What to do with a 1/35 DML Pather F

[frank2056]

No, it's not the new kit, it's the old Frankenstein, seen here:

http://www.capehobby.com/Armor_DMLDragon--PANZERKAMPFWAGEN_V_AUSF_SD_KFZ_171_PANTHER_F.html

It's a mixture of Italeri and Dragon parts. I started it before I lost interest in having yet another Nazi thing on my shelves.

So any suggestions on whiffing it? I'd like to make it post WWII, but the interleaved wheel pattern is distinctly WWII German. I know the French used some German tanks after the war. I would probably get rid of the turret.

I was thinking of:
An APC - but the design doesn't lend itself to rapid troop dismounts, plus not much room inside.
A AAA with a 30mm gun. Meh. Looks like overkill for such a puny weapon.
A recovery or mine clearing vehicle. Maybe...

Any other suggestions?

[Sisko]

They could be used by the French in Indochina post war.

[Maverick]

Given the Kugelblitz was a twin 30mm SPAAG, I don't see many problems transferring the turret onto the Panther chassis, altho there's always the 20mm Vierling and various 50mm turrets fielded as well.  Any of them could be 'war booty' used by another country.

Regards,

Mav

[GTX]

Syrian - instead of Panzer IVs.

Regards,

Greg

[NARSES2]

Swiss to go with their Hetzers ?

[Scooterman]

Give it a Hollywood treatment and use it as an American tank in a movie.  A lot of US tanks played German hardware in movies so why not turn the tables? 

[Doc Yo]

 Remembering that you put a gatling on that E-10 ( or was it an E-25 ) awhile back, why not put soemthing a little
bigger on the Panther chassis for a SPAAG? Something like the Spanish Merota, perhaps, or some early Swedish
AA missles...

[Taiidantomcat]

Backdate it, Make a World War I AFV if the war had gone on about 10 years longer or so since The road wheels are distinct, but you can get some pretty good side skirts and do whatever you'd like.

[frank2056]

Thanks for all the suggestions - The conversion to an APC would be my favorite, but the hull is already glued and would require major surgery.

The wheels are too distinctive, even with a skirt.

Hmmm... If anyone can come up with a whiff that they really like - and they live in the US - I'll mail them the kit. It's a heavy chunk of plastic, plus it has a magazine with a detailed build review. Plus if it's out of the house, I can't feel guilty for not finishing it.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

How's about changing the gun for a 90mm from an M-26, adding a searchlight box and the cuppola from an 'Isherman' Sherman, together with a .30 browning for the commander...... Israel, circa 1947-53.

Ian

[Mossie]

Something a bit different.  I remember seeing a video on Youtube for a firefighting turbine, that was originally a JEPDS (Jet Exhaust Powered Decontamination System).  Basically, it was two jet engines with hose nozzles in front.  The power from the nozzles allowed very rapid decontamination & firefighting.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nM3IDkIzp2w


My idea is for a turbo-flamethrower.  Rob a couple (or even just one) of Jumo or BMW jets from a 1/32 kit, mount them on top, with a bit of brass tube to suggest nozzles.  Attatch a trailer with fuel tank.  You've now got one very nasty weapon.

[Steel Penguin]

take off the wheels and tracks, give it skirts and make it a "hover tank"
give it a flat bottomed river hull, and have a barge tank
find some big wheels and make it a super 6*6 or 8*8 recon car.
stick wings on it
put legs on it and have a panther mech, ( 2 or 4 or more).
take off the turret, move the engine  across, and put a personel door in the rear like the Israiles did with the capture T55s.

[frank2056]

Here's something I had started to do with one.


http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,10498.msg142508.html#msg142508

Interesting... I think my main "issue" with whiffing this beast are the wheels. They look like a logistical nightmare and unlikely to have seen much use after WWII. A bigger gun, possibly different turret and different running gear sounds like a plan.