I haven't build a model in a while, but the bug caught me again and i'll try and write about my progress on a regual bases.
For my first project i have chosen the Italeri box no. 6472 the German Sd. Kfz. 179 aka. Bergepanther.
The contents of the box looks good, there is one photo etched sheet with the MG shield and grills for the engine deck.
The tracks are the usual rubber kind, they look good at first glance, though strangely there are 4 tracks, meaning you'll get 4 connections, and those usually don't look great.
My knife itches... but first...
A bit of history on the Bergepanzer, got this from the net hope no one minds the copy:
On March 29th of 1943, it was decided to produce recovery version of Panther for use in the Panzer-Abteilungen. In June of 1943, MAN produced original 12 prototype series Bergepanthers which were turretless and modified Ausf Ds returned for repairs. Production started in July of 1943 and Panther Ausf A and later Ausf G were used, although production was slow and various modifications were made during the production. Early Bergepanther was armed with 20mm KwK 38 L/55 and later on with twin 7.92mm MG34 or MG42s. Bergepanther was operated by the crew made up of commander, driver and mechanic. It was fitted with a 1.5 ton lifting crane and other recovery/repair equipment (eg. large spade, 40 ton winch etc.), some of it especially designed. Overall, only 347 (240 Ausf A and 107 Ausf G) along with 12 based on Ausf D were produced from June of 1943 to March of 1945. Bergepanthers were produced by Demag(Benrath), Henschel and MAN. Bergepanthers equipped Panther-Abteilungens (starting in August of 1943), schwere Panzer(Tiger)-Abteilungens and schwere Panzer-Jager-Abteilungens (starting in January of 1944) along with some independent recovery and repair units. Some Bergepanthers had their recovery equipment removed and were modified to carry ammunition, designated as Munitionspanzer Panther. Bergepanther was the best recovery vehicle of World War II and after the war, some captured Bergepanthers were used by the French Army until mid 1950s.
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