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ARM: Review - DML 1/72 scale Panther G Steel Wheels

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No.

7339; Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther G w/Steel Road Wheels; 114 parts (111 in grey styrene, 2 DS Plastic track runs, 1 section of twisted steel wire); estimated retail price US$19.95

Advantages: Nicely done steel wheels offer variety

Disadvantages: Possible high price for an older kit

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all German fans

After a four year hiatus DML has returned to its line of 1/72 scale Panthers with a new variant, the late war production version with steel road wheels. DML offers a number of options for this kit in the box, and while the directions show the modeler using the earlier =93rounded=94 mantlet the =93chin=94 style is also provided in the box. It also provides either the lower fan tower or the extended height fan tower for the engine deck.

The rest of the kit is identical to the earlier kits (less the original one with diecast metal parts for the hull). This means it still has the screw towers in the hull for assembly and holes in the belly as well as closed driver=92s and radio operator=92s hatches.

As with the last kit, these photo-style =93stick here=94 directions are somewhat spare as there seems to be an assumption that anyone building this kit knows what a Panther looks like, what =93interleaved=94 road wheels are, and how they work. At least the DS Plastic track runs may be glued down to the road wheels.

Surprisingly there is no etched brass with this kit so the modeler will have to fend for himself on grille screens for the engine deck.

Five finishing options are provided: SS.Pz.Rgt. 1. SS Panzer Division =93Liebstandart Adolf Hilter=94, La Gleize 1944 (tri-color, black 221); Pz.Rgt. 15, 11th Panzer Division, Germany 1945 (tricolor, black 432); Pz.Rgt. 24, Ellendorf, Germany 1944 (tricolor, white 221); Pz.Rgt. 2, East Prussia 1945 (whitewash, red 434); Pz.Rgt. 24, Aachen, 1944 (tricolor, red 232). A sheet of Cartograf decals is provided with a small number jungle as well.

Overall this is a very nice little kit but the base parts are starting to age in comparison with the other DML kits.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne
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snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote in news:d7dc50c2-a76b-44ee-ab85-e18acd8288c3 @i13g2000yqd.googlegroups.com:

See, now this is an excellent little line. In particular the zimmerted ones are a delight! Of course this one prrolly shouldn't have Zim if it's a Late Panther. I've seen pictures both ways on the chin and the fans with the wheels and if I'm not mistaken the steel wheels could even be on a zimmed "G".

Yet I think DML kits can be built easily by inexperienced folks and for the money that makes them an excellent entree for newbies and the DS tracks are far less intimidating then LnL.

OTOH they usually give sufficent options and extras that if you know the prototype you can expand on the basics, the spares (leftovers) collection from DML appears to be creating all sorts of possibilites for me and not just with the gun tanks.

Heck Cookie using your guide to Oddball's Sherman in 1/35 I found all the goodies to do it in 1/72 just from Dragon's Shermans. Everything but the upswept return rollers, I'm still trying to figure out where to get those.

Reply to
Gray Ghost

There you go, more negative waves...!!!!

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote in news:26e69202-bb85-49ed-87dc- snipped-for-privacy@z28g2000yqh.googlegroups.com:

I've had nuthin' but positive thoughts about those return rollers, Oddball!

Reply to
Gray Ghost

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