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Forums - Modelling / Kits |
The kits forum is for the discussion of model kits. Typically questions on availability or certain subjects and quality of existing kits are posted here. Short reviews are good here too. |
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| Subject: | Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? |  |
| Date: | Oct 22, 2006 |
| From: | John Martin | |
Glenn
Are you looking for a specific conversion or just an open question? There are only 2 conversions that I am aware of - the comprehensive and thorough On Track Model conversion for the Tamiya G kit and the much simpler Verlinden Bergpanther Update Set (VP 2001). Sovereign may have produced a complete kit but that was a long time ago and before I reentered the hobby.
I attempted to order the former from R&J Enterprises several years ago and never received the set - it was very difficult to obtain and limited in production. It is now out of production. The latter is still available.
If I may be so bold, I am on my third iteration of a Bergepanther and have learned a great deal with each effort. If I were to start again, which I might (for a forth effort), I would begin with the new DML Panther G (No 6268) as this has the interior axles and mountings, plus the articulated wheels. Note that it is essential to have the correct "rake" to the hull, which tilts up when the turret is removed (see any of numerous photos). Or as an alternative, use the interior axle mountings in a DML Panther A or D (Nos 6160, 6164, 6168, 6299). Did I mention this could be a very costly effort in money and time. At present, there is only the VP Update readily available.
Let me briefly review the VP Update. It is not a good omen that the photo on the box is reversed. As most aftermarket products are targeted for a single primary market kit, it is unclear what this update was designed for as it does not fit the Italeri Bergepanther kit (No 285). I will not belabor the problems with that kit but it will be a critical foundation for any Bergepanther effort, principally for the spade with can be scratch-built but with considerable effort. Included with the VP Update is a nice winch. However, no fuel tanks are provided (LEGOs work perfectly) nor mounts for them, no mount for the battery, and most critically, no mount for the rear of the winch which just hangs in the air supported my nothing. Further, the placement of the floor is a little off which makes the mounting of the transmission off and hence the whole drive linkage back to the engine. In all, I rebuilt about 60% of the conversion from scratch, and I freely admit much of this was due to the refitting of using the conversion of the D/A update to fit a G model.
I have attached some photos - note the primed Berge is my second effort not being scrapped and the unpainted one is currently in progress. I failed to mention that the utility box has to be completely scratch built as the Italeri is woefully undersized.
Please advise if I can provide further information.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
John |
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 | Bergepanther conversion kit? - Glenn Bartolotti - Oct 21, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 22, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 22, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 22, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 22, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Glenn Bartolotti - Oct 22, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - John Martin - Oct 22, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - John F. Steinman - Oct 23, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Andy Shaw - Oct 23, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Lawrence Quah - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? [IMG] - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Paul A. Owen - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Glenn Bartolotti - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Bergepanther G Questions - James Duncan - Nov 1, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther G Questions - Rob Williams - Nov 11, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - John Steinman - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Alex Dutt - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - John Martin - Oct 24, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - glenn Bartolotti - Oct 25, 2006 |
| . . . . . . John - Glenn Bartolotti - Oct 25, 2006 |
| . . . Bergepanther Reference Photos [IMG] - Steve Campbell - Oct 25, 2006 |
| . . . . . . ...is this the one that was rebuilt??? - Glenn Bartolotti - Oct 25, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . I really don't know Glenn, sorry :). nt - Steve Campbell - Oct 26, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Paul A. Owen - Oct 26, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Rob Williams - Oct 27, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - John Martin - Oct 27, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Bergepanther conversion kit? - Rob Williams - Oct 28, 2006 |
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