Note the squatting position of this Panther from the weakened (by fire) suspension.
Above and below, Sprue Tree A for the hull tub and other details. Sadly, the bottom of the sponsons are devoid of the nuts and screws all other Panther G kits now have (except for the ancient Nichimo and older Tamiya).
Above and below, Sprue Tree B contains the upper hull and details.
Above and below, Sprue Trees C & F cover the turret (C) and late details (F). Included are IR gear which will not be used in this boxing.
Above, Sprue Trees D cover repeated details and extra parts. Four of these trees are included.
Above, Sprue Trees E are for the tracks. They have are in link and length style on the four included trees.
Lousy string for tow cable, polyvinyl caps, small PE fret, and decals complete the contents other than the instructions which include color printed markings guide.
Close up of tracks where you can see the solid guide horns (possible as some were found at M.N.H. during the postwar build supervised by the British and therefore were available at the end) but then there are these knock out pins...so many!
These flame hiding exhausts will need drilling through in two steps to create the prototypical air entry to help cool off the exhaust ring within. Luckily, one can find earlier exhaust pipes in the kit box and build a late 1944 tank without using these.
Spare road wheels have knock out pin marks but they are not used in this boxing. They should but the mounts (for the Daimler-Benz assembled example) are not included.
Unlike their PzKpfw IV based kits, the tires lack any size or manufacturer's markings.
There are several type or road wheel arms included which is good as the instructions are wrong when it comes to the M.N.H. example. One must remove the rear suspension bump stop block and sprint mount pin from both hull tub sides and road wheel torsion bar arm B38 should be used in conjunction at station 8.
The mantle sides need texturing to match the cast effect on the front.
The turret has half weld beads to help locate the camouflage loops on some examples. Remove them if not using the loops.
The turret front plate was cast yet the effect is missing.
The reinforced (chin) mantle also lacks casting effect on the sides. Both mantles include the IR mounting tabs seen here as well as PE details to add to them.
The Kugelblende to use...
The kugelblende NOT to use...
Some clean up will be needed for the slide molded muzzle brake.
Lots of filling awaits anyone not building the tank as fully kitted. These trenches are actually a good idea as it allows the appearance of sheet metal, once the parts are added, without sacrificing the strength.
slide molding was used for the extinguisher mount and Bosch headlight... why?
Slide molding was used for the front mudguards (good) but there is no scribed lines to delineate the section which flipped up to inspect the track pins. Easy enough to scribe though.
Above and below, the tow cables and clevises are molded as mounted. A it of work to show them otherwise. The open slots are necessary on the tow cable heads since feeding that flimsy string into slide molded holes (as most other kits include them now) would be impossible.
Belly detail is very good and probably the start of the project as small screws are included.
Slide molding for the stowage bins.
Above and below, some work awaits in restoring or obscuring detail lost when removing the last bump stop. This, and the raised circular suspension spring mounting pin, are required to accurately portray an M.A.N. assembled Panther with the steel wheel on the last station.
Close up of other details.
