Bergepanther

[panzerman825]

Like Monty Python use to say...."And now for something completely different." I picked up a Meng "Toon" Panther kit, and wanted to do more than an out of box build. Converting the Panther into the armored recovery vehicle Bergepanther popped into my head.


The lower hull, suspension, and shell of the upper hull are the only kit parts. I scratchbuilt everything else.


The scale of the kit, I guessed, was about 1/48 scale. So I made my figures out of 1/48 scale bodies and 1/35 scale heads. Keeping them with the "Toon" approach.


I used the 1/35 scale Bergepanther by Italeri as my template during the build. Of course I had to play with the proportions due to cartoon nature of the kit.


The two most challenging parts of the project were making the hoist derrick and the anchoring spade. I wish I had used thicker thread for the winch cable. Ooops!!!!


The 20mm canon is one of my favorite parts. I made the gun out of a 1/35 scale, 50cal. machine gun. The tank tools are a combination of kit parts and scratchbuilt items.


There is a 3rd crew member present. The driver's head is barely visible in the photo.

Well, that's it. A fun, if somewhat different, build that I thoroughly enjoyed making. I hope you find it enjoyable too. Thanks for viewing. Happy modeling. Bill
PS: I'm not above a little self promotion, so all of my builds can be seen on my Youtube channel. PanzermansBunker

[Bluefalchion]

No one can say that one is not different. And delightfully so! Thanks for sharing.

[PhilC]

Certainly not my favorite period, but... excellent idea, excellent work and excellent result! I like the weathering of the vehicle, but that's the way you designed your figures to give them a cartoon style that impresses me the most. Congratulations!

[MABO]

Interesting conversion and really a good brushwork on every detail!

[Pocho Azul]

Really nice job, and wonderfully bizarre idea. You made a model that is simultaneously highly realistic and completely unrealistic at the same time.

[Wiking]

Am I more shocked about that yellow ADAC Vehicle (Panther made by MAN) or about PhilC`s updated Avatar ?

MAN:
https://data.motor-talk.de/data/galleri ... 415011.jpg

[Peter]

This reminds me on the "Thunderbirds". Large heads and small bodies.

Excellent built model and figures! I really like it!

[Minuteman]

This is a lovely conversion and an excellent painting job! That extra bright, extra light and totally vivid Dunkelgelb colour seems to fit with the 'not quite real' theme here.

I have to say that I remain very perplexed by the Meng 'Toon' kits...along the lines of "What is the point of them??" But I guess they have a market somewhere.

[PhilC]

Am I more shocked about that yellow ADAC Vehicle (Panther made by MAN) or about PhilC`s updated Avatar ?

Shock, what shock ?

This is the real shock: can you imagine that I really looked like my avatar back in the 80's ?

[Michael Robert]

Hello Panzerman
your Bergepanther is a strange object. Not really my cup of tea for the topic, but the realization is very impressive. I find the association of these different scales brings something special. It has great comic potential or can be used in other expressive ways.
Great to see
Greetings
Michael

[Wiking]

The scratch parts fit very well to this "Panther-doll".

[Wiking]

PhilC wrote:
.... I really looked like my avatar back in the 80's?








"Couch doctor Peter please, an emergency !"

[Kekso]

Yellow is not easy to paint and you did great job.

[T. Dürrschmidt]

I love those Meng toon tanks. I have them all (unbuilt) in my collection. I always asked myself which figures I should use with those tanks...now I know it.

Scratchbuilding is one of the big remaining mysteries of our model hobby for me. All my respect for this.

[Peter]

PhilC wrote:
.... I really looked like my avatar back in the 80's?








"Couch doctor Peter please, an emergency !"

Huh? Who? Me? What is the emergency? A date with the nurse!

[panzerman825]

Thanks to everyone for their kind replies.
As far as the vivid yellow goes.....I believe that is more a byproduct of my photo editor's auto correct button then its real life appearance.
Happy modeling. Bill