In Box Review of DML Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz. 171 "Panther" Ausf. D
52nd Battalion, 39th Panzer Regiment
Kursk Offensive, July 1943
Kit no. 6164
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
However it is shown for sale at 3 locations overseas.
Kit has a copyright of 2002.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
However it is shown for sale at 3 locations overseas.
Kit has a copyright of 2002.
HISTORY:
The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171.
It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted. Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the Mark V.
The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 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 is considered one of the best tanks of World War II for its excellent firepower and protection, although its reliability was less impressive.
The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same engine as the Tiger I, it had more efficient frontal hull armor, better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I.
The trade-off was weaker side armor, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire.
The Panther proved to be effective in open country and long range engagements, but did not provide enough high explosive firepower against infantry.
The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I, and only slightly more expensive than the Panzer IV. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armor, transmission, and final drive, were simplifications made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages.
The overall design remained somewhat over-engineered. The Panther was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk despite numerous unresolved technical problems, leading to high losses due to mechanical failure.
Most design flaws were rectified by late 1943 and the spring of 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, its weight is more like that of a heavy tank, as its weight of 44.8 tons puts it roughly in the same category as the American M26 Pershing (41.7 tons), British Churchill (40.7 tons) and the Soviet IS-2 (46 tons) heavy tanks.
The tank had a very high power to weight ratio however, making it extremely mobile regardless of its weight. Its weight still caused heavy tank-esque problems however, such as an inability to cross certain bridges.
The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171. It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted. Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the Mark V.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1944–1947 (France)
Used by: Nazi Germany & France & Iimited use by other militaries
Wars: World War II
Designer: MAN AG
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH
Unit cost: 117,100 Reichmarks (Without weapons, optics, or radio), 176.100 Reichmarks (combat ready)
Produced: 1943–1945 (1946- 9 postwar for the British Army)
No. built: about 6,000
Variants: Ausf. D, Ausf. A, Ausf. G, Befehlspanzer (command tank), Beobachtungspanzer (artillery observer vehicle), Bergepanther (armored recovery vehicle)
Weight: 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: up to 100 mm
Main armament: 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70, with 79 rounds
Secondary armament: 2 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gunswith 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
Suspension: double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 720 litres (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 200 km (120 mi), Cross-country: 100 km (62 mi) [4]
Speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (first models), 46 km/h (29 mph) (later models)
The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171.
It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted. Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the Mark V.
The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 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 is considered one of the best tanks of World War II for its excellent firepower and protection, although its reliability was less impressive.
The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same engine as the Tiger I, it had more efficient frontal hull armor, better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I.
The trade-off was weaker side armor, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire.
The Panther proved to be effective in open country and long range engagements, but did not provide enough high explosive firepower against infantry.
The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I, and only slightly more expensive than the Panzer IV. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armor, transmission, and final drive, were simplifications made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages.
The overall design remained somewhat over-engineered. The Panther was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk despite numerous unresolved technical problems, leading to high losses due to mechanical failure.
Most design flaws were rectified by late 1943 and the spring of 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, its weight is more like that of a heavy tank, as its weight of 44.8 tons puts it roughly in the same category as the American M26 Pershing (41.7 tons), British Churchill (40.7 tons) and the Soviet IS-2 (46 tons) heavy tanks.
The tank had a very high power to weight ratio however, making it extremely mobile regardless of its weight. Its weight still caused heavy tank-esque problems however, such as an inability to cross certain bridges.
The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171. It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted. Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the Mark V.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1944–1947 (France)
Used by: Nazi Germany & France & Iimited use by other militaries
Wars: World War II
Designer: MAN AG
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH
Unit cost: 117,100 Reichmarks (Without weapons, optics, or radio), 176.100 Reichmarks (combat ready)
Produced: 1943–1945 (1946- 9 postwar for the British Army)
No. built: about 6,000
Variants: Ausf. D, Ausf. A, Ausf. G, Befehlspanzer (command tank), Beobachtungspanzer (artillery observer vehicle), Bergepanther (armored recovery vehicle)
Weight: 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: up to 100 mm
Main armament: 1 × 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70, with 79 rounds
Secondary armament: 2 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gunswith 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
Suspension: double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 720 litres (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 200 km (120 mi), Cross-country: 100 km (62 mi) [4]
Speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (first models), 46 km/h (29 mph) (later models)
THE KIT:
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Panther D moving across a grassy field with 4 German infantrymen behind it and a burning Russian T-34/85 tank.
The Panther is in a base of earth yellow with red-brown and dark green bands on it. It has a red turret number 521 outlined in white. In front of the turret number is a small white panther's head logo.
One corner of the box art says the kit contains 444 parts and is intended for modelers over the age of 10.
One side panel shows a color box art of kit no. 6139, a German Sd.Kfz. 250/10 w/3.7cm Pak by DML. Followed by a caution saying that when you use glue or paint don't use it near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English.
Kit is not for children under 3 years of age due to small parts with sharp edges. The copyright of the kit is given as 2002, over DML's street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made in China.
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Panther D moving across a grassy field with 4 German infantrymen behind it and a burning Russian T-34/85 tank.
The Panther is in a base of earth yellow with red-brown and dark green bands on it. It has a red turret number 521 outlined in white. In front of the turret number is a small white panther's head logo.
One corner of the box art says the kit contains 444 parts and is intended for modelers over the age of 10.
One side panel shows a color box art of kit no. 6139, a German Sd.Kfz. 250/10 w/3.7cm Pak by DML. Followed by a caution saying that when you use glue or paint don't use it near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English.
Kit is not for children under 3 years of age due to small parts with sharp edges. The copyright of the kit is given as 2002, over DML's street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made in China.
The other side panel has 3 color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme, followed by a repeat of the copyright date and DML's address again.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 11 light-gray part trees and 4 white strips of sheet plastic that are die cut and embossed with the panels of the side skirts, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single sheet that is printed in color on slick-coated paper. It accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 14" x 8 1/4" page format.
Page 1 begins with a full color repeat of the box art over the parts trees illustrations. Some trees are shown to have parts browned out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of GSI Creos and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of the page has the first 2 assembly steps.
Parts in all the assembly steps are colored in light tan. Different!!
Page 3 through through 7 give a total of 25 assembly steps.
Page 8 is the marking and painting instructions. Two 4-views are shown.
1. A Panther D with the 52nd Battalion, 39th Panzer Regiment, Kursk Offensive, July 1943. This is the box art scheme (already described above).
2. A Panther D with the 51st Panzer Battalion, attached to Panzer Grenadier Division "Grosdeutschland", Karchev, July/August 1943.
It is overall earth yellow with a German cross on the rear of the hull and a black turret number 445 high on the turret sides.
Below this is the decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English, the copyright date of 2002 and PRINTED IN CHINA.
Light gray letter A tree holds: turret bottom plate, hull top, storage boxes, final transfer covers etc. (24 parts) Three parts are browned out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess.
The kit contains 11 light-gray part trees and 4 white strips of sheet plastic that are die cut and embossed with the panels of the side skirts, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single sheet that is printed in color on slick-coated paper. It accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 14" x 8 1/4" page format.
Page 1 begins with a full color repeat of the box art over the parts trees illustrations. Some trees are shown to have parts browned out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of GSI Creos and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of the page has the first 2 assembly steps.
Parts in all the assembly steps are colored in light tan. Different!!
Page 3 through through 7 give a total of 25 assembly steps.
Page 8 is the marking and painting instructions. Two 4-views are shown.
1. A Panther D with the 52nd Battalion, 39th Panzer Regiment, Kursk Offensive, July 1943. This is the box art scheme (already described above).
2. A Panther D with the 51st Panzer Battalion, attached to Panzer Grenadier Division "Grosdeutschland", Karchev, July/August 1943.
It is overall earth yellow with a German cross on the rear of the hull and a black turret number 445 high on the turret sides.
Below this is the decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English, the copyright date of 2002 and PRINTED IN CHINA.
Light gray letter A tree holds: turret bottom plate, hull top, storage boxes, final transfer covers etc. (24 parts) Three parts are browned out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess.
Light gray letter B tree holds: the fenders, tools etc. (42 parts) Two parts are excess.
Light gray letter C is the hull bottom part. The bogies are molded into it.
There are 2 identical light gray letter D trees. They hold the gun barrel, drive sprockets, idler wheels etc. (40 parts each)
Light gray letter E tree holds: turret parts etc. (34 parts) Five parts are excess.
Lettering now jumps to the light gray J tree. It holds the turret top, mantle etc. (40 parts) Seven are excess.
There is no letter K tree.
There is no letter K tree.
There are 4 identical light gray letter L trees. They hold the road wheels and individual track links (56 parts per tree)
PS is the 4 strips of thin white plastic sheet that is die cut and embossed with the shape of the panels of the side skirts.
The decal sheet completes the kits content.
There are no crew figures, interior details (either in the hull or turret) and no clear parts.
I am adding a set of my company's (Armor Research) no. 1008 PE engine air intake screens (designed for the Tamiya Jagdpanther) and my company's set no 1007 PE for the Nichimo Panther G.
I am adding a set of my company's (Armor Research) no. 1008 PE engine air intake screens (designed for the Tamiya Jagdpanther) and my company's set no 1007 PE for the Nichimo Panther G.
Very nice external detail.