In Italy and in Berlin, and perhaps in other locations on the Eastern Front the allies ran into a particular version of the panzer turm that proved a very tough nut to crack –- the Panther turm. First encountered by U.S. and Commonwealth forces in Italy it consisted of a two story bunker housing the crew’s quarters, power plant and ammunition storage. On top was a modified Panther turret. Camouflaged, low silhouette, covering the ground suitable for armor with their high velocity 75mm guns, and requiring their attackers to get around to their rear or side to knock out, they proved formidable. The Russians also encountered them in Berlin covering streets, bridges, and crossroads.
You Can Make One
This article shows the making of a 1/48 version, but the smaller scales are even easier.
MATERIALS
ASSEMBLY
A. The first step is to use some white glue to glue your Styrofoam to the CD. Place the Styrofoam to cover the hole in the center of the CD. Let dry.
B. The second step is to push the Panther turret pin located underneath it into the center of the Styrofoam. The foam should be sized small enough to not go over the edge of the CD, and large enough to be slightly larger then the Panther turret. The pin on the turret will be too long. Mark the pin where it comes out of the foam on the bottom. Carefully pull the turret out and using the hacksaw cut the end of the pin off, cutting just above the mark you made. Check to see if it fits now. Remove the turret and set it aside.
C. OPTIONAL. The actual turret had the commander’s cupola removed (it is bolted on) and replaced by a simple two piece round flap hatch. This is a circle cut exactly in half and hinged to open and lie flat on the top of the turret. It would be just larger then the opening. You can cut the commander’s cupola off at this time and replace it with a scratch built plastic hatch or a piece from your “bits box”. I left the cupola on as the metal is tough and this would be hard to remove. I do recommend taking it off if you are working on a plastic turret or a smaller (1/285, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm or HO scale) version of a Panther turret, as the plastic or metal will be softer and it will be easier to remove the cupola.
D. Coat the Styrofoam base with the turret off with a mixture of 40% white glue, 40% water, and 20% “old concrete” paint. Paint the rest of the CD with a coat of the foliage green. (note: you can spray one side of the CD with enamel undercoat prior to starting as an optional method of coloring it. I use flat black auto primer.) Let dry.
E. Add a little white to some the concrete color and dry brush the Styrofoam. When dry, wash it with the black wash/ink. Let dry.
F. Mix your Hydrocal according to the instructions and place some onto the CD around the “concrete”. This forms ground/earth around the underground bunker. Add small rocks, twigs, etc. to the mixture now if you wish. Let dry.
G. Mix the foliage green with white glue and water using 20% paint, 40% glue, and 40% water. Place the CD on a piece of newspaper and paint the “earth” with this, using a lot. Don’t paint any rocks, tree trunks, or “concrete”. Work fairly quickly. (Note: quick way to do this model is to skip F.) Then sprinkle the wet mixture with turf. You can vary the color used to keep it from looking like a fairway. You can add brush or bushes (clump foliage, bushes) remembering to NOT block the turret or gun. Let dry. The entire CD can be sprayed again after it dries with Woodland Scenics’ Scenic Cement (which dries clear) to hold everything down.
H. Place the Panther turret on the concrete. Weather to suite your taste. I usually use a thinned black ink wash over the turret before spraying the entire project with Dullcoat. You can also add a camo net to the model in the pictures for added concealment.
In the Second World War, on all Fronts, the Allies encountered the Panzer turm in one form or another. This was a fortification based on using a tank turret (turm in German) on a concrete base as part of a fortification. Captured turrets (R35, Souma, Char B1 tanks, etc.) and early German tank (Pz I, Pz II, Pz 38t) turrets were all used. (note: A Panzer Turm using these turrets and the concrete fortification is available in 1/48 from All Fronts Armor Depot ( http://afad.homestead.com/ ) and in 1/72 from Leva Productions (http://www.geocities.com/levaproductions/levamain.html)).
A. 1 Panther turret, 1/48 (www.quarter-kit.com sells parts and you can get one here.)
B. 1 CD (I like to use the AOL ones as they are free, but any normal sized CD will do)
C. 1 piece 3” wide by 3” long by ¼ inch high Styrofoam. This can be any kind, just so long as it is just smaller then your CD and just larger then your Panther turret.
D. 1 box Hydrocal or similar terrain material (Woodland Scenics)
E. 1-3 selections of turf (www.woodlandscenics.com or any local hobby store has this stuff.)
F. A selection of Clump-Foliage, Underbrush, or Bushes again from Woodland Scenics. Lichen will work too.
G. White Glue.
H. Felt marker or pin or a pencil for marking.
I. A hacksaw or other cutting tool that can cut through iron.
J. Paint. Old concrete color and the normal German camo colors, plus a black wash/ink and foliage (or green Ork colored) paint (I use Seminole green from the local craft store). Acrylic paints are recommended.
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