This is the scratch-built interior components of my Berge Ausf D/A built by Demag circa 1944
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Very impressive & great weathering too. What’s the back-story to this build? Just checking – 1:25 not 1:35?
Dio, Thanks for the compliments. And yes, sir she is 1/25th scale. That Panther base vehicle is either Tamiya or Academy, been so long I forgot which.
So here is the back story as quickly as I can. 35 years ago I was challenged by a friend to a 1/25th build off. We had a couple of months. My original Berge quite frankly sucked. Back then I had almost ZERO research data on the vehicle and there were no 1/35th scale kits to cheat from. You know get basic layouts and use 1/35th for a mathematical starting point. Well after taking some years to collect research data, I chose to build a vehicle that was produced by Demag and retrofitted by the crew, (you’ll see in the next series of photos). She has the 2.cm cannon, winch and spade. Which not all Berges have, a misnomer put forth by the big model companies. From the original build I kept and modified the spade, 2.cm cannon and transmission, everything else is 100 percent scratch-built.
Cheers
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So here she is in a series of photos. Partly primed, partly ready to fit the upper and lower hulls. Something to keep in mind is that the base kit, a Panther Ausf “A” was originally first produced in 1984. Most people don’t have houses that old. That kit was a part toy like remote control. Actually, an OLD school tank/toy on a cable. So everything every detail good bad or indifferent had to be created to even get semi close to todays impossible unrealistic standards. She is NOT perfect. No model ever is. I have taken some liberty’s but all within research data parameters, i.e. the crew compartment covering system. There actually MANY examples of a wooden and or metal housing for the crew/drivers positions. This of course would not allow the 2.cm cannon. Oh yes, I forgot, not all Berge’s had the 2 thon crane. I upgraded mine to a 4 ton crane.
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So here she is in a series of photos. Partly primed, partly ready to fit the upper and lower hulls. Something to keep in mind is that the base kit, a Panther Ausf “A” was originally first produced in 1984. Most people don’t have houses that old. That kit was a part toy like remote control. Actually, an OLD school tank/toy on a cable. So everything every detail good bad or indifferent had to be created to even get semi close to todays impossible unrealistic standards. She is NOT perfect. No model ever is. I have taken some liberty’s but all within research data parameters, i.e. the crew compartment covering system. There actually MANY examples of a wooden and or metal housing for the crew/drivers positions. This of course would not allow the 2.cm cannon. Oh yes, I forgot, not all Berge’s had the 2 thon crane. I upgraded mine to a 4 ton crane.
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Wow!
Did the spade have a purpose other than to dig in to assist winching?
Spoon, Not really. It was part of the first production batches. Seems that it lost favor by the time late model “A” and “G”’s hit the scene. The FUNNY HA-HA is that the spade made a comeback on the Berge-Hetzer’s. For mine I really liked the challenge of creating one, so I went with it. On mine I added a mid-beam support. If you dig into Berge archives, you’ll no doubt see that the spade tended to buckle and or give way. Seems like simple “real life” fix but alas I think Mann, Daimler
and Demag just didn’t want the extra production hassles.
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Fascinating, plus interesting research, plus the relatively unusual scale. I admire the challenge, and of course the/our crusade to promote scratch-building. What components are you using, mostly Evergreen (or equivalent)? I’m particularly curious about the wood/planking, it looks great.
Dio, again THANK YOU for your compliment. I think that I have posted previously that I am a Shep Paine graduate. I got to work with him way way way back in the mid 80’s. Since then, (to answer your question), I began using everything to scratch. On this build I have used everything BUT the kitchen sink. Plastruct, Evergreen, Brass, Aluminum, Bass wood, SPARE PARTS. The Wench or winch is spares and bits worked together. Shep always spoke of “gizmology”, well I am a firm believer as well. Looking at the build, I see two-part resin, Picture Frame wire, small chain, sheets of plastic. Back in the day, I think Shep said he once used a plastic for sale sign, they were sheet plastic, about .20 thousands and pretty cheap. The MG151/2.cm Cannon is just bits, with and aluminum barrel, (tubing), and the Tamiya gun as a reference point, for scale and layout. As for the wood, I have spent decades, (gawd I am old), adding stowage boxes to my builds. So I have sort of perfected my skill with them. I am including a picture or two from my 1/25 Stalingrad Diorama that I will finish in about 75 years. And THANK GOD for Tamiya’s Weathering Master Sets. Other than that I just love scratching. It’s why I left 1/35th. Even back in the 1990’s it seemed like that “everything” had been done. Speaking as German Armour fan at least. Thank you again for looking in
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Bravo, totally agree. So bass wood, ashamed to confess I’ve never used it but I use balsa for pretty much the same things. Yours possibly has the edge.
You will find Bass wood to be stronger and “more” forgiving when starting out. Balsa is great, but one slip and hells bells throw out the template. And maybe I just preferer the harder woods. As for “edges” I have seen some AWESOME builds, and inspiring builders, me, I just try and get better with each new build. Scratch-building is such a great challenge, BUT it too has is drawbacks. Check out my Sdkfz 263 in 1/25th. SHE is a royal pain, BUT I will complete her oh, in about 90 years
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Last little thing on spare parts. Look at my 1/20th Fledermaus III that I am transforming. It should say it all
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Hallo, not been Here for a long time, but just following anything that catches my interest. So when I saw “ Bergepanther 1/25 scale I was inmidiatly interesten. Sems I’m not the only one building one in that odd scale. And yes, I am also working on it, on and of, for about 30 years or so.
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Being in 1/25 scale had one advantage that, in Poland , there are a number of films that make component for cardboard motels of afv’s. They mostly come in 1/25th scale. So now one can order some equipment right of the shelf like tools and stuff. But the most fun remains indeed making stuff yourself.
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I really like what you are doing on yours. I chose NOT to have Zimmerit mostly because I did NOT want to go down that rabbit hole. I also like you tow bars. I am going with cables. Can I ask what version you are building. As I posted mine is a Demag retrofit. Complete with spade, winch, 2.cm, and crane, which as you know are not standard for every version. Got any shots of your winch???
I am VERY familiar with Panzer Hobby Art, love their resin stuff
Hi, thanks for the compliments. I am trying to build a Demag version with all the wistles and bells. Spade, crane, winch, you name it.
Research is the most difficult. Only the last couple of years there has been a good number of books being published. So now I can work on it more confident. Only big issue I have is the engine. Is probably gonna be a 3d print. Winch is already done. When I have the time I will post some pictures of it.
Most of the interior is also done but not yet painted or glued in place. In this you are way further ahead than me.
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You sir are MUCH braver than I. No engine for me. You are right there are some really great research books/materials out there. keep posting, oh and I forgot to WELCOME YOU. I like having yet another scratch-building 1/25th builder in the mix.
Cheers
Braver? Me? No, just an aversie modelleur, also inspired by Shep Paine. Nowadays almost everything is being made using cottage industry products. And while I am not as productieve as I used to be concerning scratch building, I still prefer it against of the Shelf products. Although I use them when I can…….
This is an overviel of the insiders, including the winch.
Some parts for the inside and outside.
And the wheels. One scratchbuild idler, one drivewheel I tried to modifie. (didn’t work out) and Some roadwheels modified on a lathe tho make them somewhat narrower. And one aftermarket drivewheel (tracks are not glued yet) from a Polish company I can’t remember the name from. Tracks are aftermarket from Panzer Art. By the way, zimmerit is a plastic sheet from Trumpeter. Made for 1/35 scale, but works better for our odd scale.
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