Now I have had time to examine my twelve-year old build in detail there are some issues with the kit vs the restored vehicle. There are two main areas I need to address, one of which is making good an original build mishap, and the other, a very prominent inaccuracy issue with the bodywork. Then there will be some additional detail to add here and there.
Dragon Panther A Normandy 1944 kit #6168 Sd.Kfz.171 Panther A Late Type
Fully boxed unopened kit
For sale to UK mainland buyers only £50 including postage
Continuing on from Chapter 1 let's begin with a brief recap of this extremely rare vehicle.
The only surviving vehicle was recovered from the Pilica River in Poland. It is believed that only a handfull of these were ever manufactured, making it very rare indeed! This variant of the Sd.Kfz 8 was all but forgotten until it was recovered and then restored to operational condition. Having a full lightly armoured hull around the chassis and drive train, it is believed that this was a lost prototype of an armoured artillery tractor.
These are the only period images to be currently found online. The first image appears to show pneumatic tyred front wheels and a four door rear panel.
Both the lower front panels shape and design and the large upper panel overhang are very different on this example compared to what is offered in the Trumpeter kit.
Two door rear panel on this vehicle.
