good progress on the wheeled portion and track build up so far Mark. I don't blame you for tossing alot of that PE set especially when it comes to soldering. Nah.....not for me either. Looking forward to more on this one bud.

Ha! Says the guy who spent a bazillion hours making a PE shifter.

[hasenpfeffer]

Jun 5, 2023 18:49:27 GMT -5 reserve said:

Right then

Got a set of RFM plastic tracks on the way. I'm certain the T-Rex runs would dissolve under weathering and fitting so I'll waste no more time with them. Another life lesson, eh?

Thanks for the comments and looks

Cool! I am kinda anxious to see them now. (I suppose I could just open a kit box on my shelf, duh... but Andy could share some thoughts on what's in his kit too.)

[406 Silverado]

Jun 5, 2023 20:44:25 GMT -5 hasenpfeffer said:

Jun 5, 2023 9:39:58 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Good progress on the wheeled portion and track build up so far Mark. I don't blame you for tossing alot of that PE set especially when it comes to soldering. Nah.....not for me either. Looking forward to more on this one bud.

Ha! Says the guy who spent a bazillion hours making a PE shifter.

But.....there was no solder. lol

[deafpanzer]

Jun 5, 2023 20:47:08 GMT -5 hasenpfeffer said:

Jun 5, 2023 18:49:27 GMT -5 reserve said:

Right then

Got a set of RFM plastic tracks on the way. I'm certain the T-Rex runs would dissolve under weathering and fitting so I'll waste no more time with them. Another life lesson, eh?

Thanks for the comments and looks

Cool! I am kinda anxious to see them now. (I suppose I could just open a kit box on my shelf, duh... but Andy could share some thoughts on what's in his kit too.)

I haven't tried them yet but I can give it a try over the weekend. I am just glad that mine didn't come in large sprues!

[deafpanzer]

I checked the kit tracks closely last night and I think they look pretty good? Here's images for you to decide... LOL

It comes with a jig that you can assemble 5 links each time.  And the pins are molded in a group of fives too so I think it should be easy to assemble.  



Here's the link... minimal cutting just two cuts per link. Nice details...



Still have to sand to remove the marking in the center... at least it is better than other makers where I had to sand three markings per link by Border kit maker which was the worst ever! 



Hope this helps... 

[hasenpfeffer]

Jun 7, 2023 8:01:41 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

I checked the kit tracks closely last night and I think they look pretty good? Here's images for you to decide... LOL

It comes with a jig that you can assemble 5 links each time.  And the pins are molded in a group of fives too so I think it should be easy to assemble.  

Here's the link... minimal cutting just two cuts per link. Nice details...

Still have to sand to move the marking in the center... at least it is better than other makers where I had to sand three markings per link by Border kit maker which was the worst ever! 



Hope this helps...

I can confirm what Andy is saying. I opened the boxes for the matching kit (RFM Ausf G and a RFM JP G2) The tracks in the kit don't appear to be quite as nice as their Pz III/IV counterparts and have ejection marks on the inner surface, as well as a flat spot that I don't know is accurate. Looks like a little different plastic in my kits - at least the color.


So, it will be interesting to see if the RFM AM tracks are the same or different. Guessing you bought the plastic version.