| Tango01 | 22 Dec 2017 2:55 p.m. PST |
"In-Boxed: Sd.Kfz.171 Panther Ausf.A Late German Medium Tank Manufacturer – Meng Models Product Number – Tyrannosaurus Series TS-035 Scale: 1/35th Price – HKD 206.00/ GBP 20.06/ EUR 22.15/ USD 26.41…"
Full review here link
Amicalement
Armand
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Long Valley Gamer  | 22 Dec 2017 2:55 p.m. PST |
Does anyone out there make them? Thanks for your help… |
| Long Valley Gamer | 22 Dec 2017 2:55 p.m. PST |
Does anyone out there make them? Thanks for your help… |
 Mserafin | 22 Dec 2017 3:23 p.m. PST |
Isn't that first picture actually a "D," judging by the hull MG mount? |
| shaun from s and s models | 23 Dec 2017 7:01 a.m. PST |
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| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 23 Dec 2017 10:43 p.m. PST |
Another distinguishing feature of the Ausf D is the commander's hatch. |
| 4th Cuirassier | 15 Jan 2018 2:44 a.m. PST |
£20.00 GBP is very good value for a 1/35 kit. If not for the space issues, I reckon you could game in that scale for less money than in say 20mm. You can pick up Airfix 1/32 for 20 to 30p a figure. Meanwhile there are resin tanks that cost £20.00 GBP in 1/76! |
| mysteron | 15 Jan 2018 4:43 a.m. PST |
Hey guys you have to compare like with like here. A 1/72 or 1/76th plastic kit can easily be found for under £10.00 GBP. I dare say if they produced 1/35th kits in resin that these wold be far more expensive than 20mm resin kits. Some Resins are actually quite cheap in 20mm such as Britannia for example.
I agree with the others the top pic is a D type but more importantly the box artwork does depict an A type .Never understood the rationale with the production of various marks being D A G F in that order. I know the F type didn't quite go into production but would have been if the war was prolonged and the materials and labour available to build them . |
| deephorse | 15 Jan 2018 7:24 a.m. PST |
Isn't that first picture actually a "D," judging by the hull MG mount? That is not the definitive way to distinguish between Ausf.D and A Panthers. Ausf.As produced between August and December 1943 also had the "letterbox" hull MG opening. At that time an Ausf.A was a D chassis with an improved turret. Hence it is the turret detail that distinguishes an earlier A from a D. My reading has not discovered any definitive reason for the Ausf. letters being in the order that they are. In addition, Jentz writes that there is no mention on record of any Ausf.B, C, or E Panthers, just to add to the mystery. ‘Germany's Panther Tank' by Jentz |
| Mserafin | 18 Jan 2018 11:20 a.m. PST |
I heard once, but can't remember where, that the letter denoted the manufacturer. "D" is for the model made by Demag, "A" was Alkett, and "G" was a catch-all term meaning "everyone makes them this way now." I have no idea if this is correct, but it's the only explanation I've heard that makes any sense to me. |
| deephorse | 18 Jan 2018 3:02 p.m. PST |
I can tell you, it's not correct! Over the production lifetime of the Panther it was produced by five different companies, M.A.N., Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MNH and Demag. Demag only made the Ausf.A, and then only 50 of them. |
| Mark 1 | 18 Jan 2018 6:06 p.m. PST |
Good info from deephorse. My understanding of the odd variant identifiers is this: - During development, Panther went through a few major developmental variances/alternatives. The Sd.Kfz.* 171 D was the variant that was pushed into production in early 1943.
- When the name "Panther" was applied to the project in lieu of calling it the Pz.Kfw. V, there was some still some uncertainty of which project would actually go to production. So those involved started calling it the Panther D just to distinguish which of the developmental variants they were talking about.
- Somehow this D stayed in the discussion after it was in production and being issued to the troops. As it was still pre-production (even if made in some volume), the first major production version was called the Panther A. This came some time after Kursk, where the pre-production Panthers, often called Panther D, were already in service. Or something like that. Kind of like the E8 identifier for late-war US Shermans. There was never a production Sherman called an M4A3E8, nor M4A1E8. None. E was an indicator of an experimental project, not a production tank. When it was accepted for production, it was accepted as "Tank, Medium, gun, M4A3(76)W HVSS". No E-anything anywhere in the official designation of any Sherman tank in production. Yet somehow the Army vernacular carried forward the experimental project indicator of the HVSS suspension program, which was the 8th major re-engineering effort on the Sherman platform, and it became immortalized as the "Easy-8". At least that's how I understand it. But could be wrong. Would be interested to learn if I am. *Note: Pronounced: "Sid Kafitz"?
No seriously. I know it's not a proper name, but only a project identifier. And I know it is short for Sonderkraftfahrzug, which is roughly "Special-purpose Military Vehicle". But that term is not only too much to write, but too much to say. So when you read the abbreviation, what do you say in your head? Sid Kafitz? Something else? -Mark
(aka: Mk 1) |
| Lion in the Stars | 18 Jan 2018 9:01 p.m. PST |
*Note: Pronounced: "Sid Kafitz"?
No seriously. I know it's not a proper name, but only a project identifier. And I know it is short for Sonderkraftfahrzug, which is roughly "Special-purpose Military Vehicle". But that term is not only too much to write, but too much to say. So when you read the abbreviation, what do you say in your head? Sid Kafitz? Something else? Usually Kay-Eff-Zee. |
| deephorse | 19 Jan 2018 7:15 a.m. PST |
S D K F Z. Simple as that. I don't try to make a word out of it. |
| deephorse | 19 Jan 2018 7:19 a.m. PST |
Good info from deephorse. The benefit of a lifetime of collecting good quality (regarding content) books Mark. |
