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Post by keavdog on Nov 24, 2023 23:48:18 GMT -5
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Joe Rix
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Post by Joe Rix on Nov 25, 2023 0:31:20 GMT -5
I am long over due for checking in on your work on the Bergepanther. Man! Have you been doing some outstanding work. It's looking great.
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Post by Tojo72 on Nov 25, 2023 8:44:59 GMT -5
Weathering and those accessories look great.
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Post by tcoat on Nov 25, 2023 9:06:42 GMT -5
The accessories look excellent. Those tool boxes are prefect! Did those items come with the kit? Thanks everybody! The wood block, large pulley and jack are all kit parts. Since I won't be using the pulley and for some reason the version I am building doesn't show an externally mounted jack on the instructions they will go into the storage bins in the winch compartment. The tool boxes, hammer, screwdriver and bar wrench came with the old Tamiya Tank Mechanic set with the figures and engine. The wrenches are from an old Plusmodel photoetch tool set I have had around for ages. The helmats are just random ones I had around. Need to dig up some more personal equipment to throw in there. |
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Leon
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Post by Leon on Nov 25, 2023 10:37:44 GMT -5
This is really looking good!
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handiabled
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Post by handiabled on Nov 25, 2023 12:01:55 GMT -5
What a difference with the camo on it! Can't wait to see more of the small details you are adding
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Post by tcoat on Nov 25, 2023 12:14:08 GMT -5
What a difference with the camo on it! Can't wait to see more of the small details you are adding Well here you go then Although recovery is the job it is still a military vehicle and operated by people so here are some personal gear.  I had a good chuckle when I realized the irony of the name of the foil I used to make the shelter quarter!  |
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Post by tcoat on Nov 25, 2023 13:01:40 GMT -5
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Nov 25, 2023 13:35:49 GMT -5
My my my... the poncho is an excellent touch.
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Post by tcoat on Nov 25, 2023 14:33:56 GMT -5
My my my... the poncho is an excellent touch. The ubiquitous poncho/cape/shelter piece/GP tarp has been a mainstay piece of equipment for all temperate country armies since the bronze age and doesn't get the respect it deserves in the modeling world. I try to work one in whenever I reasonably can. It is the only piece of my military issued equipment that I still use on a regular basis almost 50 years after some QM guy handed it to me.  |
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stikpusher
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Post by stikpusher on Nov 25, 2023 15:59:59 GMT -5
I have a Russian rain cape that looks like the one you have there.
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Post by tcoat on Nov 26, 2023 9:47:46 GMT -5
After a total of 9 hours spent removing, sanding and gluing guide horns to links I have completed all links and assembled a solid 4 inches of track.  I would like to have a word with the kit designers! Each and every link has 3 heavy sprue attachment points located right inside the curved section that is supposed to mate with the next link. Although I nipped off as close as I could I still need to use a knife and hand carve each of these spots back to concave.  |
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handiabled
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Post by handiabled on Nov 26, 2023 10:03:38 GMT -5
That poncho looks perfect where it is placed with the other added details. That track looks finger crampingly good! (nice salmon too btw)
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Post by tcoat on Nov 26, 2023 11:28:11 GMT -5
Took a track break so built and stowed the MG42. Could have mounted it but figured it would spend more time stowed than deployed and it makes the perfect finishing touch to the compartment clutter.   |
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Post by deafpanzer on Nov 26, 2023 11:33:24 GMT -5
Got some accessories done up while the weathering dries.  You nailed it... it will bring life to the build for sure! Catching up after few days of absence due to hosting Thanksgiving feast for the family and raking millions of leaves for three days. I can't wait to see it cross the finish line! |
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Post by tcoat on Nov 26, 2023 19:20:40 GMT -5
One side of track assembled.   |
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Post by kyledehart5 on Nov 27, 2023 7:08:08 GMT -5
Took a track break so built and stowed the MG42. Could have mounted it but figured it would spend more time stowed than deployed and it makes the perfect finishing touch to the compartment clutter. This is stunning. All this needs is your pancho shrunken down and draped over the seat. lol. This build continues to be amazing. Those tracks made my fingers hurt just looking at them. |
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Post by tcoat on Nov 27, 2023 9:02:27 GMT -5
This is stunning. All this needs is your pancho shrunken down and draped over the seat. lol. This build continues to be amazing. Those tracks made my fingers hurt just looking at them. Well I did manage to find a better way to snip the links off the sprue that at least reduced the amount of cleanup in the concaves. I switched from my flat sprue cutter to a cuticle cutter that has a finer point and curved cutting surface. This way I could at least get right up in there and start out with a bit of a curve. The next track will go much faster and my fingers will thank me I am sure. Like these.  |
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Post by tcoat on Nov 27, 2023 16:55:21 GMT -5
Saw this part and it wasn't in the instructions so I didn't think anything more about it  Well looky there. That isn't coincidence.  |
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Joe Rix
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Post by Joe Rix on Nov 27, 2023 22:12:36 GMT -5
Outstanding effects you're achieving with all of the accessories. I can relate to equipment scattered out about. Man, you have some work involved with those tracks. It appears you have a solid handle on them though. Righteous patience there my friend.
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Post by tcoat on Nov 28, 2023 7:51:25 GMT -5
Outstanding effects you're achieving with all of the accessories. I can relate to equipment scattered out about. Man, you have some work involved with those tracks. It appears you have a solid handle on them though. Righteous patience there my friend. Apparently the tracks in the other Meng Panther kits are a totally different design with the links attached to the sprues from the side and they actually click together. This would have saved me hours of cleanup and made assembly a breeze. Why only the Berge seems to have these nightmare fodder tracks is beyond me.  |
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Post by chromdome35 on Nov 28, 2023 9:04:49 GMT -5
Your work on this build is simply stellar.
German running gear is a major PIA, having a kit adds additional complexity simply due to the manufacturing process is like salt in a wound.
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Post by tcoat on Nov 28, 2023 9:33:11 GMT -5
Your work on this build is simply stellar. German running gear is a major PIA, having a kit adds additional complexity simply due to the manufacturing process is like salt in a wound. My only real question about the tracks is that from what I have read they recognized and corrected the multipoint connection issue back in the second version of the Panther they released. The Berge was released years after that but they went back to the same thing people complained about and they fixed. Not insurmountable just inconvenient and a bit odd. |
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armornutii
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Mar 18, 2023 17:45:08 GMT -5
Mar 18, 2023 17:45:08 GMT -5
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Post by armornutii on Nov 28, 2023 10:03:50 GMT -5
Oh mmmyyyy that's a nice bergpanther.
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Post by tcoat on Nov 28, 2023 10:19:51 GMT -5
Oh mmmyyyy that's a nice bergpanther.   |
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reserve
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Post by reserve on Nov 29, 2023 7:08:33 GMT -5
Shaping up very well sir. Looking at the track sprues in the one in my stash I'm inclined to cough up for some RFM replacements...the seperate guide teeth feature has always seemed pretty silly to me
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Post by tcoat on Nov 29, 2023 7:44:43 GMT -5
Shaping up very well sir. Looking at the track sprues in the one in my stash I'm inclined to cough up for some RFM replacements...the seperate guide teeth feature has always seemed pretty silly to me The guide teeth were a pain for sure but they turned out to be nothing compared to the attachment points on the links. Pretty much hand carved each individual link to make them fit together. At one point I was so frustrated that I even pulled the rubber band tracks off my 50 year old Tamiya Jag to see if they would fit. They didn't. In the long run pure stubbornness and cheapness prevailed and I won the battle. I would however recommend anybody considering one of these or other older Meng Panther kits (before they went to the side attachments) to get something else. I think they are going to look great once painted up but it is at the expense of many, MANY extra hours of work. |
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Post by deafpanzer on Nov 29, 2023 9:12:43 GMT -5
Good lord! I am glad that you didn't knock out your computer monitor while you are working on the tracks and you WON!!! I bet it felt very good. I am too weak cause I would have ordered an aftermarket set. LOL
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Post by tcoat on Nov 29, 2023 10:55:42 GMT -5
Good lord! I am glad that you didn't knock out your computer monitor while you are working on the tracks and you WON!!! I bet it felt very good. I am too weak cause I would have ordered an aftermarket set. LOL No monitors were harmed in the assembly of these tracks.  |
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Post by deafpanzer on Nov 29, 2023 11:01:56 GMT -5
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