Kent`s Panther build

[Adrian Harris]

Hi Kent.

Excellent reproduction of the reflector

To save another childs heartache, you could use the lens from an illuminated switch such as this:

http://cpc.farnell.com/apem/a0163b/18mm-dia-lens-red/dp/SW02413

Was the hexagonal pattern part of the red plastic part, or from the pill packet ?

I have seen very similar patterns on LED lenses, but I have yet to find one in red - they all seem to be clear:

http://cpc.farnell.com/fraen/fhs-hwb1-lb01-0/lens-batwing/dp/SC02208

Adrian.

[simon_manning]

this build is like reading a good book,you can't wait for the next chapter,to see what unfolds,good thinking kent!, simon manning.

[Brian Leach]

Kent,

Have you purchased one of the 2010 tigers?

If not I want you to do so, I want mine to look good
and to be so accurate as your Panther!

You do good work Kent, thanks!

Brian

[Kent Wiik]

Thanks all!

Your kind comments are fuel to my build.

Brian//
Not the 2010 Mid Tiger but I have the earlier Late Tiger kit, but it is on hold until my Panther, Hetzer and Panzer IV are finished.

Kind regards
Kent

[Fredrik Jorgensen]

Kent ive said it before..........youre the man!!!

Regards
Fredrik

[Kent Wiik]

Hi all!

Today the other ½ of the exhausts, the pipes.

Looking at a real Panther one notice how thin steel the pipes are made of.
Not thick as the King Tigers and therefore so often seen “banged up” taking a lot of punishment.



I wanted to have them with thin ends like that and bought some 9/16x0.014 brass tube to make the pipes from.
Well that was plan A but boy was I in for some disappointment…
Started in good faith heating it and with a tool that was supposed to bring a nice curve begun bending them but I soon had to realize my skills in this wasn’t enough for this kind of metal work.



The tube thickness was simply to thin to be bent so time for plan B…

As mentioned before I am a happy owner of one of the outstanding aftermarket exhaust set from Bob Morey.
Bob made nice looking curved ends from cast white metal but that comes with a price, the thickness is a bit too thick.
Yes it might be possible to remove some with Mr Dremel but then become too brittle for creating the “banged up” look.
Decided to cut of 3mm and make new ends from my by now badly damaged brass tubes.



Did also silver solder a brass pin to the part.



Superglue +epoxy putty, some grinding and removing some material inside to have a smooth crossing between the brass and white metal.



Looking at the real thing one also notice the bending marks caused by the use of so thin thickness.
Made them with a small file.



Please note how the pipes were rusted all the way down including the coupling.
This photo is from the Saumur Ausf A frequently used running in shows at least 2 times/year.



I used “RUSTALL” + Mr Surfacer here to create the rust effect.
I know there are other techniques and products but wanted to try RUSTALL here.
Sadly it is a US product and can’t be sent by air according to new regulations.
But there is a way to go round it if the stuff is shipped without the diluted Alcohol for you to be added at arrival.
I did so and it worked but I found RUSTALL quite tricky to use at first as it is very important to let it dry between each layer of rust.

Well here is the end result:


Be kind to me as this was my first attempt top paint rust myself.
Everything will get weathered with the rest of the Panther in the end.
(will also bang up the pipes a bit more later on)

As always thanks for watching.
Kent

[Tim Bowman]

Excellent Kent!

I love the tool mark/serrations at the bend of the pipe. Enjoy every post of yours on this thread. Just fantastic!

Kindest regards
Tim
_________________
"So long as one isn't carrying one's head under one's arm, things aren't too bad." – Erwin Rommel

[Pierluigi Patri]

Interesting work, as usual.
I like the rust flow very much at the base of the pipe.

If you fill the pipe by sand before heating it I think you can bend the pipe and get a curve instead of an angle.
_________________
Pierluigi

[Adrian Harris]

It looks to me as though you have captured the appearance of the Saumur exhaust perfectly

Adrian.

[Rocky Sembritzky]

Kent,

The pipe is a beauty! I have been using Rustall for years and it is hard to beat.

Rocky
_________________
Victory May Be Fleeting, But Obscurity Lasts Forever!

[Fredrik Jorgensen]

Kent
Marvelous job as always.
I could have bent it for you as i have my old tubing kit from my
refridgeration tools.
Heating the tube also makes the tube stretch without cracking up.
not much heat is needed.

I had to do the same with the KTs as they have three different
angles depending on wich year of fabrication according to my research.

Im still looking for the rust treatment that Simon is using, i have pigments and stuff to to it but i still want a more realistic effect than they give. Might be good for the smaller but not for 1/6.

Best regards
Fredrik

[Steve Norris]

Kent,
The pipe end looks spot on and is up to usual very high standards.
I know that you like to get as near perfect as possible so i hope you dont mind a small obsevation, It may be the angle that the photo was taken but i think the pipe creases look a little to sharp and regular. Blending to a more rounded profile may look better.
Hope you dont mind the very occasional negative comment.
Best regards
Steve

[simon_manning]

as always great info,great build,just looking forward to the parts going together,regards simon manning.

[peter karlsson]

hi kent!!

Excellent work as allways

regards peter.
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www.norternupsetters.com

[Kent Wiik]

Hi all!

And thanks for all the kind comments, has a hard time convincing myself I am worth them as I don’t think my work is any better then any of the other fantastic modellers here desperate trying to improve our kits

Sorry but this posting is not another chapter on my saga...

Has notice a massive watching at my saga since the announcement from Gill/Mark revealing the next batch of kits.

PLEASE NOTE! My Panther is a heavy customized one and I doubt the next release will have much if anything of what I have done.
Hope I am wrong as it is only a matter of drilling on another place but time will tell...

We can be certain of one thing.
The Panther is the sexiest Panzer of ww2 and worth all effort!

Cheers and a good summer I wish you all.
Kent