This article has come to life after a discussion on the
Missing Lynx Braille Scale board.
The text used as a base for this article was mainly written by Jason Boulter, so the credit for this article, the attached image and the research for the subject, goes to him. The article also include some points made by Stefano Dell'Acqua.
The initial question posted on the board (by Johan) was:
I remember reading these kits [Revell's Panther A/D and G] are not entirely correct ? If so, to what level are these mistakes ? Are we talking "obvious mistakes hard to be missed" or really details ?
On to the reply:
The main problems are:
The glacis plate angle is too shallow (31.8 degrees, should be 35 degrees) making the hull top too short.
The turret position is incorrect (see image).
The mantelet has the wrong shape (in profile) and is too bulky.
The cupola is missing 1 periscope, it should have 7 not 6.
The road wheels should have 32 bolts, but the Revell wheels have a lot less, 20 I think? They are also missing the rim.
The hinges on the engine deck are missing (on the ausf. A/D hull).
Revell's sprocket has 14 teeth; Dragon's is correct and has 17, that makes Revell's track link 20% larger than it should be. It is very noticeable on the finished model, and sadly it is not easily corrected.
There are other minor faults but these are the main faults.
The Dragon kit although not perfect the hull has the correct shape, the turret is near perfect and the running gear, as already mentioned, is excellent. The early non-zimmerit kits come with a terrible metal hull, but the newer version with zimmerit has a plastic hull.