[tank nut]

Hey mike you nuts!!!!! If you give her that set, she will just have another thing to throw at you!!! I can see it now, you bought another tank!! What did I tell you about buying more tanks, we have no more space!!! But honey, here is a nice box of candies, no, no, don't throw the coffe mug at me!! I won't buy anymore I promise!!

[chascbv]

Originally Posted by mikeb1958

"With the purchase of the lovely tank, we will include our quality coffee mug for the low price of only $10.00 PLUS as a bonus we will add this box of assorted delish Biermann Marzipan candies at NO extra charge. Matches almost perfectly to the scheme of this prized vechicle. If the wife or girlfriend gets mad because you bought another tank to add to the 217 you already have...give her the candies and It's all good until the next armour release, but keep the coffee mug for yourself.'"

Hey, Mikeb1958, you're a genius. The wife risk factor is now at bay!

[chascbv]

This is certainly not a new release or a new acquisition, but I thought some of you might be interested in the story.

Dragon called this model "The last Panther", and provided no unit identification, the box only stating "Berlin defense, April 1945". Well, I have no photograph of this vehicle, but found out where Dragon's inspiration came from - an excellent painting by David Pentland entitled "Panther at the Zoo". The painting depicts the remnants of Panzer Division Müncheberg - a division that fought bravely in the defence of Berlin - at the zoo on May 1st, 1945. The building behind the Panther is the zoo flak tower, one of three such buildings built for air defence, which had now become a shelter for thousands of Berlin civilians. This unit, together with the remnants of other units, including 9.Fallschirmjaeger Division and 18.Panzergrenadier Division, made their last stand in this spot against the invading Soviets, and had all their tanks disabled by the end of May 1st. With no vehicles left, and all their hopes lost, the remaining men made a desperate breakout attempt through occupied Berlin to escape to the West on May 2nd, their goal being to surrender to the Western allies. Only a handful of survivors made it to the Americans; most died in the streets of Berlin, or were captured by the Soviets and sent to concentration camps in Russia.

Thus, Dragon's "last Panther" is a vehicle of Panzer Division Müncheberg, and accurately represents a late production G model. Should it have zimmerit? Well..., NO. The modifications that make up a so-called "late" Panther G started in October 1944, and by that time zimmerit had already been discontinued. The only deviation from the painting is that the model has a machine gun at the commander's cupola, while the painting shows a nightfighting IR device. This is a very good model of a late G in 1/72 scale.

The model picture has been borrowed from the Alpimodel online shop website.

[Copland]

My most recent Dragon purchases include the PZ IV/L70, mentioned previously. I love this model. I also got a Sherman M4A4 - superb. I finally went ahead and got a Stug IV, with side skirts. All three of these are very nice. Most of my collection is Dragon 1/72, WWII. However, I found the Leopard 2, winter camo on sale for $9.00. I have always thought that that particular Leopard 2 was a very nice model. I am looking forward to it arriving. I also appreciate the historical input.

[Legio LXXII]

Originally Posted by chascbv

Should it have zimmerit? Well..., NO. The modifications that make up a so-called "late" Panther G started in October 1944, and by that time zimmerit had already been discontinued.

It doesn't have zimmerit. This is my third favorite Panther that Dragon has done to date. Would love to see an IR Panther and halftrack.

[chascbv]

Originally Posted by Legio LXXII

It doesn't have zimmerit. This is my third favorite Panther that Dragon has done to date. Would love to see an IR Panther and halftrack.

Yes, thankfully it has no zimmerit. Dragon got it right with this one!

I also agree with you that an IR Panther would be most interesting, and Dragon still has to provide us with a Panther D and a Panther A!! (I always felt that the Panther is the most beautiful tank of WW2; I'd love to see all variants in this scale).

However, I found the Leopard 2, winter camo on sale for $9.00. I have always thought that that particular Leopard 2 was a very nice model. I am looking forward to it arriving. I also appreciate the historical input.

You're a lucky man, Copland: you got a hell of a model for a song!!! Dragon's Leopard 2 is a very good model, and the "winter" scheme is absolutely awsome! Dragon based this model on a Baulos (batch) 7 tank of PzBtl 214, 7.PzDiv (CMTC Hohenfels); the vehicle was photographed during winter manoeuvres in December 1995 (the real tank had had its side skirts removed).

[DirtyACE]

Wow, chascbv, great job on the Panther info! I've been trying to piece together more information myself about the dragon vehicles. Unfortunately Dragon provides very little if any info about any of the tanks or other vehicles they release. I'm actually in the process of making a website listing my whole collection of tanks from Dragon, but I also want to put as much info as possible about each tank/vehicle that I have. For example like who was the commander of the particular tank or where the vehicle was fighting if it doesn't already state that info on the box itself.

I think you're doing a really great service to everyone here with your reviews. I certainly appreciate your efforts very much. Keep up the good work!

[chascbv]

Thanks a lot for your kind feedback, DirtyACE. I very much appreciate it!

[chascbv]

This is one recent addition to my collection. The model represents an early-version Jagdpanzer IV (the original model fitted with the L/48 gun) of Panzerjäger Abteilung 228, a component of 116.Panzer Division, in Normandy. As with other members in the Jagdpanzer IV family by Dragon, this is an excellent model in all respects, the only inaccuracy being the absence of zimmerit (all early JgPz IVs with the L/48 gun had factory-applied zimmerit, as well as most late-version vehicles).

Dragon based this model on a well-known wartime photograph (see below). The original tank exhibits a thick coat of zimmerit, and is camouflaged in dark yellow with - probably - some overspray (the presence of the latter is not clear given the balance between light and shade, and the shadows projected by foliage). The muzzle brake has been removed (as was common practice), since the thickening at the end of the barrel seems to be a tarp cover (the model has the muzzle brake in place). Also, the real tank was a late model, which can be judged by the absence of an MG port (no cone-shaped plug!!) to the left (right in the image) of the mantlet (Dragon's model is an early model and has said port in place).

The 116.Panzer Division (the "Windhund" or greyhound division after their insignia) was north of the Seine (Calais area) when the Normandy landings occurred. It was moved southwest in July to oppose the advancing Americans, and played a role in the German counteroffensive around Mortain in August, in typical "bocage" (fields and hedge banks) conditions. That was the biggest tank battle during the Normandy campaign, and the scenario for the brave stand of US troops on and around Hill 317. Visit this link for a nice painting and description: http://www.ngb.army.mil/resources/galleries/heritage/mortain.html.

During the battle the "Windhund" division surprisingly displayed too little activity, and its commander, GenLt. Graf von Schwerin, became suspect of being unloyal to the cause of the Third Reich, and temporarily removed from command (interestingly, he was then protected by his superior officers!).

[DirtyACE]

Another excellent review with plenty of info! I'm looking forward to more, chascbv

I have a question for your since you seem like a bigger expert than me What do you think of the King Tiger from Kampfgruppe Piper? Is that an actual tank that Piper used as his ride in the Ardennes? I always thought he'd ride in a halftrack or some other lighter vehicle since he was commanding the entire battle group.