Jagdpanther by Chris Wauchop (Tamiya 1/35)

Tamiya's 1/35 scale
Jagdpanther Mid Production

by Chris Wauchop

Jagdpanther

images by Brett Green

Tamiya's 1/35 scale Jagdpanther Late Version is available online from Squadron

Introduction

Chris Wauchop has had his eye on this model ever since he saw a photo in a French magazine, Armes Militaria, some years ago.

The photo showed a mid production Jagdpanther of 130 Panzer Lehr, burnt and broken in a ditch, being inspected by a GI.

The style of gun collet, the apparent single piece barrel, the large areas of dark green interspersed with Dark Yellow and Red Brown, and the added foliage as camouflage all added to the appeal of this vehicle.

Construction

This is Tamiya's 1/35 scale Jagdpanther Late Version, kit no. 35203. Chris made a number of modifications to create the mid production vehicle in the photo, depicted just before the catastrophic events that resulted in the destruction of this big tank hunter.

Modifications and additions included:

Bolt-on mid-production gun collet modified from the kit part
Single piece 88mm gun barrel from Jordi Rubio (part number TG-14)
Tracks - Anvil "Click Link" resin track links
Photo etched details from Eduard set no. 35362
Tow cables from picture hanging wire
Wooden jack block carved from balsa
All grab handles replaced with brass wire
Headlight cable from fine solder
Tow hook locking pins from brass wire
Radio antenna - tapered brass wire
Camouflage wire - invisible mending thread (smoke coloured)
Camouflage wire attachment hooks - brass wire.

Building the Tamiya kit was almost completely trouble free.

Painting and Weathering

All camouflage colours were applied with the Testor Aztek A470 airbrush.

Tamiya paints were used:

XF-61 Dark Green as the base coat

XF-64 Red Brown and

XF-59 Desert Yellow mixed with XF-2 Flat White 50:50

A generous application of pastel chalk was dusted over the vehicle. Additional staining and weathering was also added using a thin wash of dark oil paints, but these selective washes were effectively soaked up by the pastels!