Tamiya Models German Pzkfw V Panther Ausf A Model Kit

I hadn’t built a model in 4.5 years and wanted to do one when I had some time off between starting a new job. The last time I had built this exact Panther kit, I was a teenager so it’s been over 20 years. I had forgotten about some of the pros and cons of the model when I bought it. Regardless of the cons, it’s still an impressive model kit and I’ll just list some things to be aware of. In all honestly, the rubber tracks to attach to the wheels as well as the plastic tracks that come with it to attach to the sides are pretty bad and inaccurate. The tracks do not look like Panther tracks and are very generic. The insides of the rubber tracks are completely smooth with no indications that each track has separate links. Some may not care but it bothered me so I bought a set of Panther tracks that came with 180 plastic track links (Tamiya Models German Panther Ausf.D Separate Track Link Set (1/35 Scale)). I had to glue a piece onto each link and then carefully clip each separate link into each other for two sets of tracks. Each track takes 85 links. That left 10 leftover tracks to attach to the Panther’s sides. As tedious as the tracks were, I’m glad I did them. The exhaust pipes are solid so if you want them to look more accurate, you have to hollow them out. I used an X-acto knife and spun it around to get it alright. Also, the periscopes are just little arches. It is a very basic kit where I imagine others Panther kits may have more detail and be more accurate. However, it’s still a nice model and can be made to look pretty cool. This is also the first model I had ever airbrushed and as nervous as I was using an airbrush for the first time, it seemed to go pretty smooth for the most part. I may add the towing cables later if I feel like trying to bend them in hot water or making my own cable out of wires if possible. It was pretty fun to build and paint, I’m happy with the way it turned out, and it got me in the mindset that I may not wait another 4 years to build another model.

Clear instructions and would recommend for anyone getting into the hobby. I am a beginner and this took me approximately 2.5 hours to complete (without painting.)

REQUIRES CONSTRUCTION. REQUIRES PAINT. REQUIRES PATIENCE.Very simple kit compared to Tamiya's Tiger one Early Production kit. Same exact type of rubber tracks though. Tracks looked great in gunmetal oil. Use Oils for details and acrylics for the Tank. Use matte silver oil-based spray paint as the primer, so when you get done painting the acrylic camo you can use a fine nail file to accurately show weathering,etc eithout an airbrush. :-) Use high quality paints. I like Humbrol for oils at $2 a metal tin and high-grade fine acrylics. Make sure you buy media and matte set for the acrylics. Ceramic stores are great places. Instructions are in Japanese and English. Thick high quality plastic. Chassis fits to underbelly flawlessly. Good Feel to it. They must have re-tooled the 1978 mold. Soldier's faces great detail. Very little flash to cut off. Have not primed it yet or started assembly. Took freaking six weeks to get here with free shipping from Japan. Lots of sexy Japanese women on newspaper it was packed in. Box was one half the size of the Tamiya Tiger One Box. The Panther Ausf (Type A) was ONLY fifteen dollars though. Well worth it.

Its a very old model from 1969 and is lacking some details but at the price you cant beat it. Great to learn how to do zimmerit as the other Panther kits are +$40. Had a bit of a time putting the hull pieces together but with a little putty it was fine. Also had a big problem with the poly wheel caps not sticking even with CA glue.NOTE: this is a model not a toy. You have to assemble everything down to the grab handles and paint. It is also not a toy and is very fragile.

One of my favorite models to build and paint 🎨, parts fit well and looks great 👍

im really excited for this kit and it is going to dwarf the light tanks in my collection! im pleased with how quickly this was sent and delivered and even-more-so that i was able to track this the moment it went out. 5/5 for shipping time, price and the awsome thank you note that came with my model! will happily be doing buisness again. the hardest thing now is just figuring out what paint theme to go with!unfortunately somewhere in transition it looks like my box got the short-end of a heavyer box. thankfully though, i can fix the broken piece because it was a clean break, not a warp, but if not ill just pick up another kit to canabilize for parts. i love having a back-up plan :)

Just what I was looking for

Have you ever built something and the parts don't fit? It's enough to make you angry. These parts by and large fit very well and what challenges there are can be met with a file and patience.Oh, if it was 5 stars it would be snap-to-fit.