Jagdpanther Ausf.G1 Sd.Kfz.173 Meng Model 1/35

For the first time in a while, I will make a Jagdpanther at WWII German AFV. I made a Dragon Models Jagdpanther a long time ago, and at that time, I used an unusual striped camouflage paint, so this time I’d like to paint an orthodox pattern. The box art is excellent.

Especially the MENG box is much bigger than the Dragon in the past. The shelf will soon be full of piling-up plastic models.

I remember it. Because I haven’t made large German tanks recently. The number of parts is tiny compared to the IV series, so it is easy to work. The wheel is big and easy to handle.

The chassis is assembled from boxes. It is not so difficult because of the precision of the parts.
(2021/06/06)

I was surprised that even small parts hidden behind the wheel were chosen from two types. I wonder if this style of preference has been a trend since the golden age of Dragon Models. At King Tiger, the shaft was distorted, so I had to be careful when assembling it, but this time I think I can assemble it without any problem.

There was a crack in the arm of the wheel. I can’t see well because it’s hidden behind the wheel, so there’s nothing to worry about. I will reinforce the gap with the vehicle body with clear resin. Sturdiness is more critical.

By the way, the assembly instruction manual of this Jagdpanther kit is a booklet and the process seems long, but the assembly quantity of each number is small, so I think it goes smoothly. As might be expected, it takes time to wrap the connecting track around the chassis.

The chassis is almost assembled. It is easy to break if I attach the jack at this time. I’m worried because there are some delicate parts.
(2021/06/08)

Well, this is the connected track. I made a MENG Panther a little while ago, but I completely forgot what it was like.

I have a few Achtung Panther books, which are pretty interesting to read. These are guidebooks on German tanks, which are quite famous in Japan. However, I’m not using this book to build an accurate model. But the author’s power to publish such research materials is fantastic.

Probably when I made the MENG Panther before, it was difficult to cut off because the gate is in the fitting part of the tracks, and the fit is a little lacking. It takes time if I cut it out carefully. If I apply a lot of adhesives and try to reduce the gap, I may be able to manage it.

The two teeth must be glued to one track. But I was able to work faster than I thought. Since the parts fit well and one truck is significant, the length can be made quickly.
(2021/06/10)

I don’t use a brush to glue on every time, so I always use an injector to assemble these tracks. There are a lot of syringes like this on the desk, and it’s dangerous.

I haven’t finished assembling the track parts yet, but I wound one side. It feels good. I only paid attention to the direction of the track.

I put weights on both of them until the adhesive dries. If it is too heavy, the tank itself may be destroyed.

The assembly instruction manual is complicated because the way of attaching parts is quite different depending on the painting patterns from 1 to 4 in the instruction manual. There are inconsistencies in the illustrations here and there, and I feel confused. I think it is tough for people in MENG to describe the illustration and the part number without contradiction. If the vehicle body is roughly the same as the paint example I chose, is it generally OK?
(2021/06/13)

From here, there are still many small parts. I finished a big task with a track, but the goal was far away.

I pasted the etched parts of the engine part, which is my favorite work. I like the dramatic increase in precision.

It has a metal wire and seems soft and easy to handle. When I bought Heat Tech at UNIQLO in winter, this white nylon rope was attached to the price tag. It is a sad habit of modelers to keep small things that can be used. I have a lot of nylon ropes I bought, but I collect others. Let’s try this one this time.

The size was insufficient when I tried the towing wire with the specified length in the assembly instruction manual. I think it would be better to check it against Jagdpanther, which is under production.

It varies. In the case of this kit, it is complete in the way of attaching the gun barrel to the front armor. For example, I remember that the Dragon Bulmbear has a gun mount attached to the bottom of the chassis.
(2021/06/17)

According to the parts specification in the painting illustration, this tank has no bolting around the gun mount shield, so it looks like an early type.

Schulzen, do I call it side armor? It is a bulletproof plate for small arms such as rifles. All of this Schulzen is used to hide the top of the crawler. I attached all 12 spare track links to the left and right. It became a tank like a sample vehicle.

The antenna was added with a metal wire. I chose the nylon wire on the left side of the tank body same as the towing wire. It was better with superfine copper wire. I will keep it as it is because it is firmly bonded.

The first of the three-color camouflage is the dark yellow coating, so it may not be significant. It can be used as a cover for unpainted areas or to enhance shadows. The black base coating has been done on the back as well. It takes quite a long time to do it while checking that there is no unpainted part.
(2021/06/19)

It won’t start unless I paint it dark yellow first. I moved the airbrush many times to avoid leaving any leftovers, and the color became quite dark.

I blew the airbrush from khaki green as I imagined the place of red-brown in my brain. If I fail, I have to do it again several times. I don’t prepare three airbrushes this time, but I only use one, so it takes time.

The camouflage pattern looks OK like this. It is based on dark yellow and has red-brown and khaki-green bands irregularly drawn.

There are a lot of detailed painting works. Tracks and cables are complicated. I thought I was finally finished, but I didn’t paint the rubber on the wheel.
(2021/06/21)

The Jagdpanther is completed. The chassis was taken from the Panther tank. The main gun is equipped with a 71 caliber 88 mm gun, which is heavily armed like the King Tiger heavy tank.

The front armor is 80mm. Since it is angled diagonally, it has substantially the same high protection as the armor of 150 mm or more.

The difference between the Jagdpanther type G1 and G2 seems to be due mainly to the difference in the layout of the upper surface of the engine area. I was wondering what to do with Zimmerit Coating this time. Since the total production of Jagdpanther was 415 tanks and the production after the coating was discontinued in September 1944 was 338 tanks, I thought it would be good without coating this time.

This time, the marking was the 559th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion No. 01 tank in the western part of France in 1944. It was painted in three colors of camouflage of an orthodox German tank.

I opened and closed the hatch on the upper surface by inserting a metal wire. I may put a tank soldier on later.

There are various types, such as type G1 and G2 type, early-type, late-type, and the latest type, and each part changes very minutely during mass production.

It is a long gun barrel and seems to have destructive power.

It’s a small matter, but the clear parts of MENG are of excellent quality. It’s very clear and shiny. It’s too suitable for a tank. If it’s for the aircraft model canopy, it is excellent.

I thought water stains and drops would move radially outward by centrifugal force, so I stained them like that.

I think dark yellow is a little thick. It may be the color tone of the picture. I thought it would give a good impression if the mold of the crawler belt were a little bright because it emphasized the weight and strength of the tank. MENG Jagdpanther kit is good overall, so I didn’t think much about it and just moved my hands. The selection of parts is a little troublesome; maybe it is an excellent point of this kit. I will make a MENG kit again.
(2021/06/23)