Saturday, May 8

Preview: Meng's 35th scale Panther A "Early" - now with boxart to add to the plastic...

Now they must be close to release on this one -  today we got beautiful box art of  Meng's 1/35th scale German Medium Tank Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther Ausf. A "Early" fom Meng Model. The plastic we have seen some of already - but this art really is very nice. See what the test kit looks like and some of the kit's features in our preview
Preview: Meng's 35th scale Panther A now with boxart to add to the plastic...

German Medium Tank Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther Ausf. A Early
From Meng Model
Kit Number: #TS-046
1/35th scale
Four colour schemes are included in this kit
Kit includes ice cleats for tracks
Metal cable included
Injection moulded plastic, clear & Photo Etched parts included
Approximately 2,200 Panther A tanks were built from September 1943 to July 1944. The changes from the D type were the replacement of the transmission and a newly designed turret, which made it possible to strengthen the armor and change the turret rotation speed. In addition, the commander's cupola, which was unpopular with tank crews due to its poor visibility, was replaced with a periscope. 

The Panther was the closest thing to "the" perfect German medium tank during WWII. 

A winter white scheme on this Panther A, a little like the box art example...
Thanks to its unparalleled performance, it became one of the backbones of the German Army, and helped their armed forces fight on through tough times. Others seeing the worth of its features, armament and technological advancement it was even used by the opponents to the end of the war. Its 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 long tank gun could penetrate almost all the armour of its rivals, and its angled armour provided better protection than the Tiger I. 

Panzer V Panther Ausf. A 331 of 1st Abteilung, 4th Pzr-Regt knocked out on the Gustav Line in Italy - 1944
The Maybach HL230 engine could propel the tank to a speed of 50km/h on sealed roads, and its wide tracks and interleaved road wheels could travel over more uneven ground that the previous Panzer III & IV's. The Panther was a perfect response to the requirements of German armour units. Now the Panther has become one of the favourite armour kits of modellers, and so, Meng Models have stepped up to the plate with an "early" model Panther A to match their "Late" versiont hey have already released.

Panzerbefehlswagen Panther Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 267) of the Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland photographed in southern Ukraine in 1944
This kit from Meng: 
The Panther is a German medium tank masterpiece deployed in World War II. However, the battlefield performance of the highly anticipated Panther Ausf.D was not always satisfactory. Continuous improvement accompanied the Panther’s whole life cycle. The Panther Ausf.A has been known by most people as a sign of the maturity of the Panther series tanks. The early version of the Panther Ausf.A kept some features from the Panther Ausf.D.

CAD images of this kit that Meng has previously released
This kit includes ice cleats for tracks that were used in snowy climes...
This latest MENG TS-046 German Medium Tank Sd.Kfz.171 Panther Ausf.A Early is a realistic replica of this classic German tank. Its finished model will be 251.9mm long and 98.7mm wide. Like the previous MENG Panther products, this model kit includes precision PE parts, track ice cleats and various paint schemes. But its highlights come more from its details.

Close up details of the plastic and photo-etch included in this kit - "Jerry" cans are included or the thirsty Panther
The rear loader's hatch can be posed opened or closed
Twisted steel cable provided for two cables... 
The top cuppola hatch can be posed open or closed
Panther A typical mantlet is supplied with cast texture
Radio/ Machine gun operator's hatch and Driver's vision port are typical of the early Panther A style. This kit does not come with a Zimmerit coating, you would have to get one of Meng's four Zimm coating decals for this type...
Rubber road wheels are included in this kit.
The AA machine gun has photo etch and fine plastic details to keep it scale correct
Phot etch is included for the rear deck engine gilles
Tools and pioneer equipment is included with photo-etch clamps.
Like the real vehicle, the hull of this model has kept most features from the Panther Ausf.D, but has cancelled the rear hull snorkels. Both drive sprocket and turret have two options. This kit can fully demonstrate the unique features on the Panther Ausf.A Early tank.

Of course, a bucket (or two) is included!
This kit is due for release this month - You can see more of Meng's kits on their website.