Because of its many advanced and innovative features, the World War II German Panzerkampfwagen V, known as the Panther tank, is still considered by many ordnance experts as a weaponry masterpiece. Several improvements were suggested following its initial employment, resulting in the Panther Type G, which began to appear in spring 1944. Major improvements consisted of additional side armor slope angles and simplified assembly refinements for mass production. The powerplant of the Type G Panther was a Maybach HL230-P30, V-12 cylinder, watercooled engine producing 700 horsepower. In order to further enhance productivity and compensate for the lack of raw materials, a handful of trial production Panthers were mounted with steelwheels for testing pruposes. These were steel rimmed wheels replacing the conventional rubber rims, and were insulated from the hubs by two rubber rings clamped between disc-shaped pressings. The steel-wheeled Panther Type G's were very rarely seen during combat.
 | This plastic model kit requires plastic cement and paint for assembly, and they are sold separately. |