|
|
Post by Tobi on Jun 20, 2023 8:28:57 GMT -5
Color is looking good Leon. I'm still undecided whether the gun was fake or functional and the turret fixed or traversable. It seems not too hard to make both happen on this chassis, on the other hand we know of other examples like Bef.Pz.III that were just that way. It was a dummy gun and fixed turret. It started life as a Bergepanther (that is why the kit calls it one) and had no drive rings or any other parts to make a functioning turret. As it was a command vehicle the lack of a gun breech, ammo racks and other associated equipment left loads of room for communication equipment, map tables, etc in the turret. The kit is actually inaccurate with the round opening since the real thing was field converted from an early production Berge with the square opening. It was not built from one of the round opening Berge tugs but from an actual production Bergepanther. The turret was just welded onto a big steel plate to fill the opening. Would think it would have been easier to convert a damaged tank but I guess they just used what they had at hand. The s.Panzerjäger Abt. 653 must have received one of the first simply turretless 10 Bergepanther Ausf. D that came without any other special equipment, if I have interpreted the Abteilungs chronic correctly. The production date and the K.St.N. about new deliveries were some two weeks or so apart, if I recall my research correctly. At that time there were no other Bergepanther variants in existence. You're correct regarding the turret space, on the other hand, the hull of this Bergepanther is empty enough as well and if I have a leftover Panzer IV turret there are chances that there is the upper hull with the skate ring available, too. The emergency hand wheel would be sufficient to traverse the affair a few degrees to both sides in the case there is a need to. These were my thoughts when digging for information about this particular tank. |
|
|
|
Post by deafpanzer on Jun 20, 2023 8:58:02 GMT -5
Leon, nice job getting it painted! I had no idea that the gun may have been a fake. So much to learn here...
|
|
stikpusher
Forum Moderator 
May '23 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: April 2023
Living The Dream
Posts: 4,125 
MSC Staff
|
Post by stikpusher on Jun 20, 2023 10:16:56 GMT -5
Color is looking good Leon. I'm still undecided whether the gun was fake or functional and the turret fixed or traversable. It seems not too hard to make both happen on this chassis, on the other hand we know of other examples like Bef.Pz.III that were just that way. It was a dummy gun and fixed turret. It started life as a Bergepanther (that is why the kit calls it one) and had no drive rings or any other parts to make a functioning turret. As it was a command vehicle the lack of a gun breech, ammo racks and other associated equipment left loads of room for communication equipment, map tables, etc in the turret. The kit is actually inaccurate with the round opening since the real thing was field converted from an early production Berge with the square opening. It was not built from one of the round opening Berge tugs but from an actual production Bergepanther. The turret was just welded onto a big steel plate to fill the opening. Would think it would have been easier to convert a damaged tank but I guess they just used what they had at hand. Ahhhh... now I see (said the blind man). This wouldn't happen to be one of the several types one off vehicles used by Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 653 now would it? |
|
|
|
Post by tcoat on Jun 20, 2023 10:29:30 GMT -5
It was a dummy gun and fixed turret. It started life as a Bergepanther (that is why the kit calls it one) and had no drive rings or any other parts to make a functioning turret. As it was a command vehicle the lack of a gun breech, ammo racks and other associated equipment left loads of room for communication equipment, map tables, etc in the turret. The kit is actually inaccurate with the round opening since the real thing was field converted from an early production Berge with the square opening. It was not built from one of the round opening Berge tugs but from an actual production Bergepanther. The turret was just welded onto a big steel plate to fill the opening. Would think it would have been easier to convert a damaged tank but I guess they just used what they had at hand. The s.Panzerjäger Abt. 653 must have received one of the first simply turretless 10 Bergepanther Ausf. D that came without any other special equipment, if I have interpreted the Abteilungs chronic correctly. The production date and the K.St.N. about new deliveries were some two weeks or so apart, if I recall my research correctly. At that time there were no other Bergepanther variants in existence. You're correct regarding the turret space, on the other hand, the hull of this Bergepanther is empty enough as well and if I have a leftover Panzer IV turret there are chances that there is the upper hull with the skate ring available, too. The emergency hand wheel would be sufficient to traverse the affair a few degrees to both sides in the case there is a need to. These were my thoughts when digging for information about this particular tank. It seems to be very well documented that it was an early Berge (one of the first 12 built) and that the turret was fixed. The Bergepanther was useless to them as a recovery vehicle since it couldn't even budge the 184s they were intended to service. They had to get the Berge Tiger to deal with them.  As it was a field modification I doubt they would have the resources to build even a hand traversed turret. No real need to traverse it anyway as it would have worked in the rear of the "Elefants" it was built to support. Although the unit did seem to get very creative with things since they also built a Flakpanzer and munitions carriers out of a T-34s. These dude were resourceful if nothing else. |
|
|
|
Post by tcoat on Jun 20, 2023 10:30:26 GMT -5
It was a dummy gun and fixed turret. It started life as a Bergepanther (that is why the kit calls it one) and had no drive rings or any other parts to make a functioning turret. As it was a command vehicle the lack of a gun breech, ammo racks and other associated equipment left loads of room for communication equipment, map tables, etc in the turret. The kit is actually inaccurate with the round opening since the real thing was field converted from an early production Berge with the square opening. It was not built from one of the round opening Berge tugs but from an actual production Bergepanther. The turret was just welded onto a big steel plate to fill the opening. Would think it would have been easier to convert a damaged tank but I guess they just used what they had at hand. Ahhhh... now I see (said the blind man). This wouldn't happen to be one of the several types one off vehicles used by Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 653 now would it?  |
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Jun 20, 2023 15:35:51 GMT -5
Tobi, thank you!
tcoat, thanks for the info help there! It's kind of hard to explain this tank.
Joe , thank you! I like building the not so ordinary tanks .
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Jun 20, 2023 15:39:56 GMT -5
Andy, thank you buddy!
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Jun 30, 2023 15:57:17 GMT -5
Well guys, hulls and turret are all glued up and about ready to lay down some camo! Have to say the DS tracks went together and painted up nicely. Just need to weather them up a bit.   |
|
Tojo72
Forum Moderator
Sept '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 5,326
Member is Online
MSC Staff
|
Post by Tojo72 on Jun 30, 2023 16:22:59 GMT -5
Very interesting Leon,looking good.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Jun 30, 2023 16:32:34 GMT -5
Thank you Tony!
|
|
stikpusher
Forum Moderator
May '23 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: April 2023
Living The Dream
Posts: 4,125
MSC Staff
|
Post by stikpusher on Jun 30, 2023 16:57:54 GMT -5
Getting better and better! That just looks so funky to see a Mk.IV turret on a Panther hull... something just aint right there... LOL!
|
|
406 Silverado
Global Administrator 
Member since: November 2011
Posts: 10,229
Member is Online
MSC Staff
|
Post by 406 Silverado on Jun 30, 2023 18:14:58 GMT -5
She's up and lookin' like a tank now Leon. Some good assembly work goin' on potna!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Jun 30, 2023 18:49:11 GMT -5
Carlos, i agree with you! That turret make a good low profile for a command tank.
Joe, thanks buddy! Feels good doing some armor again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Aug 20, 2023 9:21:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by chromdome35 on Aug 20, 2023 9:30:02 GMT -5
That's looking very good, are you going to call it done here or add additional weathering?
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Aug 20, 2023 9:33:35 GMT -5
Brian, going to do some weathering and add the decals!
|
|
Tojo72
Forum Moderator
Sept '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 5,326
Member is Online
MSC Staff
|
Post by Tojo72 on Aug 20, 2023 9:43:35 GMT -5
Nice job on the camo Leon
|
|
stikpusher
Forum Moderator
May '23 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: April 2023
Living The Dream
Posts: 4,125
MSC Staff
|
Post by stikpusher on Aug 20, 2023 12:13:24 GMT -5
Taking on final appearance now. You’re almost at the finish line! I like your camo paint work on this.
|
|
Joe Rix
Forum Moderator
Member since: January 2023
Posts: 1,524
MSC Staff
|
Post by Joe Rix on Aug 20, 2023 12:52:37 GMT -5
Oooh! That's looking right nice Leon. Sweet job at painting the camo on there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Aug 20, 2023 13:31:35 GMT -5
Tony, Carlos, Joe thanks guys! It's coming together now.
|
|
|
|
Post by deafpanzer on Aug 20, 2023 13:39:32 GMT -5
SWEET! Weathering will bring the camo paint nicely. I think it is healthy to have more than one hobby that you can rotate to keep yourself busy and motivated. Meeting you the show was one of the highlights after so many years!
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Aug 20, 2023 16:52:58 GMT -5
Andy, thank you buddy! Meeting you and getting to hang out with all the guys is something I'll never forget. Hoping we can meet again sometime.  |
|
reserve
Senior Member
Member since: July 2012
Si vis pacem para bellum
Posts: 2,372
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
Jul 11, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -5
|
Post by reserve on Aug 20, 2023 17:13:14 GMT -5
Sharp!! A pinwash and some dirt can only improve an already excellent model
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Aug 20, 2023 17:37:22 GMT -5
Thank you Mark!
|
|
kyledehart5
Forum Moderator
Dec '23 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: July 2023
Posts: 7,107
Member is Online
MSC Staff
|
Post by kyledehart5 on Aug 21, 2023 3:56:15 GMT -5
Great looking camo!! Can’t wait to see it with a bit of weathering.
|
|
|
|
Post by hasenpfeffer on Aug 21, 2023 9:23:46 GMT -5
Cool! Looking good, Leon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon on Aug 21, 2023 15:32:56 GMT -5
Kyle, Dave thanks guys! Going to do a gloss coat tonight and hopefully it will be dry enough to do some weathering this weekend.
|
|
Tojo72
Forum Moderator
Sept '24 Showcased Model Awarded
Member since: November 2012
Posts: 5,326
Member is Online
MSC Staff
|
Post by Tojo72 on Dec 8, 2023 8:17:30 GMT -5
Leon,you made it pretty far on this one,is it going to make the finish line? Extra time is available if needed.
|
|
|
|
Post by hasenpfeffer on Dec 8, 2023 20:49:10 GMT -5
Leon, would love to see you finish this. But no pressure.
|
|
