You sir, are a steely-eyed missile man – fantastic save! 
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Most impressive work Wade. An incredible save if there ever was one. You truly are a Master builder. 26 year old bolts - that’s another incredible save!
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Matt & Tim, thank you kindly! You have both helped keep the motivation stoked! That’s the major factor saving this rascal a return the shelf of shame. Thank you!
Tried to evaluate the benefits of the band-aid for the deck length this morning.
Loose test fit is pretty good.
To me this looks better but with the turret in place it’s far less noticeable to my eyes. The band-aid creates an error at the rear with the rear plate. The vent is about twice as far from the rear plate as it should be.
Without band-aid.
With band-aid.
Extra work plus introducing another dimensional error to band-aid the other error for something that lack visual payout isn’t worthwhile. There’s a good reminder in this to inventory an old shelf queen before jumping back into the build. Knowing what I know now, I’d have considered cutting the rear engine deck apart to do a different band-aid.
Anyway, good news! Fruilmodel isn’t closing per a statement on their website! This opens a window to get a better set of sprockets for this Panther D.
Edit - BTW - Joey cat says he’s had enough light weight cats so…
Or
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Busy last few days with a wedding rehearsal, wedding & surprise birthday party so zero hobby time. However, goodies for the Italeri Panther arrived.
What’s in the boxes:
The above plus a jack from Mig & TREX tow cable ends should allow for replacement for all of the Italeri tools.
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Beautiful! What source carries them?
Bill
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Bill,
Hobby Easy carries Heavy Hobby items and much much more. Lot of fantastic products at excellent prices. Well worth a look.
I’ve ordered from Hobby Easy a couple of times. Always pleased. The process is a little clunky. Customer sends order, they confirm items then email a link for payment processing. Works well enough.
Ebay also has Heavy Hobby items. I also found some HH items on a more main stream site but forgot which one as prices were more than double what Hobby Easy listed.
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Can’t let the community believe you are the only one doing Panthers … and getting assistance from “real” panthers 
Another Panther of KG Peiper in the making … # 114
Really admire your progress and quality of your “Cat Litter”
Cheers
Christopher
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Christopher, thank you.
Looks like you’ve got an awesome Panther build of your own going! Exellent camo and pattern! Plus a top notch “technical advisor”. Look forward to see more of both Panthers!
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Thank you for your kind words …
Cheers
Christopher
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I love your ambush camo! It’s a terrific job! Well done!
Bill
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Bill, I agree @Chnoone Christopher did outstandingly good ambush camo on his #114 Peiper Panther.
Christopher, lot of folks love your ambush scheme! A++
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The Meng Panther nicely shows the missing weld detail and extended upper hull plate.
Much like this guy…
…that detail issue tasks me…the more I looked…until 
…cheated in a few extra millimeters to
band-aid the hull length issue combined with zimmerit…which is pretty hilarious because…
…none of that detail will be visible…BUT I’m happy now 
…
Attached the new engine deck part and textured it…
…still have to add a couple of details to rhe rear deck…
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I mentioned a Verliden Panther G engine kit from way back in the day that I couldn’t find a while back.
Found it.
I think the PE could have been useful as a template if I’d found this a few weeks ago.
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Sad sad day 
The 2012 tube of Molak Stucco Putty didn’t make it through build #21. I guess ~25 ml of putty to build 20 models isn’t too bad. Only nine tubes of Molak in reserve, I probably need to order more.(j/k)
Ran low on this putty pig and had to mix a new batch thinned with Testor’s Liquid Cement. Discovered the 2012 batch had been around long enough the color bleached out of it.
The kit sponsons fit pretty well but old habits die hard so everything gets a little thinned Molak Stucco Putty.
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A sad occurrence Wade. I thought you were in a pickle, but if you have 9 more, you’re set for another couple of decades! That Molak serves you very well for a myriad of purposes. I like Bondo red putty for all the same uses. Great progress on the Panther!
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So Matt … explain please … do you use this type of thing instead of the usual putty for seams etc and this is the gear from a car body shop ?
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Hi John, yes this is Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty in the red and black tube, sold at any autoparts store. I have tried every model hobby putty on the market and Bondo is superior to all of them. It securely adheres to plastic, PE, and resin. It feathers to a perfect edge and can be sanded glass smooth. It’s good for wide or microscopic gaps and can be thinned with acetone if needed. It will not chip or flake and can be built up and shaped if required. I use it for all of my puttying needs for the past 30 years.
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Matt, thank you. Seems like everything is moving slow with this one now. Really looking forward to wrapping the hull and moving to the turret.
John,
As Matt said, it’s excellent. Roughly, $6 at Walmart, $10 at auto parts stores and probably $15 at Amazon. It’s top notch nitrocellulose putty. For 4.5 oz that’s very reasonable.
Probably due to using Molak Stucco for 30+ years, I can work Molak easier than the Bondo-Glazing-and-Spot-Putty. The Bondo seems to flash and dry a bit too quick for me, I’m slow 
. The Bondo will sand and feather as Matt said. It also seems better at taking a drill bit without cracking after dry.
I’ve found Molak easier to soften with liquid cement after dried and reactivate. That can be helpful with zimmerit etc tweaking the shape & texture.
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Thanks chaps … I am always keen to try and find other options to work with and even better if if works out a bit cheaper in some cases and does a better job than the named brands will have a look for a UK equivalent or amazon …
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One tube of Bondo for $10 will last you 5+ years, so it’s a great value.
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