In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
PzBefWg Panther Ausf. G
Kit no. 9046
Imperial Series
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2004
I paid $17.60 for my kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
Available one place overseas on the web.
Imperial Series
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2004
I paid $17.60 for my kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
Available one place overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Panther tank, officially Panzerkampfwagen V Panther (abbreviated PzKpfw V) with ordnance inventory designation: Sd.Kfz. 171, is a German medium tank of World War II. It was used on the Eastern and Western Fronts from mid-1943 to the end of the war in May 1945. On 27 February 1944 it was redesignated to just PzKpfw Panther, as Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted.[citation needed] In contemporary English-language reports it is sometimes referred to as the "Mark V".
The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 medium tank and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Nevertheless, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the heavier Tiger I until the end of the war. It had excellent firepower, protection and mobility, although its reliability was less impressive. The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same Maybach V12 petrol (690 hp) engine as the Tiger I, it had better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I.
The trade-off was weaker side armour, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire and a weaker high explosive shell. The Panther proved to be effective in open country and long-range engagements. The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armour, transmission, and final drive, were simplifications made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages. Despite this, the overall design has still been described by some as "overengineered".
The Panther was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943 despite numerous unresolved technical problems, leading to high losses due to mechanical failure. Most design flaws were rectified by late 1943 and early 1944, though the bombing of production plants, increasing shortages of high-quality alloys for critical components, shortage of fuel and training space, and the declining quality of crews all impacted the tank's effectiveness.
Though officially classified as a medium tank, at 44.8 metric tons the Panther was closer in weight to contemporary foreign heavy tanks. The Panther's weight caused logistical problems, such as an inability to cross certain bridges, otherwise the tank had a very high power-to-weight ratio which made it highly mobile. The naming of Panther production variants did not, unlike most German tanks, follow alphabetical order: the initial variant, Panther "D" (Ausf. D), was followed by "A" and "G" variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1944–1945 (Kingdom of Hungary), 1944–1949 (France)
Used by: Nazi Germany, Hungary, Limited use by other militaries
Wars: World War II
Designer: MAN AG
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH
Unit cost: 117,100 ℛℳ (Without weapons, optics, or radio), 143,912 ℛℳ (combat ready), 2,000 Man hours
Produced: 1943–1945 (1946- 9 postwar for the British Army)
No. built: about 6,000
Variants: Befehlspanzer (command tank), Bergepanther (armoured recovery vehicle), Jagdpanther
Mass: 44.8 tonnes (44.1 long tons; 49.4 short tons)
Length: 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in), 8.66 metres (28 ft 5 in) gun forward
Width: 3.27 m (10 ft 9 in), 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in) with skirts
Height: 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew: 5 (driver, radio-operator/hull machine gunner, commander, gunner, loader)
Armour: 16-100 mm
Main armament: 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 with 79 rounds
Secondary
Armament 2 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns with 5,100 rounds
Engine: V-12 petrol Maybach HL230 P30 of 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight: 15.39 PS (11.5 kW)/tonne (13.77 hp/ton)
Transmission: ZF AK 7-200. 7 forward 1 reverse[5]
Suspension: double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 730 litres (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 260 km (160 mi), Cross-country: 100 km (62 mi)
Maximum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (first models), 46 km/h (29 mph) (later models)
The Panther tank, officially Panzerkampfwagen V Panther (abbreviated PzKpfw V) with ordnance inventory designation: Sd.Kfz. 171, is a German medium tank of World War II. It was used on the Eastern and Western Fronts from mid-1943 to the end of the war in May 1945. On 27 February 1944 it was redesignated to just PzKpfw Panther, as Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted.[citation needed] In contemporary English-language reports it is sometimes referred to as the "Mark V".
The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 medium tank and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Nevertheless, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the heavier Tiger I until the end of the war. It had excellent firepower, protection and mobility, although its reliability was less impressive. The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same Maybach V12 petrol (690 hp) engine as the Tiger I, it had better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I.
The trade-off was weaker side armour, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire and a weaker high explosive shell. The Panther proved to be effective in open country and long-range engagements. The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armour, transmission, and final drive, were simplifications made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages. Despite this, the overall design has still been described by some as "overengineered".
The Panther was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943 despite numerous unresolved technical problems, leading to high losses due to mechanical failure. Most design flaws were rectified by late 1943 and early 1944, though the bombing of production plants, increasing shortages of high-quality alloys for critical components, shortage of fuel and training space, and the declining quality of crews all impacted the tank's effectiveness.
Though officially classified as a medium tank, at 44.8 metric tons the Panther was closer in weight to contemporary foreign heavy tanks. The Panther's weight caused logistical problems, such as an inability to cross certain bridges, otherwise the tank had a very high power-to-weight ratio which made it highly mobile. The naming of Panther production variants did not, unlike most German tanks, follow alphabetical order: the initial variant, Panther "D" (Ausf. D), was followed by "A" and "G" variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1944–1945 (Kingdom of Hungary), 1944–1949 (France)
Used by: Nazi Germany, Hungary, Limited use by other militaries
Wars: World War II
Designer: MAN AG
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH
Unit cost: 117,100 ℛℳ (Without weapons, optics, or radio), 143,912 ℛℳ (combat ready), 2,000 Man hours
Produced: 1943–1945 (1946- 9 postwar for the British Army)
No. built: about 6,000
Variants: Befehlspanzer (command tank), Bergepanther (armoured recovery vehicle), Jagdpanther
Mass: 44.8 tonnes (44.1 long tons; 49.4 short tons)
Length: 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in), 8.66 metres (28 ft 5 in) gun forward
Width: 3.27 m (10 ft 9 in), 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in) with skirts
Height: 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew: 5 (driver, radio-operator/hull machine gunner, commander, gunner, loader)
Armour: 16-100 mm
Main armament: 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 with 79 rounds
Secondary
Armament 2 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns with 5,100 rounds
Engine: V-12 petrol Maybach HL230 P30 of 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight: 15.39 PS (11.5 kW)/tonne (13.77 hp/ton)
Transmission: ZF AK 7-200. 7 forward 1 reverse[5]
Suspension: double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 730 litres (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 260 km (160 mi), Cross-country: 100 km (62 mi)
Maximum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (first models), 46 km/h (29 mph) (later models)
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 Panther tanks on a snow-covered field near some trees. Both are in a wave pattern of tan and dark-green. The panther in the foreground has a red turret number R02, outlined in white. The Panther behind it has red turret number 233 outlined in white. Both tanks show commanders standing in the upper turret hatches. Both wear black Panzer uniforms, with cloth field caps with bills. The commander in the foreground has a pair of ear-phones on his head and is pointing with his left arm.
Behind the nose of the Panther in the foreground, there is a 5 man, German gun crew towing a 6-barreled Nebelwerfer rocket-launcher on a 2 wheeled cart. The crew all wear winter white uniforms and steel helmets.
In the distance there are streaks across the sky that rockets are making. There are 4 white rocket rounds on the ground by the Panther in the foreground.
The lower right corner of the box art says: Unassembled model kit. This kit contains 387 parts for modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains one model of armored vehicle.
One side panel of the box shows a color box art of Dragon’s kit no. 9059, a Jagdpanzer IV A-O, followed by a CAUTION that says: When you use paint or cement, do not be near an open-flame and be in a well ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English. Not suitable for children under 3 years because of small parts. In multiple languages, including English. For modelers aged 10 and over. Dragon’s web address is provided.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 Panther tanks on a snow-covered field near some trees. Both are in a wave pattern of tan and dark-green. The panther in the foreground has a red turret number R02, outlined in white. The Panther behind it has red turret number 233 outlined in white. Both tanks show commanders standing in the upper turret hatches. Both wear black Panzer uniforms, with cloth field caps with bills. The commander in the foreground has a pair of ear-phones on his head and is pointing with his left arm.
Behind the nose of the Panther in the foreground, there is a 5 man, German gun crew towing a 6-barreled Nebelwerfer rocket-launcher on a 2 wheeled cart. The crew all wear winter white uniforms and steel helmets.
In the distance there are streaks across the sky that rockets are making. There are 4 white rocket rounds on the ground by the Panther in the foreground.
The lower right corner of the box art says: Unassembled model kit. This kit contains 387 parts for modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains one model of armored vehicle.
One side panel of the box shows a color box art of Dragon’s kit no. 9059, a Jagdpanzer IV A-O, followed by a CAUTION that says: When you use paint or cement, do not be near an open-flame and be in a well ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English. Not suitable for children under 3 years because of small parts. In multiple languages, including English. For modelers aged 10 and over. Dragon’s web address is provided.
The other side panel of the box shows 3 walk-around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme, but minus any turret number. Followed by the 2004 copyright for the kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 22 medium-grey parts trees, the lone medium-grey hull tub and decal sheet in 9 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 9 ¼” x 13 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with CAUTION about the kit. Over international assembly symbol explanations and a paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to page 7. Gives a grand total of 20 assembly steps.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a 4-view of the Panther Ausf. G in the cover art scheme, but without the turret number. There is a black and white German cross on its left rear. No unit for it is said.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions in the 6 languages.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprockets, tools etc. (48 parts) 23 parts are excess and those are the wheels and drive sprockets.
This kit contains 22 medium-grey parts trees, the lone medium-grey hull tub and decal sheet in 9 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 9 ¼” x 13 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with CAUTION about the kit. Over international assembly symbol explanations and a paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to page 7. Gives a grand total of 20 assembly steps.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a 4-view of the Panther Ausf. G in the cover art scheme, but without the turret number. There is a black and white German cross on its left rear. No unit for it is said.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions in the 6 languages.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprockets, tools etc. (48 parts) 23 parts are excess and those are the wheels and drive sprockets.
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the hull top, rear wall, turret parts etc. (13 parts) 5 parts are excess.
There are 5 identical medium-grey letter C trees. They hold individual track links. The parts trees illustrations say a quantity of 4. Dragon has put one extra tree in this kit. (48 parts ea.)
There are 4 identical medium-grey, also lettered as C trees. They hold road wheels and return rollers. (14 parts ea.) The 6 return rollers are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey, also lettered as C trees. They hold upper hull cover plate and exhaust (4 parts ea.) the fenders are excess.
There is no letter D parts tree.
There is no letter D parts tree.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter E trees. They hold: idler wheels, engine air intake grills, main gun etc. (27 parts ea.) 8 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter F tree holds: final transfer covers, round air intake circles, jack etc. (35 parts) 18 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter G tree holds the round radio antenna etc. (4 parts)
Medium-grey letter H hull tub part is next. (1 part)
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey letter M tree. It holds: the main gun barrel, mantle, hatch lids etc. (33 parts) 1 part is excess.
Medium-grey letter N tree holds the gun cleaning rod etc. (9 parts) 5 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter N tree holds the gun cleaning rod etc. (9 parts) 5 parts are excess.
There are 4 sets of medium-grey letter J trees for the axle mounts for the outer road wheels (24 parts).
The decal sheet is from the Dragon Grill kit 9004 but were included in the box.
I purchased 3 decal sheets from Archer Fine Transfers to replace the kit decals.
There are no figures or clear parts in the kit or any internal details.
The detail on the exterior is excellent.
Recommended.
The detail on the exterior is excellent.
Recommended.