In Box Review of Minicraft 1/35th Scale Pz.Kpfw. V "Panther" Ausf. G German Army Heavy Tank
Kit no. 1303
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
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 tonnage. Its weight still caused logistical problems however, such as an inability to cross certain bridges.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1944–1947 (France)
Limited use by other military's.
Wars: World War II
Designer: MAN AG 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[2]
Variants: Ausf. D, Ausf. A, Ausf. G, Befehlspanzer (command tank), Beobachtungspanzer (artillery observer vehicle), Bergepanther (armored recovery vehicle)
Mass: 44.8 tonnes (44.1 long tons; 49.4 short tons)
Length: 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in), 8.66 meters (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[3]
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
Suspension: double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 720 liters (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 200 km (120 mi), Cross-country: 100 km (62 mi)
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 tonnage. Its weight still caused logistical problems however, such as an inability to cross certain bridges.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1944–1947 (France)
Limited use by other military's.
Wars: World War II
Designer: MAN AG 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[2]
Variants: Ausf. D, Ausf. A, Ausf. G, Befehlspanzer (command tank), Beobachtungspanzer (artillery observer vehicle), Bergepanther (armored recovery vehicle)
Mass: 44.8 tonnes (44.1 long tons; 49.4 short tons)
Length: 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in), 8.66 meters (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[3]
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
Suspension: double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 720 liters (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 200 km (120 mi), Cross-country: 100 km (62 mi)
Speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (first models), 46 km/h (29 mph) (later models)
THE KIT:
Minicraft Models was based in Torrance, CA at the time of this kits release. They are now in Rockford, IL.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Pz.Kpfw. V "Panther" Ausf. G, posed against a white background with squares printed on it.
The tank is overall earth yellow with a red turret no. 231 outlined in white.
The commander is looking out o the turret hatch. He wears a black panzer uniform with side cap and has a pair of headphones on his head. He has his left arm raised beckoning another tank perhaps.
One side-panel has a one-paragraph history of the "Panther", followed by a small color repeat of the box art and MADE IN JAPAN.
Minicraft Models was based in Torrance, CA at the time of this kits release. They are now in Rockford, IL.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Pz.Kpfw. V "Panther" Ausf. G, posed against a white background with squares printed on it.
The tank is overall earth yellow with a red turret no. 231 outlined in white.
The commander is looking out o the turret hatch. He wears a black panzer uniform with side cap and has a pair of headphones on his head. He has his left arm raised beckoning another tank perhaps.
One side-panel has a one-paragraph history of the "Panther", followed by a small color repeat of the box art and MADE IN JAPAN.
The other side panel begins with specifications of the tank (already given above) and kit features: Over 148 precision molded-in-color components. Highly detailed flexible polyethylene treads.
Length: 9.96"
Width: 3.85"
Height: 3.49"
Movable turret, bogies and cannon.
Length: 9.96"
Width: 3.85"
Height: 3.49"
Movable turret, bogies and cannon.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 4 tan trees in 3 sealed clear cello bags, a tan loose hull tub and hull roof part and some motorization hardware (although the kit is not a motorized one), the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet in 8 12" x 11" format. Folded in the center to create 4 pages and folded again to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a listing of all the parts names, next to a small black and white copy of the box art pose, but with the tank in a wave pattern of earth-yellow and dark green with a white turret no. 300.
Below this is the first 2 assembly steps. Step 2 shows some motorization assembly.
Bottom of the page is Minicraft's P.O. Box address in Torrance, CA.
Pages 2 through 4 give a grand total of a balance of 9 assembly steps.
Step 9 shows a side view of the "Panther" in the 2 color wave scheme with the 231 turret number.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Minicraft !
The first tan tree holds: cupola, commander figure, main gun barrel, mantle parts, machine gun, jack, spare track, rear storage bins, mufflers and their shields, antenna, lift handles, tools, tow cable, turret hatch etc. (77 parts)
The kit contains 4 tan trees in 3 sealed clear cello bags, a tan loose hull tub and hull roof part and some motorization hardware (although the kit is not a motorized one), the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet in 8 12" x 11" format. Folded in the center to create 4 pages and folded again to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a listing of all the parts names, next to a small black and white copy of the box art pose, but with the tank in a wave pattern of earth-yellow and dark green with a white turret no. 300.
Below this is the first 2 assembly steps. Step 2 shows some motorization assembly.
Bottom of the page is Minicraft's P.O. Box address in Torrance, CA.
Pages 2 through 4 give a grand total of a balance of 9 assembly steps.
Step 9 shows a side view of the "Panther" in the 2 color wave scheme with the 231 turret number.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Minicraft !
The first tan tree holds: cupola, commander figure, main gun barrel, mantle parts, machine gun, jack, spare track, rear storage bins, mufflers and their shields, antenna, lift handles, tools, tow cable, turret hatch etc. (77 parts)
The second tan tree holds: turret top and bottom, rear hull wall, 2 panels that are never shown in the instructions etc. (7 parts)
The third tan tree holds: road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, axles, etc (35 parts)
The fourth tan tree holds more road wheels (16 parts)
Next is the black vinyl rubber-band type treads (2 runs)
The motorization hardware consists of a metal box, steel rod and screw, with 3 white gears on the rod.
I added a set of my Armor Research Co. brass PE engine air intake screens to the kit. I have these items in a plastic bag to keep them together.
Next is the one piece lower hull. I have added the motorization gear box, axle and gears to the hull.
The upper hull.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents. There is no interior detail, but the exterior is nice.
Recommended.