Hi Dave,
I have a Panasonic bread machine and I found it a bit hit and miss. I really couldn't predict if a proper loaf was going to appear at the end of a cycle. I tried placing the ingredients in, in differing orders, using different amounts etc and still never resolved it, and I kept turning out a succession of bricks (which came in handy for rusk for sausages).
I now use it for mixing and proving the bread dough only (I use the pizza setting), and do the remainder of the knocking back, rising and baking in the top and bottom ovens on the Rayburn. Obviously, this takes longer but I now know how long it takes and my bread is now exactly how I want it.
Sorry I can't be of any specific help, but there is another thread on problems with Panasonic machines here...
http://forum.sausagemaking.org/viewtopic.php?t=5063
I don't think it is just Panasonic machines, as I had a Breville one prior to the Panny, and I was just as good at turning out bricks with that one. The problem is that the machine just works to a timer and does not 'see' how the loaf has risen (or not) as you would using the human touch. The Panny does make a great dough mixer though.