Panther Ausf. D	Tamiya, 1/48 scale
by Brett Green

Description

This is my latest completion - Tamiya's forthcoming 1/48 scale Panther Ausf. D. 

I really do like these 1/48 scale Tamiya kits. They are fast and easy to build but with very little detail compromise.

They're good fun to paint too.

The model has been finished straight from the box. The only deviation is that I filled the open cupola vision ports from inside with a mix of Krystal Kleer and Vallejo acrylic Panzer Aces 309 Periscopes paint. 

The dark yellow base is Mission Models MMP-011 Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, with fading on the upper surfaces by mixing the base shade with Mission Models' MMP-082 German WWII Elfenbein Interior White.

I applied these paints with my new Harder & Steenbeck Evolution airbrush fitted with the 0.4 mm tip. Paint flow was fantastic.

Disruptive colours are the new Tamiya lacquer paints - LP-56 Dark Green 2 and LP-57 Red Brown (which is much less red than Tamiya's old acrylic Red brown). I like these new paints a lot. They spray well and they are much tougher than Tamiya's acrylic range.

The mottled finish was applied with a Harder & Steenbeck Infinity airbrush fitted with the 0.15 mm tip. I was very happy with the fine lines and control. There was virtually no overspray or spatter either.

The Commander figure is included in the kit. He was brush painted with Vallejo acrylics.

I'll be covering construction, painting and weathering in detail in Issue 165 of Model Military International magazine.

Thanks to Tamiya for the test shot sample

Tamiya kits are distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited