Well it’s finally out. After two years of promises and a lot of online desperation on modellers’ end it’s in the shops and tonight it reaches my bench.

Two sprues of sand-colored plastic, a black sprue for the threads (total part count is 97) and a small decal sheet plus instructions and safety precautions for $8. Let’s see what’s in.

I am impressed! Part of the roadwheels are molded as a single detail, however the suspension arms are separate parts, as are the OVM tools! I am sure modellers will find something else to complain about, however before I actually start building the kit I will only comment on the way this kit is molded and so far it looks rather good to me.

A few detail shots:

The upper hull is cast as a single piece, hatches closed.

The mesh screens on the engine deck are not present, but detail is pretty decent for a wargaming piece 😉

A side shot – note the molded welding seams .

The Panther’s business end. Again, note weld seams, as well as the bolt details over the hatches. There are two hardly-noticeable sinkholes just over and to the side of the two sprue connectors.

Three-part idlers + axle and some tools.

Separate suspension arms:

OK, let’s move to the second part of the sprue. The big plastic piece connects the upper hull and the tub. Also, the side screens are hanging from it. The oval piece on the lower right has the cooling fans  molded on its reverse.

Driver wheels are two-part, this is the outside section.

One of the roadwheel sections.

The base of the commander’s cupola is molded as a part of the turret, while the top is a single detail with the hatch molded shut. Vision blocks are realized as cutouts.

Notice the complicated shape of the final drive housings.

And one more. It’s a pity these will be mostly hidden when the model is completed.

Hull tub with profiled holes to accept suspension arms:

A look at the side:

The track run on each side is made of a single part, which is to be bent around the wheels.

Notice the recessed straight lines – these are supposed to help bending the track around the driver and idler. Also, the hook for fixing the track run to the wheels is visible.

Another look at a different angle:

Outside:

Notice track ridge profile:

Onto the decals – representing two machines from Pz. Abt. 51, Kursk, 1943:

There is a fine white border around the numbers, which I was unable to adequately capture on a photo. Schemes look a bit boring to me, but they fit Zvezda’s game scenario. Nothing a few Dragon spares can’t fix 🙂

See you next time, when I will be building the beast!