Just got this today and thought I will share some pics. I have never own a Taigen brand Panther before, so I am somewhat new to their molding. My comments is only applicable to the Heng Long version which I know quite well. I have however have the Taigen metal lower before (Probably one of the best ones in the product line) and that's part of why I ended up purchasing this particular model. I have also owned the Asiatam F turret which I believe is what the Taigen F metal turret is based on.

Box art.

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Before putting on all the accessories:
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Nice bit of details in including the wiring and also fake hinges that I don't believe is on the Heng Long mold. Also the proper headlight
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This I didn't like. Plastic MG with a clear tube drill thru for the the LED.
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The mantlet is quite a bit different than the Asiatam one as it has texture. Barrel is also slightly longer than Asiatam's. Cheated on the rain guard as it is molded one piece.
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Barrel cleaning housing is very different than Heng Long's
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PE screens part of the stock tank and a cable mount that is no on Heng Long's.
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Commander hatch is identical to the Asiatam version which is also metal.
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The side rail has mount points for skirt which is definitely not on the Heng Long mold.
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looks pretty nice

That' gorgeous, I really like that they put that together.

How are things like those wheels? Are they new to Taigen, bearings and stuff?

Hey Mike, if you are talking about the 2 brackets on the back deck that is not for cables that is for the spare antenna tube that is usually on the side of Panthers. On Jagds and some late Panthers it is mounted across the rear deck but you probably did know that...

Yeah I do, but these brackets are too wide for the tube, and on their promote pics the pull cable ends are lock in there with a pin. There is something like that on Panzer Tracks No.5-4 (Panther II and Panther F) which I am positive that's where Taigen come up with the idea of this F. 

MAN claims that they were going to put metal wheels on but they never produced any. M-B did but none has metal wheels on them. Supposedly all Panzer after April 1945 is going to adapt the metal wheels but we all know what happened after the 30th........

Nice Tank Mike  i always liked them road wheels

Greg, that is the main reason I wanted to get this tank. I love the Panther with the metal wheels and also like the F turret more. A dreamboat combination as far as I am concerned. I even pre-ordered it and I never done that for any tank.

Clark board is in now, and changed the Asiatam recoil to servo recoil.

Mike I want to try that recoil conversion too on a tank or two. The "new" Clark board doesn't support the Asiatam unit anymore (kinda dumb, but whatever), Servo recoil rattles the turret less

I found a perfect way to do it........ I will post some pics. I should have taken pictures when I have it apart........

Clark is still helping me with getting it working. I have couple of them lying around so I will stay try to work it out with him. What do you mean the new Clark doesn't support them ? Its just the same a Tamiya or Heng Long recoil. How can he not support that ?

I'm not sure but it was said in a few places the TK-24(?) will basically be sticking with servo recoil, and delete the Asiatam style. Maybe he changed his mind?

His retail page actually says "YES" under HL / Asiatam support, i guess we should ask

Right..... the reason is that Tk-24 not a redesign but just a mod with upgraded sound chip. He needed the recoil channel for the second MG so you are absolutely right, I won't work with Tamiya, Taigen or Heng LONG recoil.

Strato50 wrote:

Mike I want to try that recoil conversion too on a tank or two. The "new" Clark board doesn't support the Asiatam unit anymore (kinda dumb, but whatever), Servo recoil rattles the turret less

Strato, this is what I did on the F. The usual position of mounting it at the back of the recoil unit doesn't work since there is no room, but I think this is actually a better place. Believe it or not that little corner of the recoil unit fits the 9g mini micro servo perfectly.

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