Jon's Gunze Sangyo 1/35 Panther G High Tech

[jbellos1]

Glad to be building this along with Paul and Michael, I will be leaning on them for support as this is not only almost a 30 year old kit with muiltmedia out the wazoo - white styrene, white metal, PE, turned brass, stamped brass, wire cable, and tubing (all included). This build will be out of the box, so no add-on engine kit for me.

It will be challenging to say the least. Each white metal part seems to require filing to remove parting lines, and there are even some gas holes appearing (close-up below).

Anyway...off we go down the rabbit hole!



I decided to start with the rear plate parts, there are many and they are all white metal or PE.
























Knew these would come in handy again someday - my Swedish Steel Needle File Set made in Italy - truly an international affair...perfect!





Careful filing revealed small gas holes from the casting process. Not sure if I will fill it or incorporate it in to the pieces yet - not mentioning the parting lines that need cleaning up...a lot of cleaning up. Fine wire brush it when finished, nice bright metal finish.










The muffler on the left is filed and brushed, the one on the right has been filed only.




Parting line in front, removed in the back.



Rear Panel assembly instructions.



The portion in the lower right corner is to scale...very nice to have that.

[Paul]

Off to a great start Jon, yeah this kit is going to need a little fettling here and there, hopefully they will all look greta when finished.

I would use any holes or damage to your advantage as battle scars, thats my plan anyway

[Coen]

Mine is going to be a blasted wreck so the little holes aren't that important. I haven't really found many to be honest.
It's funny,paul started with the engine, Jon the rear plate, and I started on the turret.
Too bad we aren't building the same model

[Paul]

Mine is going to be a blasted wreck so the little holes aren't that important. I haven't really found many to be honest.
It's funny,paul started with the engine, Jon the rear plate, and I started on the turret.
Too bad we aren't building the same model

Lmao yeah it is

[jbellos1]

OK, next update. It is funny that each of us chose to start building at the places we did. The rear plate just seemed a good place to jump in for me.

The white metal is interesting to work with in that all of my parts have metal flash, inside holes, vents, and parting lines, along with a slightly oxidized powdery white finish out of the box. There is a lot of clean up and I have used the powered rotary tool, knives, and the files. Once cleaned up, a good rub with the wire brush shines them up nicely. I hope this finish helps when it comes to the prime coat of paint.

Anyway, I ramble...

Storage bins with lids all shined up.





Panel assembly, I chose to start with these bits -





There are molding issues for sure...the flame suppressors were a slight oval instead of the round they're supposed to be - rotary tool and files worked well to correct them.







These get the first PE. The PE is very nice. It is thick and not easy to bend, but accurate and detailed.





With mufflers installed with just a pressed fit, the flame suppressors went on.





You can see some of the "rounding" off I had to do to correct the shape. Plus, these things were easily damaged and dented, so the irregular shape will look fine...I hope.





Then the jack...





Then the bins...





Time for your close-up!










Running gear time...back to step 1 in the instructions...hehe

This took a lot of chips flying to clean up the final drive gear box to get an acceptable fit on the plastic chassis.





A "before" and "after"





The inner sprocket was a bit easier to clean up. Here is a before and after, with the plastic pin shown. The engineering of this assembly allows the sprocket to turn.





A lot of clean up to get these to fit just right.







Final drive gear boxes and inner sprockets installed...rear idlers are next.













These, parts of the flame suppressor system, will be installed once the top plate is on.





The rear idlers are engineered to turn as well.










That's where I am right now. More to come of course.

[Coen]

Wow... Jon, a lot of your parts are in better condition than mine.
I must have bit of a wonky kit.
Especially my exhausts, they were in pretty bad shape.
Nice clean up and salvaging work bud.

[jbellos1]

OK - update time.

Before I do, I would just like to say that the feeling of accomplishment after completting the different steps made the build very enjoyable. This kit is almost 28 years old (October 1987)!

The PE is not enjoyable at all, mainly because it did not bend well, so you could imagine the feeling of accomplishment whenever it looked close!

Anyway, major building is complete and it was a pleasure for the most part, really. Tracks have been cleaned and groups of them snapped together in 10s, and test fitted on the sprockets.

Enough already! OK

The front fenders were pre-formed, but the holes needed to be drilled out and the pins...the hardest metal pins I have ever had the chance to use, and sharp too!





Oh, those are the wrong white metal hinge parts, those are for the engine deck and each are in their proper places now.








Let's match up the hull


















OK, you get the picture...fits were excellent.


White metal and photo-etch on the engine deck.








White metal up front...that transport clamp assembly was satisfying to complete.











Then is was merely clean up, glue, and stick - a bit over simplified. On to the sides!





Getting really satisfying about now.




Really satisfying.

[jbellos1]

Arghhh! Not the Submit button.

Anyway, the turret is now somewhat together and all the stuff on the sides...the PE skirt rails...very satisfying!




Parts and things all laid out











Yep - this PE is thick and does not want to bend.





Yep...satisfying!





Very satisfying!!








Tada!


























Oh, did I tell you how satisfying those skirt rails were? Extreme satisfaction was had...on one side and one side only, seems the other side was lost in battle.





Not gonna even mention those extremely hard pins.








Hey! This might work.





Did I tell you about the PE and it's quality?





Oh yea...perfect fit.





OK - too satisfied now.





And then there's these little buggers.

Three areas on each track link need to be carefully cleaned and shaped. Took days and my fingers were very sore afterwards for a couple of days. But, I took my time and tried to do it right.




The three spots are the two ends on the top and the one area in the middle on the bottom.


And there ya have it...major building of the heavyweight - and it does weigh a considerable amount - is complete. Track work next


























Then - I put the shoes on, using white glue on the four outer wheels on each side, and left it to dry overnight. Hopefully, they stay on whilst I mess around with the tracks.








So, there is where the Panther is - up to the moment.

[Coen]

She looks fantastic Jon, real true blue old school modelling. Your care in the clean up of those parts will make a difference.

[jbellos1]

OK - this kit is in paint and getting weathered.




After a prime coat of flat black

Ammo MIG Rotbraun 014





Ammo MIG Resedagrun 004







Ammo MIG Dunkelgelb 011









Then some markings I had from another kit.










Tracks - assembled and primed in flat black





Inner-most set of road wheel , just placed.





And, a sneak peak to the next update on the detail painting and weathering. Thanks for viewing.

[Coen]

Yup! Still looking awesome Jon! I love that chipping.

[Kingdan]

Awesome Jon

Dan

[stuart66madmodeller]

So far so good jon. She's comng on really well bud.

[mick]

great work

[jbellos1]

Update and Final Reveal

Calling this one done. Tough but enjoyable build, made all that more enjoyable as a buddy build with Paul and Mike...thanks guys.

Tracks - pain in the arse

Mud - real mud with white glue

I hope you like - thanks for taking a look.

This is how I got to the end.















Chipping!



















Can you say mud?





Ultimate Dark Dirt Wash



And more...mud









Lucky this tweezer opened wide.





One side tracks are on!



Now for the other side.





Now it's looking the part.











Mud again









Ultimate Light Dirt Wash









Trying different backgrounds - tank is finished at this point.











No background







































Thanks so much for looking.

[Coen]

Very cool stuff Jon!!!
Really nicely done.

[Lego]

Ha ha you really made a dirty so and so on this baby Jon

[Nige99]

Your step by step guide is awesome Jon!! Looks like you had fun building this cat. It's now one dirty, chipped beast. Well done.

[Nev]

Cor that's one dirty beats! I can imagine the commander "around the bog Hans around the bog not through it!"

[mannloon]

Wow, that's very cool. I dig them dirty.

[OliveDrab]

My hats off to you brave souls Jon, Paul, and Mike for taming this beast!!! Excellent, just excellent