ITALERI [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
135
Bergepanther Sd. Kfz. 179
Bergepanther Sd. Kfz. 179 Armed Recovery Vehicle
  • 000138

by: Jerry Jackson [ MILITES-CHRISTI ]

introduction
The Sd. Kfz. 179 Bergepanther is based on the Panther Tank and was developed to furnish tank units with a powerful armored vehicle to recover heavy tanks damaged in combat or having mechanical failures. Furthermore, it was equipped with a heavy duty winch, which was useful for front line field tool shop operations.
"The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II" By Chris Bishop states that the Bergepanther was operated by a crew of 5. Other sources show this number lower, even as low as three; a commander, a driver and a mechanic. My question would be, where do they all ride, there are only two seats!
review
In the store, excitement set in looking at the box art showing the exposed pulleys and steel cables of the winch system, only to be disappointed upon opening the box. I imagined small lengths of steel wire to simulate the cable, but what I found were the pulleys with the cable molded onto them. Not only that, but the pulleys are molded in two sections that have to be glued together. I imagine this will be quite a chore getting them to line up properly and appear correct. Because these pulleys will be a prominent part of the model, I really counted on them looking good. I will attempt the kit parts, but may end up scratch building these pulleys and cables.

Another prominent item of this kit is the gun mounted on the front; the 20mm KwK 38 L/55. Although it may appear small mounted on the front of the Panther chassis, this is definitely a vehicle mounted weapon! This is the same weapon used for the main gun on the reconnaissance light tank Panzerkampfwagen II’s. 20 mm guns were used mainly for aircraft and short-range anti-aircraft weapons but also for small naval craft. Based upon my limited research, the gun depicted in the kit appears accurate with the exception of the scope. I haven't found any reference photo that shows this gun with a scope mounted. It seems a large anti-aircraft cross hair would be more appropriate.

The kit includes a crude engine block. However, it hardly looks like the 650 hp Maybach HL 210 engine that powered the Bergepanther. Luckily it's not viewable with the engine hatch closed since it’s not very accurate.

Upon inspection of the parts trees, most of the ejector pin marks appear to be on the 'underside' of the parts. The skid plate has 4 large ejector pin marks inside which will be hard to remove because of the tight space. If you display the model with the skid plate in the down position, they won't show. However, an option in the instructions is to have the skid plate in the up position, thus revealing these rather nasty blemishes.

The wood grain is molded in where necessary, and the large timber that the Bergepanther commonly carried is also included in styrene. With some careful painting and weathering these items should look the part.
As far as part molding, the 'A' tree looks really good. There seems to be a bit more flash on the 'B' and 'C' trees, but nothing a little extra clean-up time won’t take care of. Some of the parts have really good detail, the rivets and bolts look especially crisp, given the age of the kit.

The hull, both top and bottom, appear to have sufficient detail; portals, rivets, welded seams, etc. There are a few pieces in this kit (see close-up image of the bottom half of the hull) that show blemishes in the molds. However, there is nothing that I can see that can't be easily taken care of.

The kit includes two sprues of tracks, with 6 links and 2 lengths each. The instructions recommend melting the tracks together with a hot metal tool, though I've had success with this type of Italeri tracks using Super Glue and trimming the excess stems.

The instructions appear clear and concise including a paint color recommended for each part. Also included is a small decal sheet.

conclusion
Although out of production, this kit can still be found in various places. I found this at 50% off, a deal I couldn't pass up! While there may be extra work cleaning the flashing and working out the ejector pin marks, this seems to be a good kit. Overall I believe this will make a good build straight from the box. With a little more research, and some after-market detailing this would make a great kit!


****EDIT****
The PE fret shown below is included in the newly released kit by Italeri, image and update provided by Darren Baker.
SUMMARY
Highs: Interesting subject matter will make for a satisfying build. Some of the parts have really good detail, the rivets and bolts look especially crisp. The instructions look clear and concise.
Lows: The two-piece pulleys with molded cables may be difficult to achieve a quality finish. A lot of trimming of flashing and some ejector pin marks to remove.
Verdict: Despite some elbow grease required, this should prove to be a great model.
Percentage Rating
70%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: 285
  Suggested Retail: $14.00
  PUBLISHED: Nov 10, 2008
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 83.75%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 79.68%

Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
About Jerry Jackson (Milites-Christi)
FROM: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

Finding more time lately to build. It's great!

Copyright ©2021 text by Jerry Jackson [ MILITES-CHRISTI ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Having built one of these for my collection,i would say that you DEFINATELY need to get the Verlinden resin update set.This includes a new floor panel showing the suspension and it blows away the winch that comes with the kit.
JUN 24, 2009 - 07:26 AM
Hi I've bought this kit and now I've hit a brick wall with it. I can't get the upper Hull to line up and fit properly with the lower Hull, has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you sort it?
OCT 25, 2016 - 03:06 AM
Did not have any fit problems with mine. In fact those two push plates on the front of the hull; I glued them just to the bottom hull as retainer hooks and did not even have to glue the upper hull on. I just hook it into those two points and then snap it down over the rear engine area. Look for internal details that might be blocking a proper fit.
OCT 25, 2016 - 07:10 PM
I have the Tiger Models Bergepanther conversion for the Dragon Panther. It's sadly no longer in production but it beats the daylights out of the Italeri kit. It's a superb piece of resin engineering.
OCT 25, 2016 - 07:47 PM
There was a thread on here a few months back that used that beautiful Tiger conversion kit to create a Bergepanther but now I cannot seem to find it. Wish the conversion set existed back when I did my Italeri Berge. I ended up buying two of the plastic kits in order to get the necessary parts to correct the winch and then scratch building some parts. (Also added the etch brass detail set as well as individual track links. And I modified the jib crane so it would rotate then added a Tiger Models chain hoist to it.)
OCT 25, 2016 - 07:56 PM
There sure is a lot to correct on this one, starting with the nearly-non-existent driver's compartment and going back to the winch and its many-missing parts. Please, Dragon/Trumpeter/Tamiya/ANYONE! Produce a Bergepanther worthy of the build!
JAN 11, 2017 - 08:19 PM
Given dragon's recent trend towards charging maximum price for little or no new mold work, I doubt dragon would be interested in making all the new molds needed to fill out the hull of a bergepanther. Tamiya has not seemed interested in this sort of specialty vehicles, ever. Only vague hope is Meng would eventually follow their full interior tiger II with a full interior panther, which could then for a stepping stone to a bergepanther. I for one decided to give up on this forlorn hope and get tiger model design's resin kit instead.
JAN 11, 2017 - 09:19 PM
I agree and add that new comers like Meng and Takom are good candidates. Trumpeter is a maybe also. AFV Club probably not either b/c they take a long time to release new products (when they do, they are excellent). Who knows though? Last two years have been full of surprises in this hobby!
JAN 11, 2017 - 10:35 PM
We can but hope (as I have been doing now for years!) - but I won't be holding my breath for a Berge anytime soon. Regards Rob
JAN 12, 2017 - 05:37 AM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • 001514
  • 001416
  • 001316
  • 001220
  • 0011103
  • 001020
  • 000913
  • 000812
  • 000616
  • 000516
  • 000419
  • 000323
  • 000220
ADVERTISEMENT