The Jagdpanther is often consider to have been the best tank destroyer of the last World War. Combining the powerful 88mm PaK 43 L/71 gun, sloping armor and the Panther chassis, when deployed correctly, such as in ambush, the Jagdpanther was a potent vehicle. Of the three manufacturers who have released 1/35 Jagdanthers in the last 10 years, Tamiya’s is generally considered the most accurate and in my opinion the most satisfying to build. The Tamiya Jagdpanther represents a late vehicle circa early 1945, while the Dragon Jagdpanther Command is a final version typical of those on the production line at war’s end. Both the Tamiya and Dragon kits lack the very visible factory-fitted grilles on the engine deck.

Contents

The Voyager Model set comprises of 7 photo etch frets (1 large, 4 medium and 2 small), and 2 lengths of ABS rod. The thickness of the frets varies between frets to reflect different applications, which is a definite plus. Several of the frets are available separate as niche set and hint at a future Voyager’s set for the Panther G. Overall the parts included are broad in scope and well selected in scope, but not excessive.

The set comes in a foldout cardboard box the size of a CD case with the parts in one pocket and the instructions in the other. Unfortunately the glue on my box didn’t hold on one side and I had to store the parts in a zip lock bag.

This set contains includes the following PE detail parts:

• The front & side fenders and their support brackets onto which the schurzen were fastened. Having the side fenders in etched metal significantly improves the scale appearance of the kit and allows for the parts to be bent as often seen in wartime photos. These fenders appear accurate to scale plans.
• Parts to fully replicate the rear stowage boxes. Given these were easily and often damaged, having them in PE is a real plus for someone wishing to depict a vehicle that seen some action. These boxes are not included in my other PE sets for the Jadgpanther.
• Side armor plates (schurzen). These plates compare favourable against scale plans and overlap at the mounting points. The Tamiya kit’s schurzen is poor as it doesn’t overlap and unlike PE can’t be readily bent or have individual plates removed to replicate damage.
• 4 rectangular and 2 circular grilles with an fine double etched mesh (better than the mesh I’ve seen on another Voyager set). I tested the Voyager grilles on both the Tamiya Jagdpanther and DML Jagdpanther Command kits and found it to be a good fit on both kits (these grilles will not fit the DML Jagdpanther early due to a difference between early and late models, nor on the Italeri Jagdpanther due to inaccuracies in the Italeri kit).
• Detail to improve the barrel cleaning rod tube including the open handles on the end pieces. When using these parts one alternative to reworking the kit’s plastic part would be to replace the cylinder with brass tubing cut to length. This approach would also avoid the need to sand join seams.
• Four optional cover plates (shutters) for the rectangular air intake grills. According to Tom Jentz for Panther Ausf G’s these were fitted by MNH, only on the right hand side and the Voyager instruction sheet correctly shows them as being both optional and only fitted on the right side. Achtung Panzer also only shows them on this side of late production Panthers. MNH made Jagdpanthers from November 1944 onwards. The other two shutters are presumably included for those modelers who prefer to follow alternative references.
• Detail to improve both types of exhaust options included in the Tamiya kit including support brackets for the flammvernichter exhaust and shrouds for the earlier style exhaust pipes.
• Enhancements to the engine deck & roof including interior detail for roof (but not rear) access hatches.
• Tie downs and the “U” shaped cable stay missing from the engine deck of the Tamiya kit. The larger tie downs are better than the equivalent parts in Voyager’s King Tiger (Porsche) set.
• Clamps, hasps, chains and locks to enhance the tools and other small fittings. These include the fire extinguisher, spare track hangers, jack and tool mounting brackets located on the side armor. The tool clamps are made from three parts and the small handle pieces can be added to the kit clamps if you prefer this easier option
• ABS plastic rods to replicate parts of the lighting etc (1 x 100mm long of .5mm diameter and 1 x 50mm of 1mm).

Overall the level of useable small detail included in this set is comparable to that found in the competitors’ sets. Compared to the similar priced Aber set the Voyager set includes the rear stowage boxes and side skirts which are very useful and worth a bit if purchased separately, while the Aber set (which and can be used on the DML Jagdpanther early) includes PE periscopes and cable stays/brackets to help convert the Tamiya kit into a final production model.

The Voyager instruction sheet runs to four A4 pages and is easy to follow. The limited text is in Chinese and English. The set’s parts and instructions as to where the parts are attached appeared accurate against clear wartime photos and scale plans by Hilary Doyle.

Recommendation

This set from Voyager provides a well selected range of parts to complete and add finesse to the Tamiya Jagdpanther. The inclusion of the rear stowage boxes and in particular the side armor mean for many modelers this set will be very price competitive compared to its competitors who sell one or both of these items separately. Well recommended.

Reference

Achtung Panzer vol. 4: Panther, Jagdpanther, Brummbar, 1994. This title includes sketches of two common Jagdpanther tool layouts and other details.

Germany’s Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy by T. Jentz, Schiffer Publishing 1995.

Panzer Tracts No. 9: Jagdpanzer: Jagdpanzer38 to Jagdtiger by T. Jentz, Panzer Tracts 1997. This title includes scale plans of the Jagdpanther.

Thank you to Voyager Model & Saul Garcia for the review sample. Review and photos by Neville Lord.

User Contributed Notes