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Building a 1:8 Scale Panther: Part 2

Editors Note: Here is part 2 of a 3 part series by Peter Mealing on his amazing 1:8 scale Panther build-up/conversion. If you like to start with Part 1 that would probably be a good idea. Peter's work has been recognized with a silver medal at the 2002 Model Engineers Exhibition in England. This was quite an honor with 760 competitors in the running. Peter's other large scale tank, a Russian T-34 won the bronze medal.  - Jim

On to the Deck!

The entire turret turning mechanism was removed from the turret and relocated in the hull. The logic of this being that there would be less electrical/RC connections to break when wishing to remove the turret.

Silicon moulds were taken directly off of the deck of the various components that I would require. All of the detail was then sanded off leaving a bare hull. The 4 radiator grills on the tank are of the single bar type for the Ausf. G, the Ausf. A had 3. I made yet another master, a silicon mould, removed the original single bar grills and replaced them with the older type. Not easy as the mouldings are quite thin. Once in place they were reinforced with thin brass wire. To conceal the void beneath each grill dummy radiators and fans were made and fitted. The centre circular fan grills were also removed and new hollow ones made with f/g/resin. I wanted this particularly as the speakers for the Maybach engine sound and the WW2 German taped music will be played through here.

New scratchbuild detail was added including the handrails, hatches, bolt heads, hinges and the mesh covers for the 6 grills. I then moved on to the front of the deck. The original mg ball mounting was ground out and an acrylic ball with holes for both the mg and its sight was fitted into place using body filler, the hole then filed and sanded to the correct shape.

New hatches for the driver/radio operator were made from plasticard and the actual removable ‘transmission access hatch’ was grooved in and its 30 odd bolt heads fitted. There were 2 types of barrel locking mechanism. The Ausf. A normally had the later. This consisted of a frame with a bike like chain and locking mechanism that secured the barrel when the tank was being transported or ‘on the march’. A total of 63 parts and a whole 5 days work produced a working scale barrel lock. Various other parts were made including the air extractor, scale periscope guards, hatch retaining catches and 2 masters was made for a periscopes and by use of 2 more silicon mould, a total of 12 periscopes were made to include those in the cupola. (Different size for the cupola).