Small Scale Military Headquarters

Got my S4 Panther from Badcat today, ($69 plus S&H) and it's great.... but I thought it was looking sort of naked, so I decided to dress it in some skirts.. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.






*****************UPDATED 06/14..... ADDED SCRATCHBUILT METAL TOW CABLES WITH NEW PICS BELOW******

That looks !

Beautiful work, with the paint matching and everything The schurzen look like they came with the Panther from the 21c factory.

Very nice OK! Perhaps you could do some extras for sale for the modification-challenged board members?

The schurzens look great, you matched the color perfect

The skirts look great!

Thanks for the compliments guys. I think the skirts add a very nice touch to an already nice looking model, and the small investment (about $10) for the blank skirts, plus the time to paint and mount them was well worth it.

*****UPDATE***** I'm also adding my own custom made engine intake screens, I just have one of the round type done so far, but I think these will look great when attached and painted. I used 24 gauge solid copper wire for the outer ring, and metal household window screen for the mesh....



And here's what the real screens look like....



I'll be adding a few more custom features like a Balkenkreuz (German Cross) to the turret sides, divisional insignia to the hull front, and possibly a "Sperber FG1250" infrared night vision device to the commanders cupola, and I will post updates and pics when these are done.

Those look real nice Ostketten.

Mark

Ostketten, the side armor and engine deck screens really add to the look of the Panther. Nice Work!!!!!!!

Those look much better! Nice job!

OK, all the screens are done, they have been mounted and painted to match. Considering that these are completely scratchbuilt I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out. I also added German crosses (Balkenkreuz) to the turret sides, these are from Archer, and I must say these are great looking and super easy to apply, Some of our most talented customizers around here use the Archer transfers, and I can see why now, highly recommended. I would like to add a Sperber FG1250 Infra Red searchlight and scope to the commanders cupola, but I think trying to scratchbuild one of these is out of the question, just too complex, and I wish I knew where I could find a 1/16 kit of this accessory.

Sweeet!

Great work ostketten!
Will you be adding the guide sight on the commander's copula?

Will you be adding the guide sight on the commander's copula?

Maybe...but only if you tell me what it is first Yox.. Seriously.. help me out here. I'm also going to scratchbuild a set of tow cables, the abortions they called "tow cables" that came with it aren't worthy of being on such a nice model.

Well Done!!!!!!! The screens, the side armor and painting look great. Thats what this 21st Panther needed, I don't mind repaints but what you've done Ostketten makes it look like a whole new tank. 21st and the others should take this into consideration when they come out with a series 2, 3, 4 of any tank or aircraft.

It is a bit of bent metal that the comander used to sight in targets...it was welded just above that little U shaped thingy in front of the copula....

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/43/paneng5rj9.jpg

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1350 ... herrg8.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"></a><br><a href="http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=181&i=1a ... .jpg"><img src="http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1350 ... 94dbde.jpg" border="0"></a>

The tow cables that came with the Panther were pretty awful, so I scratchbuilt a set of real braided steel tow cables for it, and I think they turned out pretty nice. They are not painted, but treated with a product called "Blacken-It" which actually oxidizes the metal... repeated applications of the stuff will produce a finish that is not unlike rust, which is very useful for weathering ferrous metal parts, especially tracks, because the finish it produces is very difficult and tedious to achieve with paints, and far more durable.

WOW the real steel tow cables really makes it stand out, your panther is really looking great.