Hello everyone! This is my take on a Panther ausf. G, Late Production (1/35) as produced by Academy. Colors and markings are for a late-war MNH Factory produced Panther (probably my favorite camo for the Panther and Jagdpanther). It was an enjoyable build - Tamiya-like in many aspects with some exceptions.
Just to summarize on my part: it has very good fitting parts, almost Tamiya like. The two big issues in the build are the gap where the upper and lower glacis plate at the front meet (which exist for most panther kits), and the gap at the two sides where the rear upper hull meet with the rear armor (which, if you add weld seams, will hide these convincingly).
Other than that, the kit comes with tracks that seem to have not been used in the war (solid guide horns which can actually be seen on the Panther built postwar now in display at the British Tank Museum).
Lots of spare parts too - you can build an early Panther out of this if you can add zimmerit. The extras are also useful for updating older kits.
Overall, still a kit I would recommend for people looking for an easy-to-build Panther.
Thanks Reynier. Nice photos too - I like it for models when you have the option to display spare tracks all over the vehicle, good opportunity for weathering/rust effects. The Academy Panther actually allows you to hang these spare tracks on the sides - but considering the incorrect tracks, I opted not to do it. If you have AM tracks though, the parts are there to do it.
Also, it’s interesting that while we attribute the Chin-Mantlet to the late ausf. G, there were still quite a few of them seeing service sans the upgraded mantlet, and even without the flame dampener stacks at the rear - just goes to show how hectic latewar panzer production could be.
@Biggles50 - yes, the academy kit has photo-etch:
The so called “early” kit actually has 3 exhaust covers: 2 of the regular round ones and one for the crew compartment heater - so you can build it either with or without the latter, providing you with more options
Most of the photo-etch parts in the kit are also optional, so for those people who don’t want to struggle with it, they can opt to use just the mandatory ones (like the exhaust covers)
