Sd.Kfz.171 Panther Ausf.D 1/35

Overview

GERMAN MEDIUM TANK Sd.Kfz.171 PANTHER Ausf.D1/35

In May 1942, MAN’s VK30.02 (M) proposal stood out and was designated Panther by the Army Weapons Office.

The Panther was a medium tank used to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks in the German armor units. Although it wasn’t equipped with the 7.5cm KwK 42 L/100 main gun wanted by Hitler, its 7.5cm KwK 42 L/70 gun was as good as Tiger’s 8.8cm KwK 36L/56 gun. The Maybach 23 liter HL230 V12 gasoline engine, which was an upgraded version of the HL210 engine from Tiger, was installed at the rear of the hull. Its engine bore was increased from 125 mm to 130 mm. The engine could generate an output of 690hp, which was almost 200hp more than the later V-55 engine used on the T-54 tank. Thanks to the sloped armor, the Panther had better protection than the Tiger even when its front armor and main gun mantlet armor was thinner than the Tiger’s. The T-34 which weighed about 20 tons was no opponent of the Panther no matter in term of firepower or protection. The Panther Ausf.D was highly anticipated by the Germans. This new tank made its debut in the Battle of Kursk in July 1943.

KIT INFO

This 1/35 scale German Medium Tank Sd.Kfz.171 Panther Ausf.D plastic model kit is another kit of famous WWII armor MENG release with the help of The Tank Museum in Bovington, UK and the editor Mr. David Parker of the Meng AFV Modeller magazine. This kit includes 1040 parts.

Length: 252.9mm  Width:98.6mm  Height:83.6mm

• The external details of the Panther Ausf. D medium tank are perfectly replicated.
• The main gun travel lock can be built in the open or closed position.
• The cast and rolling textures are realistically reproduced.
• Pioneer tool tiedowns are excellent and easy to assemble.
• The snorkel which is a typical feature of the Panther early variant is reproduced in the kit.
• PE parts are provided for the covers on the engine deck.
• PE parts are provided for the Commander’s cupola to represent the thickness of the real thing.
• The combination of different textures makes the gun mantlet one of the most distinctive part.