Meng Bergpanther Ausf.A

[deafpanzer]

Sorry to read about the blooper! Often I see many Panthers and panzers missing a piece of skirt so I think it will look cooler with one or two missing. I figure those Bergpanthers really didn't need the skirt since they were not involved at the front so we can say that its skirts were taken to fit other Panthers with greater need for better protection.

[tcoat]

Dec 5, 2023 15:04:47 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Sorry to read about the blooper! Often I see many Panthers and panzers missing a piece of skirt so I think it will look cooler with one or two missing. I figure those Bergpanthers really didn't need the skirt since they were not involved at the front so we can say that its skirts were taken to fit other Panthers with greater need for better protection.

The pictures of the real thing show only a few fitted with skirts. In fact most don't even seem to have the brackets in place. I would like to include them because they are sort of one of those visuals that make a Panther stand out. I do however think a damaged bracket and some missing panels gives some interest and reality to it so off the two will be.

[tcoat]

Sides of box folded out and decking haphazardly thrown aside. Didn't like the photoetch "chains" for the sides so replaced with some fine chain I had on hand.

[Leon]

That is looking really good!

[tcoat]

Oh ya that is the look I was after




Other side with all the skirts works well also.

[tcoat]

Front looks more like a working vehicle now.




Chain has first coat of rust effects. Brushed it all with superglue so it doesn't flop around. Will get more coats of varying rust later.

[stikpusher]

Don't overthink the front... some appropriate mud, dust, and wear will keep in interesting enough...

[chromdome35]

Dec 4, 2023 10:21:05 GMT -5 tcoat said:

So as you can see above I managed to break off one of the brackets for the schürzen. Now I have to decide if I want to glue the piece back on all bent and leave two off or replace it with a spare and hang all the panels.

I vote for leaving it bent and omitting the two panels, but do whatever feels right to you.

[tcoat]

Dec 5, 2023 21:12:41 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Don't overthink the front... some appropriate mud, dust, and wear will keep in interesting enough...

That was my original thoughts but knowing that anything that will make a soldiers job easier will get done I wanted some more personalized "stuff". 
Hard to find period pictures of the front of the things while in actual use because of course most of the interesting action was behind it in the tow. Doesn't help that the majority of the pictures available are either a smiling German with a factory fresh unit, a destroyed one with a bunch of happy GIs on it or a stripped down example in a warehouse or line of other captured vehicles. 

The few actual in action pictures I could find show that many had something or another the slapped on the front.

Hard to see as it is a still from the surrender video but they have tow cables pulled right up to the front and what appears to be foliage tied on.



These guys had a c-hook attached to something leading off to the left.


Here we have the standard spare road wheel up armour. I considered this one for mine as it is at least documented.



Some destroyed jerry cans


Or the magically stuck on shovel!

[deafpanzer]

Now you have to do the 'magically stuck on shovel' camo scheme next! LOL Those were great pics by the way.

[tcoat]

Dec 6, 2023 10:15:26 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Now you have to do the 'magically stuck on shovel' camo scheme next! LOL Those were great pics by the way.

The surrender video of the Bergetaxi is pretty cool.

[deafpanzer]

WOW! That was a great video clip. The very first one had skirts on and it was missing one panel so it works out perfectly for yours!!! Way too cool buddy

[kyledehart5]

Well, it may be bare, but the entire thing is looking terrific.

[tcoat]

Dec 6, 2023 10:15:26 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Now you have to do the 'magically stuck on shovel' camo scheme next! LOL Those were great pics by the way.

Great. Now I have to dig through my stash for the right type of shovel. 

[Tojo72]

Great detail work,coming down the home stretch.

[tcoat]

Dec 7, 2023 9:04:58 GMT -5 Tojo72 said:

Great detail work,coming down the home stretch.

Thanks. I keep thinking I am in the home stretch and then realize there is still a lot to go on it. Yet to be done are more tools, fire extinguisher, tow cables, rigged crane, hoist for said crane, tow bar, figure placement and of course several more layers of dust and dirt for weathering. Couple of laps left yet!

[handiabled]

This is already over the top! Watching for the additions of weathering and all of the topside details your going to add

[tcoat]

OK one more step down. Rest of tools, extinguisher and tow cables completed. Didn't like the cables I made with the bead thread and kit loops as it was the same as the winch cable and I highly doubt both would be identical so I robbed some cables off an old Tamiya Panther I did years ago.






Now onto the crane and tackle.

[kyledehart5]

Stunning. Brilliant work continues, and I have no doubt the crane will be more of the same. Going to be good!

[tcoat]

Crane is assembled but still needs paint and proper mounting. Boy was that an adventure. There is something like 16 parts involved in that "simple" assembly

[hasenpfeffer]

Yeah, this is just frickin' cool. I have almost bought the modern version of this several times... Bergepanzer 2A2, I believe by Takom.

[tcoat]

Dec 8, 2023 20:34:22 GMT -5 hasenpfeffer said:

Yeah, this is just frickin' cool. I have almost bought the modern version of this several times... Bergepanzer 2A2, I believe by Takom.

I have had the the very nice AFV M88A1 ready for paint for about 6 years now. Maybe this will get me to finish it some day.

[tcoat]

So the chain hoist as provided is way WAY undersized for a 1.5 ton capacity. The way they would have you rig it would be a 3:1 mechanical advantage as since the 5 scale feet of what would be about 1/4 inch chain would be brutal to use to lift something about 2 feet the whole works an just go in the spares box. The etch chain disintegrated as soon as I attempted to wrap it around the teeny tiny pulleys anyway.
Luckily had a far more appropriate setup on hand.




LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[tcoat]

Not there yet but couldn't resist playing with the figures.

[deafpanzer]

WOW! It looks more complete now with the crane set up. You are SSSOOO close to the finish line! I guess one of the guys dropped his tool in there?

[Tojo72]

Those re great poses,perfect

[tcoat]

Dec 9, 2023 9:07:52 GMT -5 Tojo72 said:

Those re great poses,perfect

The Tamiya designers were right on the money with those ones. They are actually outstanding considering the state of most figures in the late 80s or early 90s when they came out.




They were good enough that they even scaled them down when they started their 1/48th line.





I will be using every single piece from the set. The ladder and drum will come into play in the diorama stage which is beyond the scope of the GB.

[tcoat]

OK so the scheme means southern France in late summer 1944. This means some easy weathering as it will be more dust and light dirt than mud and and heavy buildup. Appears that most of the soil in the region is limestone based and pretty rocky so it will be fairly light colours. This is handy since I have the perfect craft paints and pigments on hand.

[tcoat]

Flat coat on. Hard to see the difference but the colours are now far more subdued and blended. Did just some very light chipping in the high traffic areas. The glaring overdone sections of damage on the skirts is so that some semblance of it will be seen after I add the dust.

[406 Silverado]

Being an ex-88 recovery vehicle crew member, I have a high appreciation for maintenance vehicles like this one and then again for a well-built maintenance vehicle. This is frickin' good Tony.....really good.