DR6299: Sd.Kfz 171 Panther D
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

First seeing combat at Kursk during the summer of 1943, the Panther went on to become one of the best known tanks of World War II and is a popular subject with modellers. The first product version of the Panther was the Ausf D, which featured the early style turret with its ‘dust bin’ cupola and unique mantlet profile, as well as the flap for the hull MG and the visor on the glacis for the driver’s vision block. Since its release circa 2002, the Dragon Panther Ausf D has been regarded as the most accurate 1/35 model of a Panther Ausf. D. This new kit from Dragon's Premium Edition range includes a significant number of upgraded and additional parts compared to the original release.

CONTENTS

As expected this kit is based on Dragon's original Panther Ausf D which depicts an earlier, but not initial, production version built mid 1943 with features such as 16 bolts on the road wheels, no chevrons on the tracks and a rain channel over the turret escape hatch. The layout is familiar with large single pieces for the upper hull and turret shell, while many of the smaller parts such as engine deck vents, rear idler, drive sprocket and housing and front glacis and rear hull plate are common. 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:

• * A new 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.
• 
  * Newly tooled ‘Magic Tracks” which come loose and have open guide horns and no chevrons on the outer face, which is correct for a Panther D in the summer of 1943. 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 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.
• 
  *New 1 piece turned metal barrel with a crisp three-part injection plastic muzzle break, which requires no clean up. This barrel is accurate to scale plans, and an improvement over that Dragon included in the 2004 limited releases of the Panther A. The injection plastic two-piece barrel is still included.
• 
  * New 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, small detail 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.
• 
  * New 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.
• 
  * Early pattern road-wheels with 16 rim-bolts and sidewall detail on the outer wheels.
  Two sets of on-vehicle tools are provided one of which is 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.
• 
  * Clear plastic parts for the periscopes including a generous number of spares.
  
• * 4 metal U-shaped tow hooks with new plastic securing rods.
  
• * Smoke grenade racks with the option of the original plastic parts or new preformed metal with turned brass tubes.
  
• * Metal chains for the turret pistol port which can be left loose.
  
• * Two metal width indicator poles both of which are turned and preformed and have the small balls on the end.

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 on new tools and use of PE. I found these photo instructions easy to follow when I built an earlier Dragon Panther.

CONSTRUCTION

I found my earlier version of a Dragon Panther fitted together smoothly and was a rewarding kit to make which well. While I had no problems assembling the tracks in the earlier kit, the new Magic Tracks should save time and look better. This kit contains ample detail to keep most modellers busy over several sessions and the inclusion of the extra PE will save many modelers from buying a general PE set (no PE fenders are included).

As zimmerit was not applied in the factory until September 1943, and was not authorized for retrospective field application until November 1943, this kit can be built without zimmerit, and hence the kit’s box contains all the parts necessary for an accurate out of the box build of an early Panther. Most of the decal options are for vehicles without zimmerit.

DECALS

A new medium sized decal sheet by Cartograf is included with markings for five Panzers. The painting guide illustrates each of these tanks, and a further two without markings in colour from three views (side, front, rear). Three of the tanks are from Kursk (turret nbr black 433, back 745 and red R04), two from Karachev (black 445 and black 124) and one from France in 1944 (this Panther had zimmerit and no turret markings).

RECOMMENDATION

With the inclusion of many additional features including the large photo etch sprue, metal side armour and metal barrel tube, this release of the Panther Ausf. D is very comprehensive and excellent value for money. This combined with the enhanced tooling of several parts including the Magic Tracks allows modelers to build an impressive kit straight out of the box. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord

"... what's in the box probably represents the most accurate, full-featured, value-for-money Panther kit on the market today ..."

<full review here>
- Frank De Sisto

"... There is so much that is new, that it should be considered a brand new kit ..."

<full review here>
- Vinnie

"... this is another great effort ..."

<full review here>
- Cookie Sewell