Commander Cupola for Panther Ausf. D
Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. D Commanders Cupola

This smallscale aftermarket commander cupola set is designed to replace and upgrade the cupola of the Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. D Panther tank. This is the initial production Panther that would be produced in 1943 and would have served at Kursk. I would use this cupola on the veteran Revell Panther D kit or the Zvezda and Dragon Panther D kits for example, or perhaps to backdate the old ESCI Panther Ausf. A kit to a Panther D?

The OKB Grigorov set consists of four cast resin drum shaped cupolas and an etched brass fret with cupola hatch and fittings. Like other OKB detail sets I have it is all packed in a small ziplock bag. This shape of the cupola has also been referred to as a dustbin cupola because of its shape. The casting quality is excellent, like other OKB sets I have.

The Armory Cupola set consists of one cast drum cupola in a pale gray resin with a fret of etched brass parts.

In the above photo we see the dark gray resin OKB cupolas on their pour plugs and the etched brass fret with the hatches. This type of hatch lifted straight up and then swung to the side. Notice the small hole in the ring of the cupola for the rod that lifts up the cupola (OKB does not supply the rod which can be made out of brass wire). Decent vision block detail is seen on the inside of the cupola.

At upper right is the Panther D drum cupola with quality that appears to be equal to the OKB cupola. The Armory piece has had the pour plug already removed and is ready to use without any clean-up work. The Armory cupola also includes the vision block detail on the inside.

At lower right is the amber color injection molded plastic cupola from Revell’s Panther Ausf. D kit. This cupola is too conical shape and the vision ports are much too large. There is no real interior detail.

Another, less expensive, option is to scratch build a Panther D commander’s cupola using styrene tubing such as in my Revell Panther Ausf. D model above. (This 1/72 scale Panther model was stolen at an AMPS model competition many years ago, I would very much like it returned.)

Armory Models Group gives us excellent instructions

I appear to have gotten a bad photocopy of the OKB instructions in that they are too light and faded but are adequate.

Wash all the parts with detergent and warm water to remove any molding lubricants. Assemble carefully with Cyanoacrylate (Super) glue.

This accessory was purchased by the modeler.

Article Last Updated: 01 November 2020