Now this looks very interesting, might have to get this one for sure.

But still not a Berge Panther

Why are they calling this a "Bergepanzer", I wonder. The diary of s.Pz.Abt.508 says that a single Tiger was converted to be a "demolition charge layer".

I'd be more interested in this kit if we had more information about the vehicle. We don't have any photos showing it fully assembled, and there are items on it that nobody seems to explain.

David

Apparently one and only one has ever been found, and there are no official records for it. "Berge" was slapped on it because anything that looked even vaguely like a recovery vehicle received that designation by the Allies, but the gear on it is not suitable for that job.

Kind of reminds me of a Dragon paper panzer kit.

It's not a "paper panzer" in that this one single vehicle actually did exist. The problem is not knowing enough about it.
e.g. Rye Field allow us to set the length of the crane arm in their kit. Was it settable? We don't know. We don't have even a single photo to show its length.

David

I've always known it as ladungsleger tiger, which would support the idea it was a demolition vehicle. A google search reveals 3 pictures of it and some drawings.

Still, this will be a fun build for someone like me who isn't a huge fan of the normal tiger.

There are 8 known photos of the original vehicle. In all of those photos it's a wreck and many parts of the crane are missing.

Whatever drawings you are talking about, I don't believe they are original German ones. Therefore they, and the kit, incorporate guesswork and assumptions.

Looking at the photos, I don't agree with Rye Field about how the crane works, and I don't trust the pieces that they invented for it.

David

I just have to ask,why is a Bergepanther seem to be such a holy grail among some armor builders ?
Strange looking vehicle,not so many of them made,is it for dios ? Just not seeing the fascination,No knock here,just curious.

David -
I know it's not a paper panzer, it's just that the kit reminds me of the one-off or prototype kits Dragon puts out instead of using the plastic for magic tracks in their other new kits.