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Bergepanzer Tiger (P) A First Look

As mentioned earlier, the kit can be made to represent one of four versions, two early and two late Bergpanzers. If you wish to model one of the late Bergpanzers then it means removing the moulded engine grills from the large hull deck plate L1. Although at first glance it might look a little daunting to the inexperienced modeller, Dragon have made it easy by attaching them with small tabs instead of all around, and complete removal should present no problems. As I also mentioned earlier, the rear MG34 is only present on the two late versions. Apart from the engine grills, the MG and some minor differences all clearly indicated on the instruction sheet, there are no other differences between the early and late versions, apart from the fact that both of the late versions have a coating of zimmerit applied to the lower hull. So, before you begin the build you really have to decide which version you want to represent, early without zimmerit, or late with zimmerit.

The four marking options are:

1. sPzJgAbt 653, Eastern Front, Late 1943. Mainly dark yellow with green streaks. No zimmerit.

2. 1st Company, sPzJgAbt 653, Italy, early 1944. Dark yellow with green and brown round splotches. No zimmerit.

3. 2nd Company, sPzJgAbt 653, Italy, Summer 1944. Dark yellow with brown and green splotches, although the instructions do give the green as being H18, which should be steel. Further references might be need to clarify this. Zimmerit applied.

4. 3rd Company, sPzJgAbt 653, Russia, July 1944. Same scheme as above.

This is one that begs to be built! The diorama possibilities are endless. Dragon seems to be including as standard, things that we used to have to pay extra for. This can only be good for the modeller. As far as the meagre references I have available go, there isn’t much wrong with kit, Dragon have again done their homework and produced a model which must be recommended to all German armour fans out there and anybody else who fancies building something a little different.

A full-build review will follow shortly. Our thanks go out to Dragon Models for providing the review sample.