Jeff congrats on the Panther. It is the best German IR battle tank by far. I have about 5 books you can borrow including the Jentz/Doyle book and the Spielberger book, which is superb. Don't forget I still have your Stug book. I will finish it soon. I will compile list for you of Panther reference books in my library.

You will love the Panther build. It is a great runner out of the box. The old issue with the tight sprocket clearances should be resolved by now. No real need for fancy motors or metal tracks. Bearings are a nice touch, but not all that necessary. Eliminate the two slipper clutches (elevation & traverse), throw the plastic elevation arm away and get or make a metal one, eliminate the loose barrel with a sleeve or two wraps of tape, eliminate the "Y" harness, cover the TUs after you lube them and seal them off from the outside. Watch the clearance for the sponson stowage. They can rub on the underside of the turret overhang during traverse. Call me when you can't find the hard to get parts. You have the number.