New Panther! (1 Viewer)

[Phantom Warrior]

What it comes down to for me, is that after comparing my WS072 to the photos of the new Panther, and given that I can have only one, I prefer WS072.

Terry

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Photos showing the Tiger wheels on the Panther Ausf G as modelled on WS72, and the dished shape outer/inner wheels, the more prevalent pattern.

Thanks for posting those. Your first photo is one of the 3 photos in the Panzer Tract book I referred to. The second photo shows the reverse dish shape of the inner road wheels. These overlapping dish shapes are what made the Panthers prone to having mud and ice freeze in the spaces overnight and immobilize the tank - moreso than other tanks.

Terry

 

[OzDigger]

Photos showing the Tiger wheels on the Panther Ausf G as modelled on WS72, and the dished shape outer/inner wheels, the more prevalent pattern.

Thanks for the pics.

 

[Mitch]

Another good reference book is German Military Vehicles by David Doyle
Mitch

 

[OzDigger]

Another good reference book is German Military Vehicles by David Doyle
Mitch

Agreed, especially on soft skinned stuff as there are few books on that. Another handy reference is "Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two" by Chamberlain and Doyle.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Quite the discussion on WS072 wheels. I do suspect Andy of artistic license on this one. Clearly it comes down to whether a person likes any of the old style models - and I do like some of them - or just the fully detailed current models. I think a few of the older models have a character not duplicated by the re-issues and make an excellent addition to a collection.

Terry

 

[Rob]

Agreed, especially on soft skinned stuff as there are few books on that. Another handy reference is "Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two" by Chamberlain and Doyle.

I second that,I have that and its an excellent reference book,highly recommended.

And without wanting to change subject can I recommend its companion book 'British and American Tanks of WW2 by Chamberlain and Ellis,laid out just as the other one and also very good.

Rob

 

[OzDigger]

Quite the discussion on WS072 wheels. I do suspect Andy of artistic license on this one. Clearly it comes down to whether a person likes any of the old style models - and I do like some of them - or just the fully detailed current models. I think a few of the older models have a character not duplicated by the re-issues and make an excellent addition to a collection.

Terry

From memory that model was released around the time me and a few other "rivet counters" were requesting better detail in K & C tank wheels/tracks. I guess it was a make-do until K & C had worked out how to produce more separated wheels.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

From memory that model was released around the time me and a few other "rivet counters" were requesting better detail in K & C tank wheels/tracks. I guess it was a make-do until K & C had worked out how to produce more separated wheels.

I think that one had already been released but still available in the shops when I got seriously into collecting K&C. I was surprised to find that when I measured it yesterday, it was 1:30 scale. I expected one that old to be more like 1:32.

Terry

 

[OzDigger]

I think that one had already been released but still available in the shops when I got seriously into collecting K&C. I was surprised to find that when I measured it yesterday, it was 1:30 scale. I expected one that old to be more like 1:32.

Terry

It was one of the few Terry, their Jadgpanther (WS059) was also close on 1/30 but I think most every other early piece of armor was based on 1/32 models.

 

[Gustavflyer]

What wheel issue? Panthers were produced with steel wheels in September 1944, and March/April 1945, and the spares where usually the old rubber rimmed wheels. The steel wheels were Tiger II wheels.

Terry

True, but no steel wheeled Panthers were in Normandy

 

[Phantom Warrior]

True, but no steel wheeled Panthers were in Normandy

True, especially since the first steel wheels weren't fitted to Panthers until September 1944. The description should have been Western Front or Defense of the Reich and not Normandy.

Terry

 

[jbonzo1]

I have WS072 and agree that it's a nice tank with that K&C "character" in abundance. I will pick up the new one because I like it and the price is right.

 

[Gustavflyer]

True, especially since the first steel wheels weren't fitted to Panthers until September 1944. The description should have been Western Front or Defense of the Reich and not Normandy.

Terry

Exactly Terry, K&C needs to be a little more savy in their research, the steel wheel would have worked as a BOB Panther nicely, or like you said a late war Western Front, come on Andy, get with the history buddy

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Exactly Terry, K&C needs to be a little more savy in their research, the steel wheel would have worked as a BOB Panther nicely, or like you said a late war Western Front, come on Andy, get with the history buddy

He probably knows the history, but Normandy is probably easier to market than Western Front.. I rarely care about what battle K&C says a piece is from because in many cases, they fit a different location anyway, so I decide for myself. As long as the piece is accurately done, and in this case it is, and has some character, which it does, I like it. I know it was a re-equipment Panther used in the Defence of the Reich or Battle of the Bulge and use it as such.

Terry

 

[GJB22]

Even though this Panther lacks unit markings, it looks like the commander has a cuff title, which still limits the Panther's use in a diorama. Unless you repaint him or use a different figure.

 

[unglesbeemj]

Yes, no problems with the 800mm and 860mm wheels but, from what I know, you could not cross repair with these two different kind of wheels. I got this info from a german WWII tanker who I interviewed a number of times for some research I was doing and, it came up because he had many AFV models including this one.

If you have photos of a panther with two sets of wheels I would like to see them but, I have not seen any does not mean they do not exist but, cannot see how the running gear would work
Mitch
Mitch

This is not an attempt to restart the discussion on panther wheels, but I came across this photo on the planetarmor site showing a panther using both types of wheels, and thought it would interest everyone that contributed to the original thread.

Here is a link to more panther pics (50 pages of member posts!) on the planetarmor site for those interested:
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1406
If you take the time, you will be rewarded with some fantastic panther photos, inlcuding some fascinating then/now photos of knocked out AFVs in German cities, Berlin.

Mike

 

[OzDigger]

Mike, thanks for the pic, yet another example of an exception to the 'rules' of this hobby.

 

[jbonzo1]

Mike, thanks for the pic, yet another example of an exception to the 'rules' of this hobby.

Which is why you should never say never.

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

With so much to choose in this hobby I have not had a "double" of any piece in my collection yet. By that I also include different paint jobs due to different theatres of operation, different manufacturers, and different years of releases. I've got the WS072 and think its terrific. This new updated version looks really good to and I've been wondering if I should swap out of my old Panther and buy the newer version. Time will tell, I'll likely withold judgement until pictures come out comparing both versions.