"...an excellent example of this most famous WWII tank and one that should continue to be very popular with the German Armour enthusiasts..."

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- MR ANTHONY GREENLAND

"...this is a nice kit, and most fans will want one to "complete the record…"

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- Cookie Sewell

DR6358: Sd.Kfz 171 Panther A Late Production
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

Designed to provide the German Panzer Divisions, with a tank that would outperform the Allied armor, the Panther is one of the best known tanks of World War II. The Panther Ausf A was the second product version and was widely used, seeing extensive combat in France, Italy and on the Eastern Front. The Dragon Panther Ausf As, which were first released in 2002 are the most accurate 1/35 model of this version. This new kit depicts a late product version with the ball mounted front hull machine gun and in keeping with Dragon's Premium Edition range now includes numerous upgraded and additional parts.

CONTENTS

As expected this kit is based on Dragon's original Panther Ausf A and includes the same improvements as Dragon added to their 2006 Premium Edition release of the Panther Ausf D, as well as some of the turret features from the new Panther Ausf G Smart Kit.
This kit represents a late, but not final, production Ausf A and would be typical of vehicles produced between March and June 1944. Features include the kugelblende ball mount for the hull MG, vertically mounted jack, two cooling pipes parallel to the exhaust pipe on the left rear and that the hull roof interlocks with the side armour. The final production Panther Ausf. A had Pilze sockets on the turret roof and the hull roof plate often had a straight side join.

The kit has large single pieces for the upper hull and turret shell. The tooling for the turret and mantlet has been enhanced and has crisp casting texture, while several small fittings such as the headlamps now have slide molded parts.

Other new and upgraded parts include:

* The turret has an updated mantlet and slide-molded commander's cupola with interior details including clear plastic periscopes and hatch detail. The nahverteidigungswaffe close-defense weapon on the roof (added March 44) can be modeled open or shut. The gun breech from the Ausf G Smart Kit is now included.

* New turned metal barrel for the KwK 42 L/70 with a crisp three-part injection plastic muzzle break, which requires no clean up. This barrel is accurate to scale plans, and improved from the one in the 2004 commemorative release. An alternative one-piece injection plastic barrel from the Ausf G is also included and is a useful spare in its own right.

* One-piece lower hull tub where the suspension arms are now separate parts (previously cast onto the hull) allowing modelers flexibility in positioning the kit on contoured diorama bases have been redesigned. The idlers swing-arms are also now separate, a feature which will please some modelers when fixing the tracks, as by leaving it loose, the idler can be adjusted to get the ‘right’ track sag.

* ‘Magic Tracks” which come loose and have open guide horns and chevrons on the outer face, which is correct for a Panther A. With the slight injection marks hidden between the guide horns these links can be assembled quickly without clean up. While most of the links are one piece (i.e. open guide horns are cast onto the link), several links, which have separate guide horns are for fitting around the drive sprockets where their slightly larger and contoured holes will better fit the sprocket’s teeth.

* Large photo etch fret with all six mesh screens for the engine deck, clamps for the tools including the wing-nuts on the brackets for the jack, the spare track rack and its pins and chains, chain on the gun travel lock, lid and latches for the rear stowage boxes, brackets with separate bolt heads for the exhaust pipes, and the mesh for the vent for the deep forwarding air intake. The storage cylinder for the barrel cleaning rods can be enhanced with optional photo-etch for the handles, brackets, latches and chains.

* Hull MG 34 with internal detail including spent shell bag (Generation-2 tooling).

* Metal side skirts which being separate pieces have the correct overlap and can be assembled with missing panels. Being metal the panels can be bent or drilled to represent wear and tear, as well as battle damage.

* Road wheels with 24 rim bolts.

* Two sets of on-vehicle tools, one from the original release with the clamps molded on for easy of assembly, and another that has no clamps and is for use with the PE clamps.

As with original release the level of accuracy is high and the overall dimensions are consistent with Hilary Doyle's scale plans. The multi-fold instruction sheet is based on the earlier release, which had colour step-by-step photos of a kit being assembled. Line drawings have been added to show the assembly of new tools and use of PE. I found these photo instructions easy to follow when I built the original Dragon Panther A.

CONSTRUCTION

I found my earlier version of the Dragon Panther Ausf A fitted together smoothly and was a rewarding kit to make. While I had no problems assembling the original tracks, the new Magic Tracks should save time and look better. The inclusion of the PE will save many modelers from buying a general PE set (no PE fenders are included).
Zimmerit was standard for late production Panther Ausf A, and can be added using either putty with a zimmerit applicator, or an aftermarket resin set. I would recommend using a resin set specifically designed for the Dragon kit, as those sets designed for less accurate models, have minor fit problems. Several different patterns of zimmerit are seen in photos of the Panther Ausf A including the tile pattern with vertical lines within the squares.

DECALS

A medium sized decal sheet by Cartograf is included with four Balkan crosses and turret numbers for six Panthers. The painting guide has four colour views of each tanks. The Panthers are whitewash ‘835’ of Wiking in Poland 1944, ‘three colour 625’ and ‘R02” of Wiking in Poland 1944, three colour ’01’ of Grossdeutschland, Eastern Front 1944, ‘211’ of 26 Panzer Division, Italy 1944 which is dust covered yellow, and ‘435’ of Totenkopf in Poland 1944.

RECOMMENDATION

Like with other Premium Edition kits the upgraded and additional parts, such as the metal barrel, photo etch and Magic Tracks, have ensured that this kit is comprehensive and very good value for money. Given the popularity of the Panther Ausf A with modelers I am sure that this kit will find its way into many collections. Definitely recommended

- Neville Lord