Tamiya 35170 - 1:35 Panther Ausf.G Early Version

1:35 plastic model kit of the German Panther Ausf.G medium tank, early production

The Panther combined steeply sloped armour, high speed and the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun with exceptional penetration – a combination that permanently changed how the medium tank was understood. Tamiya 35170 reproduces its final and most numerous version, the Ausf.G, in early-production form, in 1:35 scale from an all-new 1993 mould.

The model captures the features typical of the G: simplified hull sides with a uniform slope and the revised driver’s hatch arrangement. Vinyl belt tracks speed up the interleaved running gear, and the decal sheet allows three vehicles to be built, including tank “522” in winter camouflage in Hungary, March 1945.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and equipment parts
• Vinyl belt tracks
• Tank crew figure in overalls
• Waterslide decal sheet for 3 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35170
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: 256 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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

Building the model:

This new-mould kit is a pleasure to build – the parts fit precisely and the instructions are clear. The interleaved running gear is best painted before final assembly, as access to the inner wheels becomes difficult afterwards. Vinyl belt tracks let you close everything up quickly.

Two options wear three-tone camouflage: a dark yellow base (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) with patches of dark green (XF-61 Dark Green) and red brown (XF-64 Red Brown). The Hungarian vehicle is covered in a washable winter whitewash – the worn, partly rubbed-off look is well reproduced with thin coats of white (XF-2 Flat White) sprayed through an airbrush and selectively rubbed back. Paint codes are given in the instructions. To take the level of detail further you may want to consider separately sold Tamiya accessories: individual-link tracks 35171, photo-etched parts 35172, brass shells 35173 and the 12646 zimmerit sheet – all are standalone products and are not part of this kit.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby 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 a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Panther Ausf.G:

The Panther was developed in response to the Soviet T-34, whose sloped armour and wide tracks came as a shock to the Germans in 1941. The result was a 45-tonne vehicle combining good mobility with strong frontal armour and the 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun, whose penetration exceeded that of many heavier designs.

The Ausf.G, introduced from March 1944, was the last and most numerous Panther version. Its hull was simplified: the sides received a uniform slope, and the distinctive driver’s hatch in the glacis was replaced by a new arrangement, stiffening the armour and speeding up production.

Panthers fought on every front of the final years of the war – from Normandy through the Ardennes to Hungary and Berlin. Their layout, combining sloped armour, a powerful gun and good mobility, became the reference point for post-war main battle tanks.

Original vehicle specifications (Panther Ausf.G):

• Length: approx. 8.86 m (gun forward)
• Width: approx. 3.42 m
• Height: approx. 3.00 m
• Combat weight: approx. 45 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun
• Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns
• Powerplant: Maybach HL230 P30 petrol engine, 700 hp
• Top speed: approx. 46 km/h (road)
• Armour: 80 mm steeply sloped glacis plate
• Production: Ausf.G from March 1944 – the most numerous Panther variant

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company originally traded in timber and moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s. Its first plastic model kit appeared in 1960, and two years later came its first 1:35 tank – the scale that, thanks to Tamiya, became the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, outstanding parts fit and clear instructions, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures from around the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.