Tamiya 1/35 JagdPanther Sd.Kfz.173 (Late Version)

Post by **Lee** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 2:45 pm

Here's my entry into the Dangerous Cat SiG. Not syre if I'll get it finished as I have quite a few on the go at the moment, but I'm going to try my hardest

The Tank...

Quick video of the Jagdpanther firing....
[youtube]Ov9UdRHoaAc[/youtube]

The Jagdpanther (German: "hunting panther") was a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service late in the war (1944) and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts. The Jagdpanther combined the very powerful 8.8 cm PaK 43 cannon of the Tiger II and the characteristically excellent armor and suspension of the Panther chassis, although it suffered from the general poor state of German ordnance production, maintenance and training in the later part of the war, which resulted in small production numbers, shortage in spare parts and poor crew readiness.

Development
The Jagdpanther had been preceded by two attempts at mounting an 8.8 cm gun as a self-propelled anti-tank weapon; Ferdinand using the ninety-one leftover Porsche-built VK4501(P) chassis from the Tiger tank competition it had lost to Henschel in 1942, and the Nashorn using a Panzer III/IV chassis. Ferdinand proved to be too heavy and Nashorn small and underpowered.

A heavy tank destroyer design based on the 8.8 cm Pak 43 gun and the Panther tank chassis was ordered in late 1942 as design SdKfz 173. The prototype by MIAG was demonstrated in October 1943 before Hitler.

Production started in January 1944; in February Hitler specified the simpler Jagdpanther name instead of its original "8.8 cm Pak 43/3 auf Panzerjager Panther".

To accommodate the heavier-calibre gun, much as on previous Jagdpanzer-style unturreted tank destroyers, the glacis plate and sloped hull sides of the Jagdpanther were extended up into an integral, turretless fixed casemate as part of the main hull itself to provide a roomy interior. The Jagdpanther had side armour of increased thickness (60 mm) to offset the slightly reduced angle of the side armour necessary to provide enough interior space. Frontal armour was 80mm. The new (April 1944) Panther Ausf. G had the same feature, to harmonize production and increase protection.

It was armed with the same long-barreled 8.8 cm gun as the Tiger II "King Tiger". The gun was mounted in a central mantlet which gave it a limited traverse of 11 degrees to each side. A single 7.92 mm MG-34 machine gun for local defence was in a ball mount right hand side of the front glacis plate. The machine gunner was also the wireless operator. The driver sat on the left. The gunner had a rangefinder and a periscope telescopic sight. The periscope - linked to the gun mount - was under an armoured housing on the roof.

The Jagdpanther had a good power-to-weight ratio and a powerful main gun, which enabled it to destroy any type of Allied tank. Based on the existing Panther Ausf G chassis, the vehicle did not suffer too many mechanical problems. It had an upgraded transmission (the ZF AK 7-400 heavy duty) - which had been planned for the Panther II - and final drive to counter the Panther's main weakness. It was manned by a crew of five: a driver, radio-operator, commander, gunner and a loader.

Two main variants can be distinguished, the earlier (1944 model) G1 with a small internally bolted main gun mantlet and a modified Panther A engine deck, and the later (1945 model) G2 with a larger simplified, outside-bolted mantlet and a modified Panther G engine deck, though late G1s also had the larger mantlet. Early Jagdpanthers had two vision openings for the driver, whereas late versions had only one. The main gun originally had a monobloc gun barrel but later versions were equipped with the Pak 43/4 gun with a two-part barrel. The two part barrel was more economical as barrel wear was not even.

Early G1s (to September 1944) were given Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine coating in a distinctive "small-squared" pattern.

Production and service

A total of 415 Jagdpanthers were produced from January 1944 by three manufacturers. MIAG produced 270 from January 1944 until the end of the war. Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) produced 112 from November 1944. Maschinenbau und Bahnbedarf (MBA) produced 37 vehicles from December 1944. Planned production had been 150 a month but the disruption to German manufacturing had made this impossible.

Jadgpanthers equipped heavy antitank battalions (schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung) and served mainly on the Eastern Front.[citation needed] In the West, they were first encountered in very small numbers late in the Battle of Normandy, where the German 654 schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung ("654th Heavy Antitank Battalion") deployed about 12 Jagdpanthers against British units. Later, significant numbers were concentrated in the West for the Ardennes Offensive.

The Battalion...

schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 560 (Panther) (26 May 44)

Mar (?) 43 formed in France from Pak-Kp. 4./41, 4./42, 4./61
6 Apr 43 transport to 7th Army completed
23 Apr 43 1. and 3. transferred to the East
Apr 43 30 Nashorns issued
15-17 May 43 15 Nashorns delivered to 2./
2 Jul 43 assigned to XXXXII Corps, Army Detachment Kempf, Army Group South; 45 Nashorns assigned with 14 per company and 3 in the HQ
7 Jul 43 XXXXII Corps assessed the battalion as not combat-ready due to problems with the Hornisse
30 Aug 43 assigned to 8th Army with 13 Hornisse operational and 18 under repair
1 Sep 43 18 operational, 11 in short-term repair, 6 in long-term repair
Sep 43 5 Nashorns issued
Oct 43 5 Nashorns issued
Nov 43 3 Marder IIIs delivered
Dec 43 10 Marder IIIs delivered
19 Dec 43 attached to 257th Inf.Div., XXX Corps, 1st Panzer Army, Army Group South
Feb 44 4 Nashorns issued
Apr 44 5 Nashorns issued
May 44 rebuilt in Allenstein, WK I, Jagdpanthers not yet delivered
Oct 44 4 Jagdpanthers and 11 Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) issued
Nov 44 5 Jagdpanthers and 15 Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) issued
Dec 44 2 Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) issued
16 Dec 44 attached to 12th SS-Panzer-Division, I SS-Panzer Corps, 6th Panzer Army for “Wacht Am Rhein” with two companies Jagdpanzer IV/70s, one company Jagdpanthers
Jan 45 12 Jagdpanthers issued
Feb-Mar 45 Hungary, attached to 12th SS-Panzer-Division, I SS-Panzer Corps, 6th SS-Panzer Army
3 Mar 45 6 Jagdpanthers and 8 Panzerjäger IV ready for combat
10 Mar 45 4 Jagdpanthers and 1 Panzerjäger IV ready for combat
Mar 45 11 Jagdpanthers issued
SF: Jul I 43, West, 1x 1-2-10 mot AT II 560; Apr I 44, transfer to Germany; May I 44, convert to 1x 3-8 TD II 560; Jun I 44, withdraw to East; Dec I 44, West return; Dec I 44, convert to 1 x 3-6 TD II 560, Feb I 45, withdraw to East
SE: Jun I 44, 1x 3-8 TD II 560

The Kit...

Let battle commence

Post by **Lee** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 2:48 pm

HollywoodModelling wrote:Looking forward to your build Lee. Funny how all those write ups on the Jagdpanther sound so similar... haha:D

Ah, but it's all in the presentation bud

Post by **warpedcrisis** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:36 pm

very nice looking kit

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:27 pm

Yes Lee

and build tanks
Good luck with the build
Cheers Mark

Post by **Coen** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:57 am

I've been wanting to build one of these for ages..... Panther envy!

Post by **Lee** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:18 pm

lol @ you lot....

Managed to get on the hangout last week and do a little plus some this morning. This is where I'm at....

Both upper and lower hulls nearly complete...

Extremities ready...

Barrel just needs sanding, then all ready....

Wheels ready...

Last thing - I saw this crew heater component in the box, but nothing about it what so ever. There is a little thing that just says A or B in the instructions. There's nothing on any of the schemes or painting guides or any of the pictures at all on or in the box! I'm going to use it as it looks funky...lol

I'm guessing it was made for the Eastern front??? If so, I'm going to need a Eastern front scheme, any one got one?

Cheers

Post by **Lee** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:29 pm

Right, I've chosen a scheme, well two actually!

I need help to decide which one you guys thinks looks better.....

Both were 1945 so, should be fine. Problem is they both have the flame muffler exhaust system. And, as you can see from the pic below, I went the other way.....doh!

All I need to do is replace the exhaust system and all should be well...

So, fellas.... Which scheme do you think I should go for?

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:31 pm

Looks great so far Lee, I vote for the tri-tonal version.

http://m.youtube.com/user/MrBobsBuilds · Post by **Rob** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:29 pm

I was brought up with the Wooden Tops, so the spotty one for me.

Looking good too

Post by **Paul** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:03 pm

I like the two tone myself

Post by **EasyEight96** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:25 pm

That first one looks nice on a jagdpanther

Post by **Coen** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 2:15 am

Unless you want to try your hand at zimmerit... I'd go with the ambush pattern. Number 1.
The second one would look cool as the zimmerit pattern is the waffle style... awesome looking stuff.
But it's a right bitch to apply.
Unless you have a stamp or the aftermarket... I'd do the first one.
Besides, that's the tricky paint job, and you're a really good painter. You should be able to make that sing.

Post by **mick** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:50 am

first scheme ,great start

Post by **Lee** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:14 pm

Ambush scheme it is then

All greebles except tools are now done with upper and lower hulls glued...

Little bit of filler here....

and here...

Drilled out the exhausts....

Looks much better now....

Away for the weekend, but when I come back hopefully get the base coat down.....

Post by **NAMBiohazard** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 11:25 am

I would go with the ambush camouflage also

looking good

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 11:44 am

I love the look of that Vallejo putty Lee. I must get me some of that stuf to try out. That applicator looks the nuts.
Nice work on the exhausts too, if you have a tiny piece of strip styrene you could add the anti grenade rod to the main pipes...

It's a small rod that is attached to the larger pipes to keep fellas from stuffing obstructions into the exhaust pipes... Like a grenade.

Post by **Lee** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 12:00 pm

Coen wrote:I love the look of that Vallejo putty Lee. I must get me some of that stuf to try out. That applicator looks the nuts.
Nice work on the exhausts too, if you have a tiny piece of strip styrene you could add the anti grenade rod to the main pipes...

It's a small rod that is attached to the larger pipes to keep fellas from stuffing obstructions into the exhaust pipes... Like a grenade.

Cheers for that Mike, I will do that

The Vallejo putty is great for getting into tiny seems and cracks and wipes away with a wet cotton bud before dry. It does have a tendency to shrink though so, I always leave it 24-48 hours before spraying over it just to make sure

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 1:04 pm

Cool... thanks for that Lee.
The perfect plastic putty that I use now tends to do that, but the applicator isn't as nice as that vallejo one.

Post by **Lee** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 2:17 pm

Coen wrote:Cool... thanks for that Lee.
The perfect plastic putty that I use now tends to do that, but the applicator isn't as nice as that vallejo one.

It sure is handy

Post by **Lee** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 2:18 pm

Going away for a long weekend and just had time to get this primed before I went away so, it'll be ready for me to paint when I get back.....

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 2:41 pm

Did you use a white primer or is that the light
And have a good weekend

Post by **Lee** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:02 pm

MarkVerploeg wrote:Did you use a white primer or is that the light
And have a good weekend

The Vallejo grey primer Mark and cheers

Post by **Lee** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:02 am

Really enjoyed this build so far - Going to go for the ambush camo. I only have a picture of one side of it so, will have to make up the rest

Base coat went down yesterday....

All the wheels are now done - How many...!!!

Greebles ready paint...

Tracks primed and ready for weathering etc

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:33 am

Looking good Lee

Post by **mannloon** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:24 am

Those wheels look quite good. Did you use a mask?

Post by **Coen** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:39 am

Progress.... he's making progress!!!!!

Post by **mick** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:53 am

good progress

Post by **Lee** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:11 am

Cheers guys..

mannloon wrote:Those wheels look quite good. Did you use a mask?

No, I used a circle stencil. Much, much easier....lol

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:14 am

That's great progress Lee - looking real nice!!

And welcome to the dark side!!

Post by **robertw** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 1:47 pm

Lee wrote:Cheers guys..

mannloon wrote:Those wheels look quite good. Did you use a mask?
No, I used a circle stencil. Much, much easier....lol

Soooo glad I saw this before I painted my wheels dark yellow. I was dreading hand painting those.

Post by **KalebBeard** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:24 pm

Looking Good Mate. It is gonna lok real nice all sprayed up!

Post by **Lee** » Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:21 pm

OK - Time in mancave, the first for nearly 3 weeks!

Olivegrun goes on first. I only had one profile shot of the camo scheme so, the rest I just completely made up, as I believe all the crews did any way

Then the Rotbraun on. Looks REALLY orange to me....

As you can see MiG and I had a fair old battle today, but I think I won in the end.....lol

Cheers for looking

Post by **martin57** » Sun Aug 17, 2014 9:21 pm

looking good , glad you choose that camo scheme good luck with the rest

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Sun Aug 17, 2014 9:46 pm

Awesome camo pattern!!

Post by **mannloon** » Sun Aug 17, 2014 10:18 pm

As one of the other Tamiya Jagdpanther builders in this SiG I have to say I really like that. It's quite a bit different than what the rest of us went for. I just wing it too by the way. I look at the reference I have and then sort of make up a similar scheme on the fly, unless like in my Tiger 131 build I'm trying to replicate an exact scheme.

Looks good though. I hope you dirty this one up.

Post by **Coen** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:57 am

Holy cow Lee! I didn't expect you to follow the scheme in the artwork exactly!! Holy sheet dude!
That hard work mate, what did you mask it with? It's wicked neat.
Rotbrun is and orange brown colour according to the latest research. I didn't like the look of it either when I was messing with it. I'm used to the more incorrect reddish brown version.

That looks really cool bud.

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 6:30 am

Looking great Lee. Really good job on that camo so far!

Post by **Lee** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:26 am

Cheers fellas - It was a battle for sure....lol

Coen wrote:Holy cow Lee! I didn't expect you to follow the scheme in the artwork exactly!! Holy sheet dude!
That hard work mate, what did you mask it with? It's wicked neat.
Rotbrun is and orange brown colour according to the latest research. I didn't like the look of it either when I was messing with it. I'm used to the more incorrect reddish brown version.

That looks really cool bud.

All free handed Mike, thanks for the compliment.....

It should look a lot better once it's got some filters etc on it

Post by **mick** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:50 am

great camo work

Post by **Lee** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 11:28 pm

Cheers guys...

Managed to get a bit more done whilst on the hangout tonight - Cheers for the tip (literally) Mike

I think I've over done the spotting a little, but I think it'll still pass. I've also noticed from the photos a couple of little areas that I've missed.....

Post by **mannloon** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 11:42 pm

that doesn't look like a brush made those spots.

Post by **Lee** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 11:43 pm

mannloon wrote:that doesn't look like a brush made those spots.

A crushed Tamiya ear bud...lol

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:07 am

It looks too weathered to me

Post by **Coen** » Tue Aug 19, 2014 1:46 am

Nicely done Lee.

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:29 pm

Nice paintjob Lee
It looks good but do hurry up now the end is near

Post by **Lee** » Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:08 pm

Don't think I'm going to make it Mark, but will try my hardest and only concentrate on this build

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:10 pm

Lee wrote:Don't think I'm going to make it Mark, but will try my hardest and only concentrate on this build

Just the tell the wife your very busy at work

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:15 pm

Interesting camo . Not easy in 1:72, therefore with pleasure I prefer to look at your work. Keep it up Chief

Post by **Lee** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 5:49 pm

Well, I'm never going to get this finished on time, which is a shame. I've just got too much happening next week

But, I shall continue regardless as I'm really enjoying this build......

Exhausts nearly finished. Added the grenade stops (because the Lord Coen told me I had too!), just got to blend the rust a little more and tidy up around the dunkelgelb.

Made a start on the chipping....

Added the cable. Had to do my own from lead as the copper one got angryfied! What a PITA too....

Tools all done. Just got to add one last effect to the wood after they're varnished...

And a bucket of wheels....lol

Post by **mannloon** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:06 pm

Lee those tools are just beautiful.