FEATURE ARTICLE
Dragon 1:35 Panther A Late Premium • Kit No. 6358
Sabre Model 1:35 German Railway Schwerer Plattformwagen Type SSys • Kit No. 35A02
After the inspiration comes the build. This is where the fun begins! But first, to the big disappointment (I think!) of my Editor. Instead of getting a new, shiny Panther kit from, let’s say, Takom, I finally decided to use the Dragon’s Panther A Late Premium 6358 which was sleeping in my stash there since several years. Sorry Brett! (no problem at all Pawel! Ed). I must admit that it feels good to see your stash diminish for a least for a moment!
The kit itself is typical Dragon with a lot of sprues and several parts that will go directly into the spares box for some future project. The instructions are not the best in in the world but we are already used to the kit as it has been available for quite a while. However, what is great about the old Dragon Premium kits is the large photoetched sprue. In this case it is very, very complete. And I mean it. It gives almost all photo-etched parts you may need including tiny chains for the tool racks. I say “almost because for this very project I decided to add the photo-etched/ bras side bin for cleaning rods and front photo-etched mudguards which are supplied in plastic. The Panther from the picture features the special AA armour and so the Voyager PEA065 AA set for Panther G and A - also from the stash BTW, was added to the selection. Two more important extras made their way to the build. A fine, dedicated for the Dragon model Zimmerit resin set from Atak and RFM’s workable tracks.
ZIMMERIT
The hard work began with getting the Zimmerit parts cut out. A new scalpel or modelling knife will help a lot to cut the delicate, thin resin. The back of the resin Zimmerit is always very smooth and sleek and so I gently sanded the back of each of them in order to improve the adhesiveness. The parts one by one were glued to the model using the PVA glue. The PVA glue may not be the best solution around the world but it lets one to apply the thin Zimmerit without hassle. Once all is dry and if there is a need of gluing some sticking off part you may always use a drop of CA glue.
I started with the rear plate. The exhaust pipes obviously needed some attention. Drilling them out is not a difficult task - you just need the right tool!
After successfully attaching Zimmerit and resin stowage boxes supplied in the Atak set, I used the supplied photo-etched parts to create the attachment for the exhaust pipes. Banding them to the right shape was delicate but achievable with some patience. To finish the detailing of the rear plate I scratch built two jerrycan holders. Quite a few Panthers had this field modification and so this one got it too.
Next came the front glacis. I added some battle damage with a sharp blade once the part was held nicely in place. There are also two hard resin parts included - the Kugelblende (the round protection of the MG) and the driver’s visor cover. They were both glued with super glue.
The final step of the Zimmerit phase was the two hull sides. The general fit was good but there were some small adjustments needed in the cut-outs where the tool’s racks and other attachments were going to be added later. Some damage to the Zimmerit was also added to the sides. Mr Dissolved Putty was used to fill in joints between two part of Zimmerit and make it look like one. The basic (plastic parts) built of the hull was finished at that moment.
Atak's resin Zimmerit must be carefully cut out part by part.
Perfectly cut out pieces for the lower hull and lower front glacis.
Rear plate prepared to receive Zimmerit and Zimmerited stowage bins.
Non-thinned PVA glue is good to easily fix resin Zimmerit.
Zimmerit applied to the rear hull plate.
Zimmerit glued to the lower hull.
Looks much better!
Rear plate with photo-etched exhaust attachments parts supplied with the kit.
“The kit itself is typical Dragon with a lot of sprues and several parts that will go directly into the spares box for some future project…”