Tamiya 35065 - 1:35 Model do sklejania czołg Pantera A

1:35 plastic model kit of the German Panther Ausf.A medium tank

Tamiya 35065 depicts the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther in its Ausf.A version – a tank that combined sloped armour with a gun of exceptional penetrating power and set the direction for post-war armour design. The finished model is 256 mm long.

This is a classic Tamiya kit with roots going back to the 1960s, available as a static model since 1975 – worth noting that it is not the same design as the newer Panther Ausf.D kit, item 35345. The Ausf.A is recognisable by its new commander's cupola and the ball mount for the hull machine gun in the glacis plate. The included accessories – spare track links, tow cables and tools – along with two figures give the model the character of a vehicle in front-line service.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and fittings
• Vinyl band tracks
• Spare track links, tow cables and tools
• Two figures: full commander figure and driver bust
• Waterslide decal sheet with turret numbers
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35065
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 256 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The kit is simple in construction and has a modest parts count, so it goes together quickly – a good choice for a first German tank in a collection, or as a relaxing build for an experienced modeller. The vinyl band tracks make short work of the running gear with its distinctive interleaved road wheels, which are best painted before the tracks are fitted.

A typical Panther scheme of the period starts with a dark yellow base (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) overlaid with patches of red brown (XF-64 Red Brown) and green (XF-61 Dark Green). A dark brown wash will emphasise the weld seams and detail, and pigments on the lower hull and tracks complete the effect. Turret number decals are best applied over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, with a matt varnish as the final finish.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for mud and dust effects

About the vehicle – Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf.A:

The Panther was a direct response to the shock of encountering the Soviet T-34. German designers adopted the idea of steeply sloped armour but combined it with precision optics and the very long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 – a weapon with exceptionally high muzzle velocity and penetration that surpassed even the Tiger's gun.

The Ausf.A, produced from August 1943 until the spring of 1944, was the second version to enter production. It received a new commander's cupola and a ball mount for the hull machine gun in the glacis plate, replacing the earlier makeshift firing slit. Power came from a 700 hp Maybach HL230 P30 engine, and combat weight was around 44.8 tonnes.

Panthers fought on every front – from Kursk through Normandy to the Ardennes. Despite persistent reliability problems with the drivetrain, they are regarded as among the best-designed tanks of the war, and their influence can be seen in post-war Western designs, including the French AMX-50.

Original vehicle specifications (Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf.A, Sd.Kfz.171):

• Length with gun: approx. 8.9 m
• Width: approx. 3.4 m
• Height: approx. 3.0 m
• Combat weight: approx. 44.8 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun
• Powerplant: Maybach HL230 P30, 700 hp
• Suspension: torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
• Ausf.A features: new commander's cupola, ball-mounted hull machine gun
• Production: August 1943 to spring 1944

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade, but by the late 1940s it was producing wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first plastic model kit. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this Panther Ausf.A belongs, runs to hundreds of items and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.