In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
Bergepanzer Tiger (P)
Kit no. 6226
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2005
Out of production.
I payed $35.20 for my kit at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2005
Out of production.
I payed $35.20 for my kit at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Bergepanzer Tiger (P) was a recovery tank based on the failed Porsche Tiger. After the failure of the Tiger (P), it was decided to use 91 of the 100 armoured hulls to produce tank hunters (the 'Ferdinand'). This left nine spare. Of these three were converted into recovery tanks in August-September 1943.
The chassis was modified in a similar way to the Ferdinand. The unreliable Porsche engines were replaced with Maybach HL 120 engines, which were mounted in the center of the tank (on the Tiger (P) they were at the rear). The original superstructure was extended to the rear, and a new raised superstructure was added at the back, covering about the rear third of the vehicle. A ball mount for a 7.92mm MG34 was placed in the new superstructure. Recovery equipment was limited to a small derrick crane, rams and timber beams. The Bergepanzer Tiger (P) went to schwere Panzerabteilung 501, one of the original Tiger I units.
The Bergepanzer Tiger (P) was a recovery tank based on the failed Porsche Tiger. After the failure of the Tiger (P), it was decided to use 91 of the 100 armoured hulls to produce tank hunters (the 'Ferdinand'). This left nine spare. Of these three were converted into recovery tanks in August-September 1943.
The chassis was modified in a similar way to the Ferdinand. The unreliable Porsche engines were replaced with Maybach HL 120 engines, which were mounted in the center of the tank (on the Tiger (P) they were at the rear). The original superstructure was extended to the rear, and a new raised superstructure was added at the back, covering about the rear third of the vehicle. A ball mount for a 7.92mm MG34 was placed in the new superstructure. Recovery equipment was limited to a small derrick crane, rams and timber beams. The Bergepanzer Tiger (P) went to schwere Panzerabteilung 501, one of the original Tiger I units.
THE KIT:
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Bergepanzer (P) towing a disabled Nashorn. A crewman is standing in front of the Bergepanzer and holding his arms up directing it. The commander of the Bergepanzer is looking out of the top hatch. Both men wear field-grey uniforms with cloth billed field caps.
The Bergepanzer is in a base of sand-yellow with wide green wave pattern camouflage and the German cross on its sides. The Nashorn is in a camouflage of sand-yellow, red-brown and green wave pattern. It has a small white circle with a winged sword on it, high to the left on its rear.
One side panel shows color illustrations of the Bergepanzer with its crane raised or lowered, followed by illustrations of the 2 PE frets, the 3 lengths of different sized chain, the decal sheet and the tracks.
These are followed by a CAUTION to not use paint and cement near a flame and be in a well ventilated room when you do use them. Kit is for modelers aged 10 and over. It is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts. In multiple languages, including English. Paint and cement are not included.
Copyright is 2005 for the kit. Dragons street address in Hong Kong, China and their web address are provided. Kit was made in Hong Kong.
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Bergepanzer (P) towing a disabled Nashorn. A crewman is standing in front of the Bergepanzer and holding his arms up directing it. The commander of the Bergepanzer is looking out of the top hatch. Both men wear field-grey uniforms with cloth billed field caps.
The Bergepanzer is in a base of sand-yellow with wide green wave pattern camouflage and the German cross on its sides. The Nashorn is in a camouflage of sand-yellow, red-brown and green wave pattern. It has a small white circle with a winged sword on it, high to the left on its rear.
One side panel shows color illustrations of the Bergepanzer with its crane raised or lowered, followed by illustrations of the 2 PE frets, the 3 lengths of different sized chain, the decal sheet and the tracks.
These are followed by a CAUTION to not use paint and cement near a flame and be in a well ventilated room when you do use them. Kit is for modelers aged 10 and over. It is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts. In multiple languages, including English. Paint and cement are not included.
Copyright is 2005 for the kit. Dragons street address in Hong Kong, China and their web address are provided. Kit was made in Hong Kong.
The other side panel shows a line drawing side-view of the Bergepanzer and 14 black and white illustrations of the kits features: Parts to assemble early or late version are provided. Recovery crane recreated in great detail. Derick- crane can be posed in a stowed position. Alternately it can be modeled in the deployed position. Medal chains can roll. Detailed rear-mounted superstructure with MG mount. All hatches and openings can be modeled open or closed. New molds provide authentically detailed upper hull and frontal armor.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit is jam-packed and contains 11 medium-grey trees and loose hull tub, vinyl tracks, a brass and a steel PE fret, 3 lengths of chain in different sizes and the decal sheet in 15 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ½” x 14” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model..
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo or Model Master brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 8 gives a grand total of 16 assembly steps.
Pages 9 and 10 are painting and marking guides.
Page 9 shows a 5-view at the top that is in the cover art scheme, but with no German cross shown.
It was with sPz.JgAbt. 653, Eastern Front, late 1943.
At the bottom is a 4-view of a Bergepanzer in a striped camouflage pattern of sand-yellow,, red-brown and green. It too shows no markings.
It was with the 1st Company, sPz.JgAbt. 653, Italy, early 1944,
Page 10 shows two more 4-views.
The both Bergepanzers are in the same camouflage as the second one on the previous page. Again with no markings shown.
The first one was with the 2nd Company, sPzJgAbt. 653, Italy, Summer 1944.
The second one was with the 3rd Company, sPzJgAbt. 863, Russia, July 1944.
At the bottom of the page Dragon’s European office address in Austria is provided. Copyright for the kit is 2005 and decal application instructions, in 6 languages, including English is supplied.
The kit is jam-packed and contains 11 medium-grey trees and loose hull tub, vinyl tracks, a brass and a steel PE fret, 3 lengths of chain in different sizes and the decal sheet in 15 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ½” x 14” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model..
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo or Model Master brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 8 gives a grand total of 16 assembly steps.
Pages 9 and 10 are painting and marking guides.
Page 9 shows a 5-view at the top that is in the cover art scheme, but with no German cross shown.
It was with sPz.JgAbt. 653, Eastern Front, late 1943.
At the bottom is a 4-view of a Bergepanzer in a striped camouflage pattern of sand-yellow,, red-brown and green. It too shows no markings.
It was with the 1st Company, sPz.JgAbt. 653, Italy, early 1944,
Page 10 shows two more 4-views.
The both Bergepanzers are in the same camouflage as the second one on the previous page. Again with no markings shown.
The first one was with the 2nd Company, sPzJgAbt. 653, Italy, Summer 1944.
The second one was with the 3rd Company, sPzJgAbt. 863, Russia, July 1944.
At the bottom of the page Dragon’s European office address in Austria is provided. Copyright for the kit is 2005 and decal application instructions, in 6 languages, including English is supplied.
Medium-gray A tree holds the drivers/engine compartment roof, rear escape hatch, commanders hatch, etc. (28 parts)
Medium-gray B tree has the hull fenders, stowage boxes, rear plate, etc. (31 parts)
Medium-gray E tree is co-joined with F tree and contains the suspension parts, road wheels drive sprockets, etc. (52 parts)
The lettering jumps to medium-gray G tree and is the one piece lower hull.
Medium-gray tree H and it too has fenders and is co-joined to another tree which holds the upper hull parts. (12 parts)
Medium-gray J tree has the drivers view port front top plate, etc. (3 pieces)
Medium-gray K tree holds another plate with lifting rings, etc. (9 parts)
The one piece hull roof.
Medium-gray L tree has the castmate compartment for the crew, hatches, engine intake parts, stowed crane, etc. (45 parts0
Medium-gray N tree holds the parts for the lifting crane and tackle. (33 parts)
Medium-gray tree Y has parts from the Panzerjager Elephant kit and hold the engine intake covers and the vertical plate for the added M.G., Commander's cupola, etc. (26 pieces)
The one piece tracks are made with Dragon styrene which can be glued and painted
There are two frets for the photo etch parts that hold parts for various straps and fittings. (24 parts)
The kit has a clear sealed bag with 3 different sizes of chains to add to the model.
The decal sheet completes the kit.
The kit is very detailed and not for the amateur modeler or is it a week-end project.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.