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A bit of artist license on gun barrel markings, black-white gun barrel kill rings decal came  from 1.35th TAMIYA Tiger I kit, it belonged to famed Tiger tank ace Michael Wittmann, I simply mounted it on Panther because it looked "cool" and highlight's barrel length. For Ausf A model, front glacis plate had ball machine port on left, on right are driver armor flap visor and Tarnlampe (head light). German Panther tank - youtube.com/watch?v=rSCk8dHMXUc&feature=related
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Note driver visor was direct line-of-sight, which proved vulnerable either from direct enemy tank shell penetration or enemy snipers using anti-tank rifles (which may not penetrate Panther's armor, but in close range could chip-out interior metal chunks to wound the driver). Later Panther models would eliminate driver visor with hull-top periscope mount. PzKpfw V Panther - www.wargamer.com/Hosted/Panzer/panther.htm
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Inset 1 : Four crew are free-standing and may be placed in any position. (Left to Right) 1) crew holding 75mm tank shell, black-cap indicates armor-piercing round, 2) crew holding captured Soviet PPsh submachine gun and water canister (WW2 Germans frequently used captured enemy equipment due to war shortages), 3) Commander sitting with 10x binoculars between his legs, 4) crew about to receive 75mm tank shell, 5) spare tank shells in transport crates on upper left. Little Girl firing PPsh-41 - youtube.com/watch?v=k233iJXy5tc
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Side turret markings show Runic character OTHALA (allusion to Ancestral Land, hence a Call-To-Action for homeland protection, resiliency, endurance) next to vehicle number 536, used as German 14th Panzer Division insignia. This division had its own unique lineage, formed on August 1940 from 4th Infantry Division as Germany began forming motorized (also written as mechanized) divisions of which Germans only achieved 30% conversion until war's end, its combat history listed below. 14th Panzer Division - www.feldgrau.com/heer14p.html
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1) Yugoslavia campaign April 1941
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2) Ostfront : southern sector Aug 1941 to Dec 1942
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3) Encircled in Stalingrad kessel and destroyed Jan 1943
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4) Reformed in Brittany-France April 1943
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5) New division went back to Ostfront : southern sector and fought in Dnieper Bend battles Dec 1943
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6) Spring/Summer 1944 continuous battles at Kirovograd, Kishinevo, Jassi (Romania) as German engaged in strategic retreat from Ostfront
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7) Refitted in Ukraine Aug 1944 and dispatched to Kurland Sept 1944
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8) Kurland defensive battles around Libau Oct 1944 to April 1945, until war's end and surrender to Soviet forces
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Inset 2 : Front Panther view, showing ballistic armor hull and turret designed to deflect incoming enemy  rounds away from vehicle. Trapezoid design also prevented "Shot Traps" (deflecting enemy rounds into vehicle). Ballistic armor concept originated from German encounters with Soviet T-34 tanks in 1941, of which they were quite impressed by its layout and readily incorporated. T-34 tank - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34
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Note the Tiger I tank was already in the prototype stages, hence retained its block-style appearance as a bonafide Durchburchpanzer (breakthrough tank) for Panzerkeil (armor wedge) doctrines. Tiger I tank - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I
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Netting on front glacis plate from Verlinden aftermarket products, used to break-up vehicle silhouette from its overall "Dirty White" camouflage (color mimicked mist of mud and dirt upon white snow created by heavy traffic). Netting soaked in Elmers Glue + Water, set to contour shape, painted Forest Green, drybrushed in Tan. Wrapping edges also given a dash of superglue to retain its shape. All surfaces were sprayed layer of lusterless Dullcoat as final finish.
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Noted May 1944 Jassi (also written Jassy and Issay) battle in Romania, German successfully defeated major Soviet offensive by 2nd Ukrainian Front (Soviet term for Army Group, in this case consisted of 27th Army and 2nd Tank Army). Of principle importance was battles northwest of Jassi at Targul Frumos, in which elite German Army's GrossDeutschland Panzer Division formed mobile hedge-hog defensives. Nevertheless, Soviets recouped her losses and restarted offensive in Sept 1944. In postwar period US/NATO allies studied this German success in-depth in anticipation of Soviet armor thrust into Western Europe. Axis History Forum Targul Frumos - http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=10353
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Rollover : Initial Panthers had 6 Nebelwurfgeraet (Fog Launcher or Smoke Screen Launcher) firing tubes mount 3 abreast in both turret sides fired electrically from inside the tank. Unfortunately, combat debut reported enemy small arms fire prematurely detonated these launchers, resulting smoke blinded Panther crew and sucked via air intakes inside the tank incapacitating the crew. Hence from Summer 1943, these smoke screen launchers were no longer mounted.
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