Panther ausf. G

[mz3]

So the kit I choose FINALLY showed up. It only took 3 weeks to travel from Illinois to Montana. Whatever!

I'm building RFM's Panther ausf. G with full interior because I like pain.





This is the first Ryefield I will build, I think I have like a T-90 or something in my stash in storage.

I want to build it straight out of box, but the subject I want to build looks like it has zimmerit on it in the color guide and I really don't want to mess around with that. Either buying pe or making it myself. Once I get to that point I'll see how I feel. Other then that it looks like I'll be having lots of fun detailing!

[Tojo72]

Welcome in,very ambitious project should be nice.

[deafpanzer]

WHOA! I am now excited that you have choosen this for the GB. It will be interesting to see if my kit is similiar to yours except for the interior. Good luck!

[mz3]

Jun 13, 2023 20:14:26 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

WHOA! I am now excited that you have choosen this for the GB. It will be interesting to see if my kit is similiar to yours except for the interior. Good luck!

Thank you. I was watching yours to see if there were going to be any problems with mine, interior excluded obviously.

[reserve]

And here I thought I was the only guy in Montana who built tank models

[deafpanzer]

Jun 13, 2023 21:15:21 GMT -5 reserve said:

And here I thought I was the only guy in Montana who built tank models

Looks like we found Reserve a new best friend... I love happy endings!!!

[stikpusher]

Montana is doomed! It has two tread heads now!

[chromdome35]

Really looking forward to watching you build this and hearing your feedback on the kit.

Those RFM kits are supposed to be top notch.

[armornutii]

  Ineriors seem to be a theme within the theme...so cool. Just remember if ya want to invade West, we are friendly to the Columbia River

[Joe Rix]

Glad to see your kit arrived. Via horse drawn wagon, canoe, carrier pidgeon, etc...apparently. Excited to see you get started.

[mz3]

So my armor addiction relapse starts tonight...





I never go in order. I like starting with the larger parts and work my way down with armor.

Studying the manual, looks like a lot of painting before parts are put in, which I like.

[stikpusher]

Armor addiction relapses are allowed here. They're good for the soul.

[406 Silverado]

Jun 19, 2023 21:25:14 GMT -5 mz3 said:

So my armor addiction relapse starts tonight...





I never go in order. I like starting with the larger parts and work my way down with armor.

Studying the manual, looks like a lot of painting before parts are put in, which I like.

These RFM kits really are "all that" with LOTS of goodies as far as details are concerned. Good start on this one and am looking forward to seeing all of the detail being added in here. Given your past work in armor, this should be quite the show MZ.

[deafpanzer]

Jun 19, 2023 21:25:14 GMT -5 mz3 said:

So my armor addiction relapse starts tonight...



I never go in order. I like starting with the larger parts and work my way down with armor.

Studying the manual, looks like a lot of painting before parts are put in, which I like.

Exactly! I thought about doing this earlier since I haven't built a Meng kit before. For my current build, I have been jumping around and often I wish I started with the hull first and get over with the wheels too.

Looking forward to see more of this!

[Joe Rix]

Glad to see you off and running. This will be fun to watch your process.

[mz3]

Jun 13, 2023 21:15:21 GMT -5 reserve said:

And here I thought I was the only guy in Montana who built tank models

Bozeman sucks!

[reserve]

Billings ain't much better however it's what's in the areas between the cities that counts

[mz3]

It's great for driving! I've put more miles on my 350z this spring then all of last year. The car scene is... weird. I've seen more ufos here then anywhere else. But for building models It's awful.

The work ethic of people here is bad. But that's the way it's going everywhere.

[chromdome35]

My wife and I go to Yellowstone every few years, the Lamar Valley wolf-watching calls to us. We've spent a pretty good amount of time driving around Southern Montana and if we could afford it, would relocate there in a heartbeat.

[stikpusher]

Jun 22, 2023 17:38:57 GMT -5 chromdome35 said:

My wife and I go to Yellowstone every few years, the Lamar Valley wolf-watching calls to us. We've spent a pretty good amount of time driving around Southern Montana and if we could afford it, would relocate there in a heartbeat.

Just don’t take a ride to the train station from the locals… 😮

[mz3]

So, I started test/dry fitting the suspension to get an idea of how I'll need to do everything really. Painting, assembly, changing the order of steps potentially.

I'm thinking I'll need to brush paint a good deal of the interior. I thinknthat will be better then masking a million different things.

[Tobi]

Sometimes liquid mask is a good helper in these situations. I recommend also checking what can be actually seen after assembly. The major portion of the torsion bars and tubing might disappear under the floor forever.

[mz3]

I'd still be masking tons of areas. And liquid mask can sometimes be a pain to remove. I've been practicing brush painting for over a year now. I'm not confident with large areas, but for details it's the easiest way.

I'm also planning on leaving as much unattached as I can. There's no point in buying a model like this and not show as much of the detail as possible. If you look at my Zero thread, I likes the detail!

[stikpusher]

Suggestion- build what you can paint together in one color in subassemblies. Some parts may be best painted while still on the sprues, then you can just do touch up painting after removal from the sprues. I know that closed top German AFVs had a multi color interior standard when compared to US AFVs where most everything was white, with a bit of Olive Drab here and there. German closed top AFV floorboards and lower sidewalls (on some tanks) were in red primer, as were things like the torsion bars. Upper sidewalls tops would been in Ivory/Elenbein. Automotive components such s the final drives, differential housing, drive shafts and housings would be in gray green color, engine block and radiator housings in black or gray. If you paint those assemblies separately, that will reduce your masking requirements.

[mz3]

Alright, update time...

I've been half stepping on building anything the past week or 2. Just haven't felt like doing much and kinda bored with the zero and gundam. This kit is barely out of the box, so blah. I figured out a long time ago small breaks are good. Anyway...

I decided to axe the working suspension. It's just going to sit on a shelf and with the extra weight of the interior I think this is the way to go. I've built working suspensions in the past. When things start getting too heavy for them they start sagging and drooping in different ways. Nip it in the bud and won't have to deal with it later.





I cut the bar away from the arm and glued them into the rest of the suspension. I'll leave the arms loose for now until I need to actually get them in.



I also dryfit the wheels on. No real reason. I just wanted to see them on.

[Tojo72]

Yes,unless your putting it on an uneven dio,it's really not necessary.

[deafpanzer]

I am with you about just gluing them on if it will be sitting on the shelf. Sometimes we have to take a short cut so the wheels are looking good so far.

[mz3]

Slow and low that's the tempo....

Finally made a bit of progress




I'm 100% sure that pe part on the bottom is on backwards, upside down, reversed and/or just plain wrong. The instructions say not to use it if I "choose to assemble as the movable status". So I assume it will eventually get knocked off, problem solved.

[Leon]

Making some nice progress! I always test fit my wheels and make sure there sitting on the ground.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 8, 2023 15:16:43 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Alright, update time...

I've been half stepping on building anything the past week or 2. Just haven't felt like doing much and kinda bored with the zero and gundam. This kit is barely out of the box, so blah. I figured out a long time ago small breaks are good. Anyway...

I decided to axe the working suspension. It's just going to sit on a shelf and with the extra weight of the interior I think this is the way to go. I've built working suspensions in the past. When things start getting too heavy for them they start sagging and drooping in different ways. Nip it in the bud and won't have to deal with it later.





I cut the bar away from the arm and glued them into the rest of the suspension. I'll leave the arms loose for now until I need to actually get them in.



I also dryfit the wheels on. No real reason. I just wanted to see them on.

Dang it!! Missed that update!! These RFM kits have TONS of details and I really enjoy watching them come together. This one is no exception to that rule.