1:35 Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther A fan cover (late type)

Resin cooling fan cover, late type, Panther Ausf. A, 1:35 scale

An accessory for modelers, not a kit of the vehicle. The set replaces the cooling fan cover on the engine deck with a part cast in resin, which renders the shapes and the fine texture more precisely than an injection mold. The version matches the late type of cover and according to the name is intended for the Ausf. A version. The accessory is supplied by the SBS Model brand.

The real subject

Sd.Kfz. 171 is the service designation of the German Panther medium tank of the Second World War. The layout of the engine deck changed during production, among other things in the design of the cooling fan covers. The Ausf. A version was built for a long time and early as well as late variants appeared within it, so the version designation alone is not enough to determine the form of the deck. What decides is always a period photograph of the particular vehicle.

Usage tips

First wash the resin parts in warm water with detergent, so that the mold release agent is removed from the surface; otherwise neither the primer nor the glue will hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine-toothed saw, and do not snap them off. Sand the remains down with respiratory protection: resin dust must not be inhaled, so ideally wet sand. It is glued with cyanoacrylate; ordinary polystyrene cement has no effect on resin. Apply a primer before painting. Remove the original plastic cover from the model and level the surface under the new part.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of German armor in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want a more faithful fan cover than the one from the original mold
• Those building a vehicle with the late form of the engine deck
• More experienced builders with experience of resin parts

The accessory is supplied unpainted and is not a model in its own right. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package. Please check the fit with your kit before buying.