1:35 Sd.Kfz. 171 'Panther' G Flammenvernichter

Panther Ausf. G — exhaust flame dampers, 1:35 (SBS Model)

A resin detail accessory in 1:35 scale intended for a model of the Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther tank in the Ausf. G version. It is not a tank kit — it replaces the exhaust system with the so-called Flammenvernichter, the attachments that suppressed the flame from the exhaust. A resin casting handles thin walls and internal shapes that cannot be done in injection-molded plastic, so the exhaust does not look like a solid post once it is fitted.

The real subject

The Panther Ausf. G was the last production version of the Panther medium tank and differed from the earlier versions in, among other things, the reworked side armor of the hull. On late machines the exhaust pipes carried attachments that suppressed the visible flame which would have given the position of the vehicle away after dark. The exhaust detail is clearly visible on the model, because it sits at the rear at the eye level of the viewer.

Building and painting tips

Wash the parts in warm soapy water first so that no mold release agent is left on them. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw rather than snapping them; sand wet and protect your airways. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Apply a primer before painting. Exhausts are among the parts that gain the most from weathering — after the base color it is worth working with rust shades and with pigments, because real exhausts corroded quickly and were covered in soot.

Who the set is for

• Builders of 1:35 Panther Ausf. G models who want to refine the rear of the vehicle.
• Modelers focused on late production versions.
• Those with experience of resin and super glue.

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The tank kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.