Tamiya 35176 - 1:35 Panther Ausf.G Late Version

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

Late-production Panthers were vehicles of the war’s final phase – built quickly, under air attack and material shortages, yet still formidable thanks to the 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun and sloped armour. Tamiya 35176 reproduces them in 1:35 scale, a 1994 release using new parts on the 35170 mould.

The model represents vehicles from the Ardennes offensive, and its character is reinforced by two figures in winter overalls. Vinyl belt tracks make short work of the interleaved running gear. All three decal options are tanks of the 116th and 9th Panzer Divisions from December 1944.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and equipment parts (including new late-version parts)
• Vinyl belt tracks
• Two figures in winter overalls
• Waterslide decal sheet for 3 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35176
• 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:

The build is clear and enjoyable – the parts fit very well and the vinyl belt tracks remove the most time-consuming stage. The interleaved road wheels are best painted before final assembly. The two figures in winter overalls are best painted separately and only then placed on the finished vehicle.

The Ardennes options wear the camouflage of the winter offensive – 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); paint codes are given in the instructions. Applying decals over a gloss coat is recommended to reduce silvering, and a matt varnish suits the final finish. Pigments and a wash will help suggest the mud and slush of winter roads. To take the level of detail further you may want to consider separately sold Tamiya accessories: individual-link tracks 35171 and photo-etched parts 35172 – both are standalone products and are not included in this box.

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, including fine ones for figures
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for mud and dust effects

About the vehicle – Panther Ausf.G (late production):

The Panther was Germany’s answer to the Soviet T-34 and quickly became the Wehrmacht’s most balanced design: sloped armour, good mobility and the 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun with very high penetration. The Ausf.G, produced from March 1944, was the last and most numerous variant.

Late-production vehicles differed from earlier ones in details of external stowage and in simplifications forced by the conditions in which they were built towards the end of the war. All the key strengths of the design, however, remained.

December 1944 was the time of the Ardennes offensive, in which Panthers of the 116th and 9th Panzer Divisions fought in winter conditions, in the mud, snow and forests of Belgium. These are the vehicles covered by the decals in this kit.

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.