COBI Panzer V Panther Ausf. D Set 3146

COBI's Panzer V Panther Ausf. D is a 1:35 model of the first production version of the Panther, built from 773 blocks, with one crew figure.

D came before A

German tank versions normally ran in alphabetical order. The Panther did not. Its first production version was the Ausf. D, which entered production in January 1943; the Ausf. A followed later that year, and the last version was the Ausf. G.

The D had been developed under the letter A and was redesignated before production began, and no convincing explanation for the order has ever been found. It confuses collectors to this day.

The D is easy to recognize. It has a straight-sided, drum-shaped commander's cupola, and no ball-mounted machine gun in the hull front: the radio operator fired his machine gun through a narrow flap instead. It was rushed into service and had a troubled debut at Kursk in July 1943.

In the COBI range

Set 3145 is the Jagdpanther on the Panther chassis at this 1:35 scale. Set 2654 is the Panther Ausf. A and set 2655 the Ausf. G at 1:28.

Specifications

Pieces: 773 · Figures: 1 · Scale: 1:35 · Age: 11+