Scale Plastic & Rail

1/72 Jagdpanther from Armourfast

1/72 Jagdpanther
Armourfast
Catalogue # 99002
Available direct from Armourfast for £7.50 for a pack of 2 vehicles

Often accepted as the epitome of the various tank destroyers produced by Germany during WW2, based on the Panther tank with its excellent suspension and carrying a high velocity 88mm gun, the Jagdpanther was a feared opponent wherever it was encountered. With a large sloping glacis plate, it was also more resistant to return fire than many of its counterparts (below). The facts are interesting in that it did not, in fact, have the best kill ratio of the German tank destroyers – that accolade, surprisingly, goes to the large, unwieldy Ferdinand/Elefant vehicles which averaged a kill ratio of around 13:1 compared to the Jagdpanther's 8:1 – but somehow, the Jagdpanther has become fixed in the minds of military modellers and historians as the tank destroyer that was the most effective for the German forces.

The latest Armourfast kit on review is for the Jagdpanther; the practice of enclosing 2 kits within the box is maintained. After the recent disappointment when reviewing their recent Panzer IVG kit due to some poor research resulting in a "mixed-variant", I am pleased to say that this time Armourfast's research is much better. The sand-coloured kit portrays a later (or G2) variant of the Jagdpanther, since it has a single vision port for the driver, a 2-part gun barrel, a modified Panther G engine deck and the larger, exteriorly-bolted gun mantlet (below). Most of these vehicles were not covered with Zimmerit during production either, which Armourfast have got right.

I did feel some of the detail was a little heavy on this kit, particularly on the engine deck and fighting compartment roof. There are no open hatches in which to place crew figures (a key requirement of the 2 main audiences for these kits, younger/inexperienced modellers and wargamers) and, from an accuracy point of view, the model is a little tall in comparison with my plans, caused my an incorrect angle on the glacis plate. This also means that the side profile is a little out of true. The normal single piece tracks, wheels and suspension are fine on this occasion. No tools are included or moulded in.

As usual, the instruction details are carried on the rear of the box (above). For some reason, the rear stowage boxes, present on the sprue, are not shown on the construction diagram and may puzzle more inexperienced modellers.

As ever, with 2 vehicles in the box, the kit offers very good value for money and it does look like a Jagdpanther when completed.

So What Do We Think?
Well-researched but with an annoying profile issue. Will be well received by its target audiences.

A good effort offering excellent value.

Our thanks to Armourfast for the review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

Robin Jenkins.