Bergepanther "A" build log.

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Phil Woollard
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Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

I shall start a new thread for the Bergepanther "A" build, Photos coming shortly of that but for now some swatches.
If any of you guys or girls or gender neutral sorts have any pics of the "A" please feel free to spread the love and post them here :D
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This is what she will look like. A bit grubby and well used me thinks. Maybe even a bit evaluated like this one!
This is what she will look like. A bit grubby and well used me thinks. Maybe even a bit evaluated like this one!
And from the rear. I shall build the later spade with the extensions like this one.
And from the rear. I shall build the later spade with the extensions like this one.
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Phil Woollard
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

It begins again. It wont be very exciting for a while I'm afraid as it's all run of the mill stuff for now.
I think it's important to show the build quality from the start, one day this Bergepanther will be up for sale and this log will be excellent reference material as a picture says a thousand words.

I do hope that in a possible transition to a new forum all our build logs are not lost?...Phil.
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From a pile of parts.
From a pile of parts.
DSC_0671.JPG
The hull is religiously coated in etch primmer.
The hull is religiously coated in etch primmer.
All fixings are finger tight, when its straight, true and square, only then tighten every thing up
All fixings are finger tight, when its straight, true and square, only then tighten every thing up
Heres a tip.
Heres a tip.
Fit the driving light now and run some wire even if you are not planning to fit working lights.
Fit the driving light now and run some wire even if you are not planning to fit working lights.
The bracket fixings are extremely difficult to get to so fix it now.
The bracket fixings are extremely difficult to get to so fix it now.
DSC_0674.JPG
The same goes for the rear reflector
The same goes for the rear reflector
Fit it at this stage or you will be cussing later.
Fit it at this stage or you will be cussing later.
Last edited by Phil Woollard on Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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michael hilton
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by michael hilton »

Morning Phil, I will be following your build, I missed fitting the lights on my Panther, looks very tight in there.... :roll: Assembly of my Panther track next, rubber glove time, regards....Mick

Phil Woollard
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Good morning to you Mick, I follow your build to and love the red oxide, i shall use the same externally on the Berge. Now I'm off to a car show today but expect to see some progress on your tracks when I get back (you will struggle with the washers and split pins with gloves on)! :D :D
Do you see the cross reference between our threads that's cool and economical :D
Regards Phil.
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by michael hilton »

Hello Phil, hope you enjoyed the car show. I did the washing and ironing :wink: and yes I did notice the 'low ball' you bowled. Had a bit of a panic moment with the 'recoil' issue. The dry run/fit was prefect, every part lining up so I used a thin smear of adhesive and went for broke. The following morning I had around half a mil or less overlap between the mantlet bushes which locked the gun barrel tight, an omg moment :roll: . Careful sanding and all is well....smooth as a babies....Mick

Kent Wiik
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Kent Wiik »

Hi Phil,
Phil Woollard wrote:If any of you guys or girls or gender neutral sorts have any pics of the "A" please feel free to spread the love and post them here :D
Ok, here are some from my hard drive. All Ausf A from Demag with that plant horizontal zimmerit pattern.
Please note the first two are the same Berge (Italy) with an interesting field modify steel cabin over the driver/radio operater seats.

Kind regards
Kent
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image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
It´s all in the details!

Phil Woollard
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Well Mick there's nothing like a bit of lubricant, always works for me to! :wink:
Kent you have come up trumps as usual, great pics ( can I have that hard drive when your PC gives up the ghost?)
Looks like I'm gonna need some spare Panther wheels to dress the Berge correctly, do you know of any wheels for sale? All I have is old T1 steel wheels.
Hope to get a bit more done today as it's tipping down again in the UK. :( Maybe I should build boats)..........Regards Phil.
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Robert E Morey
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Robert E Morey »

Kent,
Great pix. I like the field modified driver cabin roof. Similar to some US M36 and M10 for sniper protection. That would be a neat add on the "A" BergP!
Bob

Phil Woollard
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Progress made on the rear plate, I just love all those unique parts for the Bergepanther, although you can hardly see the starter plate I have used M3 studs with nuts on the outside for added detail, the nuts should be castellated but I don't got nun (good modern English that).
The spade saga I will go into later, as I have to manufacture the pointy spade part from 2 mm mild steel plate, I have no bending machine so I'm thinking of contracting that job out as the bends are tight for 2 mm sheet.
Attachments
DSC_0687.JPG
I have no rollers for the wire rope feeder device so will have to turn four off on the lathe.
I have no rollers for the wire rope feeder device so will have to turn four off on the lathe.
I'm so glad that Mark made a spare rear tow bracket as that is a complex shape.
I'm so glad that Mark made a spare rear tow bracket as that is a complex shape.
I have added the starter plate lugs also.
I have added the starter plate lugs also.
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

Well I have bitten the bullet and splashed out £140 quid on a new bending machine, it's heavy duty as far as modelling goes and will bend up to 2 mm mild steel at 500 mm wide so it will cope with most of the Armortek fabrication of mud guards, fenders and brackets.
I haven't done an awful lot of sheet metal work since my apprenticeship many moons ago so I have had to brush up on the dreaded bend allowance tables, there are so many variables in material and bending machines that your best making a few test pieces from off cuts until you have it right.
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Bench mounted bending machine.
Bench mounted bending machine.
The 2 mm test piece, I almost got it first time.
The 2 mm test piece, I almost got it first time.
The test piece in 2 mm mild steel to ascertain the correct bend allowance, I don't want to mess up the pre cut sheet.
The test piece in 2 mm mild steel to ascertain the correct bend allowance, I don't want to mess up the pre cut sheet.
My lovely cardboard spade template copied from the "G" Berge.
My lovely cardboard spade template copied from the "G" Berge.
2 mm sheet bought from ebay.
2 mm sheet bought from ebay.
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Stephen White »

Interesting stuff Phil. I found a 300mm formit from Warco to be really useful for sheet metal work, it has a press brake, sheer press and bending rollers. if you wanted to refresh on metalworking tools and techniques, the place to go is the YouTube channel by Ron Covell. He does a lot of very clever things with sheet. Search on "Ron Covell Metalworking DVDs".

Good to see build threads coming back to the Forum.

Stephen

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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Robert E Morey »

Phil the spade is looking fantastic. Definitely will be heavy duty! Nice work,
Bob

Phil Woollard
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Phil Woollard »

A little progress. I shall mill the 2.5 mm slots into the spade to accept the stiffening braces, that will be a long job as there are around thirty of them.
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Just roughed out with a 2 mm angle grinder ( the ultra thin cutting discs allow a fair degree of accuracy) lots of filing/dressing to do.
Just roughed out with a 2 mm angle grinder ( the ultra thin cutting discs allow a fair degree of accuracy) lots of filing/dressing to do.
Checking for alignment and correct angles, which need tweaking a little.
Checking for alignment and correct angles, which need tweaking a little.
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Steve Norris »

Phil
This spade is a work of art.
Regards
Steve

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Paul Wills
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Re: Bergepanther "A" build log.

Post by Paul Wills »

Hi Phil, nice to see you back at it, I feel like I've missed so much.

Paul.
9 kp pz gren div grossdeutschland Tiger A23, Sd.Kfz. 7 half-track Artl Reg 146 (mot), 16.Infanterie-Division (mot). Flak 36 88mm, Erg-Zug Flak-Stammbatterie Augsburg. King Tiger & Pak41

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