1:35 Panther Ausf.G Late Production Carson 776897 500776897

As the Luftwaffe was progressively swept from the air as WWII wore on, German tanks became vulnerable to enemy fighters. To help counter this, Germany produced a special set of armored plates that could be mounted atop the turret and over parts of the Panther’s engine deck. Made of Schürzen plate (5-8mm thick), the field-mounted steel plates were double-spaced on the turret top to improve protection against aircraft strafing and shrapnel. Dragon is now offering a 1/35 scale plastic model kit of just such a Panther Ausf.G with this interesting set of add-on antiaircraft armor. The kit is based on Dragon’s ever-popular and highly accurate kit of a Late-Production Panther Ausf.G tank. The armor is reproduced using photo-etched metal, including the prominent double layer that was mounted on top of the turret. The four plates used to protect vulnerable parts of the engine deck are also made from photo-etched metal. The plastic studs upon which the armor plates were mounted are new as well. The final result is a unique-looking version of the Panther, which would look perfect in a late-war diorama or as a standalone item.