Model Forum / General / Models / July 2006

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale '39-'45 Series Kit No.
6268; Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther G Late Production - Smart Kit; 714 parts (515
in grey styrene, 170 "Magic Link" tracks, 14 clear styrene, 13
etched brass, 2 twisted steel wires); price unknown but estimated at US
$45

Advantages: near totally new molding of a popular subject;
"multimedia" kit results with a minimum of multimedia parts (15) in
the kit; ease of assembly placed above all else

Disadvantages: large number and variants of Panther kits offered by DML
and on the market has caused some disappointment and confusion

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all German armor fans

F I R S T    L O O K

    No sooner did DML release a "Premium Edition" of their older but
still very good Panther Ausf. D than they follow it up with one of
their "mystery kits" - a brand-new ground up version of the
popular Panther Ausf. G. This kit is virtually new, with only a couple
of minor sprues shared with the recent Ausf. D kit (the K sprues -
tools and OVM - and the J sprue - the MG-34 bow machine gun.) It also
comes with the same track arrangement as the Ausf. D - eight "wrap
around" separate links with separate guide teeth for the drive wheels
and the same "Magic Track" links that snap together for assembly.

    The rest of the kit is absolutely astounding from a technical point of
view. It makes more use of "slide molding" than any previous DML
kit, and the goal seems to be to permit modelers to get
"multimedia" kit finish and part definition with a minimum of
actual multimedia parts - here being only 13 etched brass parts,
mostly grilles for the engine deck, and two steel tow cables (large and
small).

    The lower hull is a one-piece "slide mold" part with all of the
torsion bars complete and separate parts (the D had them as just the
arm ends, not the entire bar.) Fine details such as "bump stops",
"pin knockers" and braces are all separate. The kit provides the
rubber tired road wheels, but for a change of pace it also has two sets
of "steel" road wheels for the last road wheel station on each side
as an option. The model may be built with or without the small return
roller wheel on the final drives, and both types are provided in the
kit.

    The hull rear plate comes with the late production "flame damper"
exhaust pipes, which also have an optional two-piece hood for them
(there are some things even DML hasn't figured out in molding
techniques yet, and going around corners is one of them - can't
change the laws of physics!)

    On the hull top braces, locks and handles are provided for the "flip
up" style of crew hatches. The engine deck is very complete, with
radiators, radiator fans, screens, louvers and a large number of
separate access ports and lids provided. All grilles replicate full
castings and are separate parts as well. No engine or interior are
provided with the kit, but the interior is set up for relatively easy
installation so the after-market boys are going to be racing to see who
gets their interior done first!

    The hull side trim is all plastic, but comes with "slide molded"
mounts and access holes for pins or attachment in order to permit track
links to be hung in a prototypical fashion on their racks. The same
goes for the tools and OVM.

    The turret comes with either the early (rounded) or late ("chin")
mantelet with a one-piece plastic barrel and a three piece muzzle
brake. The gun does have a minimal breech assembly but no other
interior parts are provided except for the self-defense weapon (mine
thrower) in the turret roof. The commander's cupola comes with clear
vision blocks and two interior sections that fit inside the "slide
molded" cupola to give it the right thickness.

    Three finishing options are provided - 11th Panzer Division, Bavaria
1945 (two color scheme); unidentified, Lake Balaton, Hungary 1945
(three-color scheme); and unidentified unit on the Eastern Front, 1945
in a two-color scheme. Two decal sheets are provided with different
size numbers, but no explanation is given as to which is which or why
two sheets.

    Overall, given the choice of subject and level of detail achieved, I
would have to say that as much as I personally do not care for the
Panther this would have to be in my top three choices for a "Kit of
the Year." Honest!

    Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue listing:

A    52x2    Engine deck details and fine details
    3    Hull and engine hatchs
B    55    Turret
C    55     Hull details and sponsons
D    27    Radiators and hull rear details
E    47x4    Road wheels, torsion bars, individual "wrap" track links,
wingnuts
F    4    Mantelets
G    37    Drivers, final drives, steel wheel sets
H    1    Commander's cupola
J    8    MG-34 bow gun
K    30    Tools and OVM
L    14    clear styrene
N    2    Idler bases
R    1    twisted steel wire
S    1    twisted steel wire
X    1    Lower hull
Y    170    "Magic Track" links
MA    7    Etched brass
MB    6    Etched brass