Following the decision to convert the majority of the chassis for the Porsche based design for the Tiger to the Ferdinand, three chassis were used for making bergepanzers. These bergepanzer were used to provide breakdown support to a tank destroyer unit (s. Pz Jaeg. Abt. 653) equipped with the Ferdinands (later renamed Elefant). Rather than having a large superstructure for the 88mm tank gun, the Bergepanzer VI had a small superstructure and a 2 ton jib boon crane. The vehicles first saw frontline use on the Eastern Front in 1943, and were all rebuilt in early 1944. This Dragon kit contains parts to make a Bergepanzer VI either as they were initially built (called an “early” on the kit box) or after they were rebuilt (“late”). During the rebuild, a remote control MG was added to the roof, tracks replaced, zimmerit applied, and engine deck vents replaced in line with the changes seen on the Elefant/Ferdinand. These recovery panzers are also known as Bergetiger (P), Berge- Elefant and Berge-Ferdinand

The Kit’s Contents

This 2005 release is Dragon fourth 1/35 kit based on the PanzerKampfwagen VI (P) chassis and predictably contains a mix of new parts specific to the recovery version and parts from the earlier Elefant, Ferdinand and Tiger (P) for the lower hul, road wheels, sprockets and suspension parts. The kit also includes several chains and two small photo etch frets.

The parts are molded in light gray and have crisp detail and I found the lower hull, suspension and the key superstructure parts mated together cleanly. I did need to trim the positioning plugs on a couple of end pieces for the suspension arms (part F9). The overall standard of the parts, their breakdown and layout of the instructions (b/w line drawings) is high and in line with Dragon’s Elefant/Ferdinand and Panther Ausf A/D kits. Large parts are provided for the one-piece lower hull, the new upper hull, and each of the fenders (1 full length part per side).

The new injection plastic parts are the upper hull (1 large piece), superstructure, new engine deck frame and small parts such as hatches on sprue L and the crane on sprue N. The fenders and a number of other hull details are on sprue H/K from the Tiger (P). These new parts compare favourably to scale plans. One PE fret contains bracket & fastener parts for the crane and jack, and in the case of the jack the option of using plastic parts is also provided.

The crane can be positioned upright with the boom arm in position (hardest option to build), upright but with the boom arm down (easier and captures the effect), or dismantled in a folded down position. When upright a hooks with block and chains can be attached to the crane arm. Another two hooks connected by a chain are used to support the boom arm. The kit includes three lengths of metal chains, which are made from individual links (like in bracelets and necklaces) for use with the boom arm and hook. Two loosely twisted 220mm metal tow cables are also included along with plastic tow eyes.

The kit includes the one-piece tracks, labeled as Dragon styrene, which were first included in the the PanzerKampfwagen VI (P). These tracks replaced the separate link tracks of the Elefant which were that kit’s Achille’s heel (see separate review on Track-Link for specifics). These new tracks have good detail and have the chevrons facing in the correct direction (unlike in the Elefant kit) and fit around the drive sprockets neatly. Overall these new tracks offer improvements in accuracy and ease of use and should meet most modellers requirements. However photos of Bergepanzer Vis and Elefant/Ferdinands indicate that the tracks with the chevrons were added during the rebuild and hence would only be strictly appropriate when the kit is built as ‘late’ (ie rebuild with remote MG). The tracks on the Bergepanzer VI as originally built did not have chevrons. Fruil make workable tracks in versions with and without chevrons for the Ferdinand and Elefant, which also fit this kit.

Those parts borrowed from the Elefant/Ferdinard are crisply detailed, with the road wheels and sprockets being accurate against scale plans and photos. A good number of redundant parts specific to the Elefant are provided (sprue Y). If the Bergepanzer is built as an ‘early’ the spares could be used to convert the Dragon Ferdinard into the Elefant (and you could then have the early tracks on the Bergepanzer VI and the improved Dragon Styrene tracks on the Elefant).

The remote control MG fitted to the rebuilt Bergepanzer is as per the real vehicles borrowed from the Stug III. The shields are provided in both plastic for ease of assembly and PE for those wishing a thinner effect. The MG parts are on sprue ‘a’ from the DML StuG III G late and include plenty of spares including thee roof with loader’s hatches and late style cast mantlet with barrel. These spares would be ideal for modifying the Tamiya StuG III G early into an early 1944 production model.

If the kit is assembled as a ‘late’/rebuilt version, zimmerit should be added if authenticity is required. Photos show the zimmerit had the typical horizontal ridge zimmerit pattern, which can be replicated with putty & a zimmerit applicator tool.

Construction for Different Modellers

The inclusion of plastic parts as an option for most of the PE, and the ability to choose the level of difficulty with the crane allow modelers to choose their level of challenge. For someone seeking a straightforward out of the box project, this kit should be enjoyable as it is well designed and has enough detail to provide a sense of achievement. For others there is the potential to add zimmerit to the ‘late’ version, and to upgrade the tracks, especially for the ‘early’. For those seeking further challenge PE (eg for the fenders) and finer after-market tow cables could be used. Potential also exists for hanging something, such as an engine block, from the crane or including the Bergepanzer in a diorama with a broken down Elefant or Ferdinand.

Decals and Painting

A 35mm x 25mm waterslide decal sheet printed by Catograf is included with three Balkan crosses and three unit emblems for schwere Panzer Jager Abteilung 653 (heavy tank destroyer unit 653) which is a black sword piercing the waves of the Danube River. For both markings only two are used, leaving the third as a spare. The painting and marking guide presents four vehicles of which two, an ‘early’ serving on the Eastern Front and the ‘late’ of the 1st company in Italy have no markings. The decals are for one of the two ‘lates’ that went to Russia in 1944 with ‘653’. Unit histories state that the second company’s Bergepanzer VI served and was loss with Army Group North Ukraine on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1944, and not in Italy as the instructions suggest. The paint schemes shown in the instruction sheet correspond with front line photos of the Bergepanzer and/or other vehicles with ‘653’ at that time.

Recommendation

Dragon’s Bergpanzer Tiger (P) should certainly please the many modelers who have been hoping for it since Dragon first released their Elefant. The overall level of detail and accuracy is high and that the crane has realistic metal chains and is movable certainly adds to the kit’s appeal and potential for dioramas. Definitely recommended.

Thank you to Dragon Models for the review sample.

Review by Neville Lord.

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