Panther Ausf.F Schmalturm, gummispar. Laufrollen

Plastic model kit for an Sd.Kfz. 171 Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf. F featuring the Schmalturm (narrow turret) and rubber-saving road wheels
   Super BlitZ  

• 1:35 scale
• All hatches can be displayed open or closed
• Aluminum gun barrel
• Segmented tracks
• Air filters/engine deck section
• Choice of infrared commander's optics with matching rear stowage bin, or periscope
• Rangefinder apertures can be displayed open or closed
• Various exhaust configurations
• Various rear stowage bins
• Choice of standard road wheels or rubber-saving road wheels
• Clear parts and photo-etched parts included
• Four marking options
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 171) was the planned final development stage of the Panther, intended to replace the earlier Ausf. G and D variants starting in 1945. Its most distinctive feature was the newly developed Schmalturm ("narrow turret") by Daimler-Benz, which offered a smaller turret front and, consequently, improved ballistic protection. The 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 was retained as the main armament. The Schmalturm was also designed to be equipped with a stereoscopic rangefinder as well as improved observation and targeting optics. However, due to the end of the war, regular serial production of the Panther Ausf. F never took place; only a few individual chassis and turret prototypes were completed.

Several modifications to the running gear were planned for the Ausf. F. These included rubber-saving road wheels, designed to significantly reduce the amount of rubber used compared to previous versions. This measure was driven by the growing shortage of natural and synthetic rubber in the German Reich. The aim was to reduce the consumption of strategically important raw materials while simultaneously simplifying the manufacturing process. Depending on the planned production variant, various designs of these road wheels are documented; therefore, when undertaking scale modeling projects, it is important to distinguish clearly between components that were actually tested and features that were merely planned for mass production.

The Ausf. F incorporated many technical components from the Panther Ausf. G, including the Maybach HL 230 P30 V12 gasoline engine (producing approximately 700 hp) and the Maybach transmission. The vehicle's frontal armor remained up to 80 mm thick, while the Panther's characteristic sloped side and rear surfaces were retained. With its combination of heavy armor, high firepower, and the potent 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun, the Panther F would have ranked among the most capable German medium tanks.

The designation "Sd.Kfz. 171" is significant: it refers to the Panther family as a whole, rather than exclusively to the Ausf. F. Consequently, the Panther Ausf. F was classified as an Sd.Kfz. 171, just like the earlier Panther variants. The common modeling designation "Panther Ausf. F with Schmalturm (narrow turret) and rubber-saving road wheels" thus describes a planned late-stage configuration that never reached regular mass production due to the end of the war.