Tamiya Panther – Full Option R/C Kit

The 5th offering from Tamiya in their R/C tank series is another German model, the Panther.

Tamiya’s packaging is excellent, as usual. Tucked under the dramatic yet unassuming black package front, is a detailed breakdown of the model’s features as well as a few windows displaying some key parts. In the upper left are the DMD drive controller and the MF-01 effects generator. Below them are the metal sprocket drive wheels, and then the tracks. Moving to the right, the machined aluminum main gun barrel is a nice touch, and finally, the speaker box where all the sounds generated by the MF-01 emanate.

Construction is well under way. I can’t be sure, but it seems like the parts count for the Panther is low compared to the last tank I worked on (the Tamiya Leopard). In about 8 hours from opening the box, I was driving the tank around turning the turrent and firing the main gun at imaginary enemies.

Inside more of Tamiya’s attention to detail is evident. The internal packaging is an engineering marvel.

Hundreds of screws to keep track of. Tamiya puts them in plastic bags with lettered lables on them. I transfer the letter and the contents of the bag to an empty egg carton.

I’ll cover the major assembly steps next. I’ll leave out the steps with detail work that doesn’t necessarily contribute to running the tank.

Step 1. is the assembly of the track tension adjusters. Once installed, they will give you the ability to tighten or loosen the tank tracks’ tension.

Next are the suspension arm bearings. They are installed in the lower chassis hull.

Suspension arms are installed

Next comes the drive units. They are preassembled unlike the Leopard.

Lots of wheels. The kit comes with brass bushings, but I replaced them with ball bearings.

The metal idler wheel and drive sprocket. Once these are assembled, all wheels can be mounted to the suspension arms.

Tank track installation. The instruction manual calls for removing 4 of the links from each track to use as spares.

Drive and multifunction boxes go next. At the left is a photo of the main components (from right to left: speaker, MF-01 multi-function unit, DMD-01 drive unit).

Turrent mechansims are installed. The three black disks serve as lateral bearings for the turret rotation on the underside of the deck. On the top of the deck, white nylon bearings on metal shafts support the weight of the turrent and provide a rolling surface for the turret rotation.

Main gun assembly. The black cable is the strobe unit for the gun flashing effect. The strobe itself is in the orange tip of the cable. Next photo is the gun recoil motor followed by the gun elevation motor show it its assembled position on the base of the turret.

Once the turrent mechanisims are installed, the turret is wired to the Multi-function units and dropped in place. Next comes paint and weathering!

Once all the functions were tested, I did some disassembly and painted the base coat of Sand Yellow.

I airbrushed the green and brown colors and applied the “spots” with a brush.

Still have to add detail parts and weathering. Stay tuned…

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Originally posted 2015-09-18 19:24:25.

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