First time poster, long time lurker - let me know if I'm breaking any rules or stepping on any toes

Finished a 1/35 Cyber-Hobby's "Berge-Panther mit aufgesetztem Panzer IV Befehlspanzer" - a subject dear to my heart, as I've been re-reading "The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653" by Karlheinz Munch.





















The kit is pretty neat (and quickly sold out) - built straight out of the box, added Eduard's photo-etch leaves (Hazel) and Verlinden camo net. I have completed about 10 + models, but this is the first I'm ready to have critiqued by peers.

Stuka;

NICE!

I like your build - very cool. Your build is one of only a very few of the CH kit to appear- the kit is sold-out but not many have it done, yet!

Just for some other reflections and discussion of this beast, you might visit Track-link and find the "Command tank..." thread from March 12+ in the WWII forum. Some nice discussion of various aspects of this conversion and some ideas folks have kicked around.

The camo net and leaves is a neat add-on- though I could not bet on whether those folks ever did that in '44 on the Ostfront (nets and the like seem to have been something more common in the West due to air-attack risks).

I have this kit and have done some of the research towards building it (but not yet fondled plastic!). I may use 16-bolt wheels which might be more appropriate (as the hull may have been a early D hull and not a D2 or early A with the 24-bolt???)

Nice job! Post more!

Huh - that's great... I'll be sure to check it out for my next build (yes, I bought two) - thanks.




Ferdinands of the same Unit used both camo nets and branches at Kursk - mostly against artillery, but aircraft as well. The Berge-Panthers pictures have branches thrown onto the engine hatch and proped up against the sides




I can't really vouch for the accuracy of the kit - little known about this particular vehicle and a lot open to interpretation, depending on which Berge-Panther was converted for this particular role. I believe the very first 2 Berge-Panthers were straight up turretless D Chassis, with latter having additional recovery knickknacks.

I have parted out DML's Panther D Premium, Tamiya's PzIV J turret with Voyager's PE and ICM's early BergePanther for any parts that Cyber-Hobby must have missed). I plan on improving each consecutive build, I suppose

Thanks for the feedback and direction!