Tamiya 12665 - 1:35 Panther Ausf.D Separate Track Link Set

Tamiya separate track link set for the Panther Ausf.D model (Tamiya 35345) in 1:35 scale

The characteristic light sag of the track between the road wheels is one of the details that mark out a well-built Panther. Tamiya 12665 is a set of individual track links moulded in plastic, intended for the Tamiya Panther Ausf.D kit (35345) in 1:35 scale. It replaces the band tracks supplied in the base kit and allows that sag to be reproduced on the model.

Each link is made up of two parts: the main link and a separate centre guide horn that is glued to it. Once the glue has dried, the links are joined together into runs. The instructions call for 85 links per side. The guide horns are open and hollowed out, giving a crispness that band tracks cannot match.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with individual track links
• Separate centre guide horns to be glued to each link
• Assembly instructions (85 links per side)

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 12665
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Designed for: Tamiya Panther Ausf.D (35345)
• Type: individual track links
• Material: injection-moulded plastic
• Number of links: 85 per side according to the instructions

Individual track links – realistic sag and a crisper running gear

Individual track links are an aftermarket upgrade for modellers who want a faithful rendering of the running gear. The band tracks supplied as standard in many kits are convenient to fit, but they behave like a single continuous belt — they do not drape over the road wheels and cannot form the natural sag seen in photographs of the real vehicles.

In this set each link is built from two parts: the main link and a separate centre guide horn. The horn is glued to the link, and once the glue has dried the links are joined into runs. It is worth assembling the track in stages, fitting each run to the drive sprocket, idler and road wheels before the glue has fully cured — this makes it possible to set the track in a natural position. The open, hollowed-out guide horns improve the level of detail in an area that remains clearly visible on the finished model.

About the vehicle – Panther Ausf.D:

The Panther Ausf.D was the first production version of the German Panther medium tank, introduced in 1943. It made its combat debut at Kursk, where the new vehicles drew mixed reviews — an excellent gun and good armour came together with frequent breakdowns caused by the design being rushed into production.

Its firepower rested on the long-barrelled 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 gun with a very high muzzle velocity. The tank used torsion bar suspension with interleaved road wheels, which gave a good ride but complicated maintenance and field repairs. The steeply sloped glacis plate, inspired by experience with the Soviet T-34, became one of the hallmarks of the whole Panther family.

Original vehicle specifications (Panther Ausf.D):

• Combat weight: approx. 45 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 gun
• Secondary armament: two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns
• Hull front armour: 80 mm, steeply sloped
• Powerplant: Maybach HL 230 P30 engine, approx. 700 hp
• Suspension: torsion bars with interleaved road wheels
• Top speed: approx. 46 km/h
• Range: approx. 200 km on roads
• Ausf.D production: approx. 840 vehicles (1943)

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, originally as a woodworking business and, from the 1960s, a producer of plastic kits. The brand built its position on precise moulds, well-prepared instructions and good parts fit. Its catalogue covers military, aircraft, ship and car models, as well as paints, tools and accessories that complement its own kits. Separate track link sets belong to that last group — they are designed for specific Tamiya kits, so they match the drive sprockets and idlers of the model in question.