Thank you Tim, I will keep that in mind next time around.
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Sorry I just had a fossick around to find the 2 or 3 types of wire I bought eons ago from a hardware store but they must be buried in storage. I can’t recall who originally tipped me off to the idea, might even go back to Shep Paine but it saved me a bunch of trouble trying stupid ideas like cottons & threads.
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Temporary lapse of judgment, getting carried away with the beading wire…lol
Promise to do something else for tow cables next time around.
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Don’t get me wrong I’m not decrying your solution, I’ve seen that done before & you did a fine job. Just a labo*r-saving alternative 
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I already have the RFM RF-5019 Panther Ausf.G waiting to be built. It is in line behind the RFM sherman with interior that I will soon be starting.
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Steps 15 & 16 Rear Engine Deck
Picking the correct radiator armored fan covers is critical for one’s Panther D build. The instructions call for D28 (left) and D28 (right). Both parts are of course wrong for a Kursk Panther D. Please see post # 10 for fan cover comments.
Dragon isn’t finished potentially screwing up the build for the modeler in these steps. Hooks D25 (four) have an ugly punch mark on the side that’s exposed. Likewise, little B21 will blindside with a nasty little punch mark if allowed to. The last Dragon land mine spotted in this step is nasty B22 which is an ugly part begging to be replaced with Eduard PE etc that has screen. I slipped a block off plate under the PE part’s screens.
Given Dragon didn’t include engine deck screens in this dinosaur of an old kit, the Eduard PE screens are very sweet. The PE screens justify the whole Eduard PE set in my opinion. There’s also some additional nice thin PE parts to tart up the various covers etc as a nice bonus! 
I think Eduard put some real effort in to trying to help a modeler out. Typically on most Panthers there are three little hooks on the fan modules. Dragon omitts them. That’s personal pet peeve which triggers full force OCD/AMS Panzer Police just as much now as it did twenty years ago…I thought things had changed… 
Oops, I robbed all of the Eduard #44’s for my Porsche King Tiger back in ~2004, so what to do…
Hmm…there’s the stone age On the Mark Panther PE set in the box…
They are sort of big and kinda ugly…time to try scratch building! Let’s punch some discs and see if a hook can be chopped out with the #11 blade.
Kali intervened as the voice of reason…“Check the hoard, there’s resin hooks for this application. Minutes to save days off scratch building.”
Tiger Model Design to the rescue.
Ten minutes later.
Thanks, TMD! Outstandingly good resin!
Drilled for Aber brass antenna. Kept removable until painted etc.
Hull completed.
With the tracks, wheels & hull completed moving to the turret next.
Please feel free to point out errors and screw ups.
I’d rather know and try to fix than miss an issue. I’ll definitely consider fixing or improvement, provided it won’t derail the build. I’m far from an experten on Panther’s or building them despite the attempt and humor.
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Wade I say your research is solid, your build is tight, and you’re right on the mark. Excellent detailing and wonderful kit bashing, my friend!
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Not in the market for a Panther at the mo but enjoying lurking in the background watching progress and comparison.
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Out of curiosity… (there’s a punchline in there somewhere)…
Would a Jagdpanther count? I have a RFM G2 in my stash that i want to build soon.
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Thank you Matt! When working, especially on an old shelf queen, I always appreciate other folks input.
@Chepster, thank you! Very happy you’re taking a look at the thread. For what it’s worth, I think I’ve added five or six Panther kits while not being in the market for any… wink 
@SableLiger Reynier, I’d definitely count a JagdPanther as in the family and fair game. Definitely a big RFM fan and would expect that to be a fun rewarding build!
I think there’s a Tamiya (1990’s), Dragon (2000’s), Meng & RFM in the stash. Hope at some point to try one of them.
Steps 17 & 18 Turret
These go well enough with good parts clean up. Tweaked the flame cut on the rear turret sides.
However, the sides are suspect due to pistol port placement if I recall correctly. Have to do some research before proceeding.
After pistol port placement is sorted, the turret face & sides will get retextured.
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Lots of great technique and skill here Wade… The amount of research you are putting in is clear to see on the kit as it progresses…
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You know you are in trouble when the cat starts telling you what to do. Twice as much trouble if the cat is correct!
Ken
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@Johnnych01 John, thank you!
That means a great deal.
The Good, The Bad & The Very Ugly - aka Rambling
The model has a volatile prior history of inspiring long arguments with fellow Panzer Police who were Experten with German armor. Hard feelings resulted that took years to work past. I won’t delve into that sillyness but do need to address one of the points of detail & accuracy contention: The Left Side pistol port location.
Panther D, detail circled in blue.
Basically, my good friends informed me, Dragon had that detail in the wrong location and it should be moved up and to the right as shown below. Various big name authorities were quoted, references sited, aftermarket manufacturers contacted to prove my friend were correct. If you didn’t move it exactly as shown below, you & your model would be WRONG!
Being a bit of a contrarian, I didn’t quite drink the kewl aid because Dragon’s placement looked OK to me. Probably because I really didn’t want to move the port because I was afraid I’d screw up the model doing so. Lack of confidence on my part.
The build stalled out so the question became moot for the time being. However, the issue lingered for the model.
Anyway, 20+ years later with more reference and other kits to check against here’s what I found. I still have no idea if the stupid pistol port is in the exact right location on the Dragon kit.
I didn’t get my digital calipers out of the garage for this because I just don’t care to that degree. It’s a model kit not a 600hp racing engine lol…I used a metal straight edge.
As I measured:
Dragon D, the port is 24mm from the turret’s front edge and 9mm from the bottom edge of the turret.
Meng’s D, the port is 24mm from the turret’s front edge and 10 mm from the bottom edge of the turret.
Tamiya’s D, the port is 22.5 mm from the turret’s front edge and 10 mm from the bottom edge of the turret.
Per reference drawings:
Panther book (Jentz & Doyle) , Panther D drawing, 24mm & 9.5mm
Ryton, Panther, 25mm & 10mm
PanzerTracks, Panther D (Jentz & Doyle) , Panther D drawing, 24mm & 9.5mm
We have a max difference in references of 1.5 mm for left to right placement and 1 mm for vertical placement.
2 mm = ~ 2.75 scale inches
Maybe its off by 1 or 2 scale inches?
Jezzuss!!! The difference is trival in my opinion between the references with the most variance! I’m not moving the detail, I think it’s close enough to not worry about.
My gut feeling is that the Dragon Panther D pistol port on the left side should be ~.5mm to 1mm higher.
I’m sure some Experten out there somewhere can prove the port should be moved etc because their measurements are more precise etc. More power to them, I’m in the if it looks right, it is right camp.
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A little flashback from that acid he dropped in the 70’s?
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Kali talking doesn’t bother me but when she throws out “gang sign” I start get a little paranoid.
She used to run with a sketchy crowd
This day at the work bench is off to a horrible start E15 launched into oblivion. After an hour or so of looking, moving stuff, being under the desk and in the floor, I’m writing off finding the part. Time to break out the back up kit that was purchased long ago as a contingency for these litte disasters.
So the kit box is marked…this sucks.
Would it sound paranoid if I said these DML Dragon b!÷c#'$ are conspiring against me?
Take that Dragon saboteurs!
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Dragon is a piece of S#it !!! Terrible brand with so many problems, people should not support brands with this quality in 2023.
Dragon is a waste of time in these days where there are other brands that are great to build.
Sorry for that problem fellow
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Hi @Trooper T, I wouldn’t bash Dragon that harshly, its unfair. It undermines your credibility to us long time modelers that have built 30 or 40 Dragon kits over the years. We know for a fact you are overreaching with that comment. Yes, Dragon does excel at marketing mediocrity at a premium these days.
Yet many of Dragon’s Panzer IV, Tiger 1 and several other kits are excellent to outstanding. The buyer has to do research to find the best of the Dragon kits. Dragon is definitely a Caveat Emptor brand.
Caveat Emptor, being a Latin phrase that translates to “let the buyer beware” in English. In real estate, it’s similar to the idea of buying a house that’s sold as-is. Caveat emptor means the buyer gets what they get, even if it has major flaws. Perfect description for Dragon products and their wildly inconsistent quality.
However, my #6164 Panther D is a 2002 molded & designed kit that’s no longer in production nor available from Dragon. While it’s a disappointing kit in many ways, I wouldn’t write Dragon off due to this kit. I have three more, two D’s & A in my stash that are very similar quality from back in the early 2000’s…lol
The missing part is my fault for loosing it. Likewise the broken E15 part. I was making a joke out of an annoying situation .
As irritating as this Dragon’s #6164 Panther D has proved, it’s also one of top ~ten models, I’ve enjoyed building. There’s a feeling of accomplishment that comes from getting the hateful rascal built!
In time I plan to build the other Dragon D’s in my stash, I wouldn’t quite say they are a waste of time…more of an acquired taste.
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Came across this last night while searching for Sherman tracks. Ooopsie.
I am sure its been pointed out before.
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What others have said Wade, this looks exactly like a Kursk D to me and you’re doing an excellent job. Luckily for you the Diorama Police’s drone was shot down recently. As for the pistol port I had to check my own (DML) effort – cunningly the Kursk markings make it fairly impossible to tell its position…
Regarding the orbiting part E15 I would have suggested you check around your pillow before resorting to a replacement. You may not have read my tale of a launched PE part (with smudge of cyano on it) discovered hours of fruitless searching later stuck to the top of my ear. Anyhow if you have any hair left (a) I hate you (b) it might have nested in there.
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