Bergepanther finishing getting ready for filming

[Phil Woollard]

I will post pics and links to video on youtube on the progress of the Bergepanther , basically she's ready to go but as you guys know it's the finishing that seems to take most of the time.
I have found that the paint i.e base coats are enough with minimal weathering for an aged/period/vintage filter edit for the video (see the Tiger2 firing live rounds, there's not a drop of paint on that KT).

[Phil Woollard]

More paint weathering and edit examples.
The spade on the Berge in my opinion looks the business, this was achieved by priming, undercoat, top coat and weathering washes and then removing randomly with wire wool and thinners paying particular attention to the areas that become more worn with use and the effects of rain, oil and mud stains.It's basically all done in reverse.
Then when the filter edits are applied Bingo! We could be in 1944.

[Phil Woollard]

Here's a simple test video of the Bergepanther towing the badly damaged Tiger1.
It mainly concentrates on the running gear and the metallic clanking and squeaking sounds.

[Christian Steinhauer]

Hi Phil,

nice video

[Phil Woollard]

Thanks Christian, it's more of a study of the way the berge moves when under such a heavy load.
I will need to film maybe 20 plus takes of various angles and experiment with different speeds until I'm happy with the results and then cut it all together for just a couple of mins of footage regards phil

[Gerhard Michel]

WOW! But I wonder a little that under this heavy load there exist no problems with damaging track links! Some of my comrades had such problems even under better driving conditions (with Panther, Jagdpanther and Tiger I) in the last years (and needed a Bergepanther ). This is also a reason fo me to use steel track links on my Jagdpanther as a precaution.

Am I overcautious?

[Armortek]

Gerhard.

There is no issue with the standard ally tracks supplied with the kit. We have conducted numerous exhaustive tests with these tracks and they have been in use with thousands of customers for over ten years. We have pulled a King Tiger sideways using the Bergepanther winch.

The use of steel tracks, does in fact raise a whole new set of issues. These tracks are heavy and cause accelerated wear to the drive sprockets and drive train components. Previous attempts to employ steel tracks on these models have not ended well.

The official Armortek advice is not to use steel track, and if you do, take great care and do so at your own risk.

Mark

[Phil Woollard]

Good points gentlemen, I shall do my upmost to break something just like the units in the field did. My plans are to use the winch when the going gets tough! Then back to towing when the vehicles are on good ground.
I also plan to use the vehicles own tracks laid out over rough/boggy ground to form a road way prior to towing or winching, II don't know of any old movie that exists showing that.
I have recently bought an old style cart in a junk shop to try and replicate the period movie on YouTube which shows a bergepanther crashing into the cart as its in the way whilst the crew tow ....a panther I think down a road at speed, when I'm home I will provide a link to it.
I have so many plans it will keep me busy until spring .........all good wholesome fun for me and entertaining for the forum
Regards Phil.

[Stephen White]

Or we could just enjoy watching Denny driving......

Stephen

[Steve Stuart]

Where are the Bergepanthers when you need them at the events we go to? Perhaps it is something that can be set up to entertain the public.
Steve

[Mark Heaps]

Good points gentlemen, I shall do my upmost to break something just like the units in the field did. My plans are to use the winch when the going gets tough! Then back to towing when the vehicles are on good ground.
I also plan to use the vehicles own tracks laid out over rough/boggy ground to form a road way prior to towing or winching, II don't know of any old movie that exists showing that.

Speaking from experience ( 22 years in REME, a large amount of that time spent supporting tanks ) , the tank crews break a lot of things but not tracks. They "threw" them a few times, ie lifted the track off the sprocket so although the sprocket was turning, the track wasn´t. This was variously attributed to incorrect maintenance ( track adjustment too loose ), failure ( idler wheel sheered off so track tension was lost ), or driver error (incorrect maneuvering for the conditions allowing debris to build up on the sprocket wheel, lifting the track off the teeth). I never saw a track break though and think it would take a mine strike or hit from another weapon for it to happen.
As for recovering a bogged-in vehicle, my experience was you tow / winch it back out the way it went in. We regularly did it within 30 minutes from arriving at the bogged-in tank to driving away.

[Phil Woollard]

The bergepanther at speed, don't blink or you will miss it ............Phil

[David Skeldon]

Hi,

If you need to move a tank you could try this......Whens its finished.




David

[Phil Woollard]

Awesome David !

[David Skeldon]

Thanks Phil.


David