I think it's mainly because there are so many paper panzer versions of panther available that it just seems a crime against justice for a real world version of the panther that had actually been produced in very significant numbers didn't get a good representation.

Hello,

Having seen threads and posts (especially on topics not related to it) asking for when, when, when -- I am curious to know what is the attraction to it? No need to say "because there needs to be a proper, accurate one", I can relate to that. My question essentially: what makes you think, say, wish, whine, gripe that you should build one?

Cheers,

Tat

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Hello,

Having seen threads and posts (especially on topics not related to it) asking for when, when, when -- I am curious to know what is the attraction to it? No need to say "because there needs to be a proper, accurate one", I can relate to that. My question essentially: what makes you think, say, wish, whine, gripe that you should build one?

Cheers,

Tat

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I'd echo much of what's been siad. The Bergepanther has a coolness factor that the M88 just doesn't have for me. The accessibility of the winch is a plus, as it offers a lot of visual interest and opportunities for detailing and weathering (most retrievers have the winch buried deep inside). This may also be why manufacturers shy away though, as the winch is a very complicated assembly to tool, and it wouldn't be cheap, if done right.

Italeri's effort was very half-hearted, and riddled with needless errors, and the buyers were unimpressed. Unfortunately, that can also make the vehicle look like a loser to the bean counters at the cutting edge modeling companies.

But the Bergepanther was a significant vehicle, and it seems crazy that any panzer concept that appeared as a doodle on a cocktail napkin gets offered as a "Wehrmacht 1946" kit, but this critically important support vehicle is ignored.

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I'd echo much of what's been said. The Bergepanther has a coolness factor that the M88 just doesn't have for me. The accessibility of the winch is a plus, as it offers a lot of visual interest and opportunities for detailing and weathering (most retrievers have the winch buried deep inside). This may also be why manufacturers shy away though, as the winch is a very complicated assembly to tool, and it wouldn't be cheap, if done right.

Italeri's effort was very half-hearted, and riddled with needless errors, and the buyers were unimpressed. Unfortunately, that can also make the vehicle look like a loser to the bean counters at the cutting edge modeling companies.

But the Bergepanther was a significant vehicle, and it seems crazy that any panzer concept that appeared as a doodle on a cocktail napkin gets offered as a "Wehrmacht 1946" kit, but this critically important support vehicle is ignored.

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I don't think it is the winch, which can probably be molded in maybe 10 - 12 pieces and one spruce. It's the rest of the details in the driver compartment, the shifting, steering and brake linkages, and the transmission, etc, that if done well, probably need a lot of pieces and some very intricate assembly.

Most exterior only models these days come very close to the best resin model in fidelity. But to match the interior of the best resin bergepanther kit, it would take a very large number of molded plastic and PE parts.

Now, consider what the manufacturer that actually fulfill the wet dreams of so many and issue a Bergepanther, would think when they read the vitriolic comments that are bound to occur unless the kit is flawless in detail, cost and builability? The threshold of dismissing new kits as rubbish is ever lowered, and I've got a feeling many companies just can't be bothered with putting so much effort into a complex recovery vehicle.

.....

But I get the feeling that the model companies are releassing all kinds of weird and one of vehicles so as long as they don't have to release a proper Bergepanther. One is even releassing a Berge hetzer, what's next, a Berge Kubelwagen


Just my two cents

But for a bergepanther the top of the driver compartment is normally open, as is the winch compartment when in working condition, so I expect scrutiny would be much higher.]

Yes, that's true, but believe me, you can't see half as much as you expect. The transmission is only visible for abouth one third of its lenght and only at its rear.
With the winch installed you won't be able to see much of the intiriors floor at all.
Witch doesn't mean that it doesn't belong there in a model but don't hold your breath.

But I get the feeling that the model companies are releassing all kinds of weird and one of vehicles so as long as they don't have to release a proper Bergepanther. One is even releassing a Berge hetzer, what's next, a Berge Kubelwagen


Just my two cents

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I think it's mainly because there are so many paper panzer versions of panther available that it just seems a crime against justice for a real world version of the panther that had actually been produced in very significant numbers didn't get a good representation.

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Right, it's like the holy grail of WWII German vehicles that has not gotten the love of manufacturers yet. Like the Allied vehicle fans cried for an M3 half-track for several decades, Bergepanther gets the moaning. It's sort of a mystery when every single Axis vehicle that ever was produced and was on the blue print as a "paper panzer" get made again and again but Bergepanther has been ignored despite many cries for decades. It has been said for years - "Axis sells but modern doesn't" but weirdly, Bergepanther wasn't one of them - supposedly, it is estimated that 330 of them were produced by the Germans during the war. So with plethora of new kits coming out, the voice is being heard again. Heck, I don't even build that many German subjects but I actually want a Bergepanther b/c it's unique.

Which brings one question to mind: is there enough documentation on the Bergepanther to enable a good, acceptable depiction in scale?