| Date of Review |
April 2006 |
| Manufacturer |
DML |
| Subject |
Sd.Kfz.171 Panther G Early Production with Zimmerit |
| Scale |
1/72 |
| Kit Number |
7252 |
| Primary Media |
178 parts (145 parts in grey styrene, 20
etched brass, 2 "DS" tan plastic track sections , 1 section
of twisted steel wire) |
| Pros |
Very neatly done common zimmerit pattern
on the right parts; optional etched brass parts; styrene hull! |
| Cons |
Etched brass parts redefine "right puny" |
| Skill Level |
Basic |
| MSRP (USD) |
$11.95 |
This is the third major 1/72 scale kit in which DML has done the
dirty work for the German armor fan, namely molded the "Zimmerit" paste
right onto the model. This is a great idea, and I for one
am glad to see DML continue its series.
The model represents an "early production" Panther,
which translates as the rounded mantelet and no "chin" and
the low fan tower on the engine deck. (The tall one is included,
so one could make a change if desired.) The nicest thing here is
that six parts – upper hull, lower glacis, stern plate with
stowage bins, mantelet, turret, turret rear plate and bow machine
gun mount – all come pre-engraved with a rather standard
pattern of "zimmerit" paste on them, which many modelers
will appreciate, especially in this scale. All sides required to
carry zimmerit do as DML has used its "slide molding" technique
to replicate it, and this shows to good advantage on the one-piece
stern plate with stowage bins.
The rest of the kit is similar to the original one but replaces
the "heft" hull made of white metal with a normal styrene
one, so normal kit assembly can take place. Lots of extra parts
come with it, as this kit provides sprues from the Jagdpanther
kits with their gun barrels and other optional accessories.
The directions are somewhat spare but there seems to be an assumption
that anyone building this kit knows what a Panther looks like,
and what "interleaved" road wheels are and how they
work. At least the original black vinyl tracks have been replaced
by "DS" plastic ones that may be glued down to the road
wheels, if the modeler does not use the extra skirts instead.
The modeler has all of grille screens for the engine deck provided
from etched brass, and also two one-piece spare track hangers for
the rear sides of the hull. DML appears to assume you will use
them, for no plastic parts are provided as an option.
Four finishing options are provided: Pz.Rgt.27, 19th Panzer Division,
Warsaw 1944; 3./Pz.Rgt. 12, 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjungen",
Ardennes 1944; Pz.Abt.1, Pz.Rgt.1, 1st SS Panzer Division "Liebstandart
Adolf Hitler", Normandy 1944; and Fallschirmjaeger-Panzer
Division "Hermann Goering", East Prussia 1945. Note that
in the case of the SS divisions DML leaves out their full titles.
Overall this is a very nice little kit and the inclusion of zimmerit
is a real plus.
Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.
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