Ok I am planning to build a late(ish) Bergepanzer 38 / Bergehetzer (the one with the winch and the spad) using Tamyia’s new 1/35 Hetzer. After reading some review’s it appears that what Tamyia produced is a early(ish) Hetzer. I know that I need to do some converting to make it right. I had thought about using Dragon’s kit but after reading the review’s I thought I might get a better kit even with the converting using Tamyia. Below are some of the things that need changing or modifing please let me know if I am missing something or any advice. I really don’t want to spend any money on conversion kits. I am trying to improve my skills and for me the process is more fun (i.e. I like to fiddle with stuff)
Road wheels: I need less rivets/bolts. Can I just shave off the extra or what?
Idler wheel: I read that there where 6 different kinds. Would the early one included with the Tamyia kit be ok? My referrences (which are not many) say “no”.
Small doors on rear for fuel etc.: I need to add them right?
Exhaust: Needs to be the big tube spark arrestor type. Could thin brass tubing do it? I saw the Eduard set for this model had it right but again I don’t want to buy a bunch of extras (I do use them in other things)
Driver vision slot/periscopes: I know these need modifing and I think I have good referrence.
Side Skirts: I know this isn’t the German name but I have trouble with english much less German. I digress. I am going to replace with thin plastic or brass and I know that they need to be bent at the front.
Tool Box(?) on rear left: It needs to solid not perfferated.
Ok I know I am long winded but that is the list so far. Do these sound right? Did I miss something else?
Hmmm, grizz; I don’t have time right now to look up all that stuff but I will show you the differences and similarities between the Tamiya and DML early Hetzers. Also got a pic of that BergeHetzer to share with a rough “99” marking. (?!?!) You can see that it has the later wheels, but unfortunately it’s been pillaged for parts, so you can’t see the muffler type, but the sprockets are visible.
As you can see, the Tamiya DOES have the solid tool box, and the early wheels with many bolts. The muffler is also the older type, whereas the DML also had the early-type muffler and contained a solid box–the one here is from Eduard’s PE set. A correct set of late wheels can be ordered from RJ Products (RJProducts.com); this even has inner bolt detail. There’s alot of PE on the DML build here; the one with the soft-edge “spotted” camo.
I didn’t modify any driver’s vison slots.These idler wheels are both kit-supplied. Compare with your references. I don’t see any reason why you’d need to bend the skirts in, although I have heard that some did have this mod. BTW, the Tamiya skirts are the kit’s; the DML’s are the PE. Hope this helps ya a bit? There’s plenty of info on the web, if you just google “bergehetzer”.
The bergehetzer:
The Tamiya Hetzer:
The Tamiya in the foreground; DML in rear; comparison of rear…
Ok Doog thanks. One small question. Where did you get your refference about the winch. I have panzer Tracks no. 16 but it doesn’t show alot of detail about this winch. In fact I have seen a couple of pics with it slanted and some where it’s straight up and down (mostly other models).
I read the reveiw of the Hetzer, great kit, infact i want to submit that model to the hunters group build, do a diffent type of tank this time, and its my Fav company, Tamiya.
Sorry some times I don’t communicate well. I am reffering to the winch in the Bergehetzer (Late) that is mounted in the crew compartment. I had to go somewhere else to see your pics and I thought I saw a winch in one of your’s. Of course I some times get easily confused.
