The WWII German Panther Tank was one of the most effective tanks in the war. The Ausf.D was its first model. The tank offered a complete performance package, with firepower from the imposing 75 mm gun, excellent protection afforded by its sloped armor, and maneuverability thanks to a 700hp gasoline engine. Around 840 Ausf.D Panthers were produced between January and September of 1943, and the first time it appeared on the battlefield was in the Battle of Kursk in July of that year where they took out some 140 Soviet tanks from a range of 1,500 to 2,000 meters, all the while protected impeccably by their sloped plate. The Panther revolutionized German armored vehicle design and remained on the front line until the end of the war.
The model is from the Tamiya 1:35 scale kit with the Tamiya “Detail-Up” kit, including photoetch (PE) engine grilles and metal gun barrel. The paint scheme and markings are from the battle of Kursk.