Bergepanzer BPz3 Buffalo ARV, 1/35 - Hobby Boss 84565

Hobby Boss’ Bergepanzer BPz3 “Buffalo” ARV model kit 84565 recreates, at a 1/35 scale, a tracked armoured recovery and repair vehicle. Made from injection-molded plastic, this military vehicle kit features the BPz3 Büffel, also known as Buffalo in its international designation.

The Bergepanzer 3 Büffel

The Bergepanzer 3 is an armoured recovery vehicle designed to support mechanized units. Based on the Leopard 2 tank chassis, it is intended in particular for recovering, towing, and providing technical assistance to heavy vehicles. Its distinctive equipment includes a crane, winches, and a support and earthmoving blade—elements that give this subject a particularly interesting silhouette for a workshop, maintenance, or on-site scene.

At a 1/35 scale, this kind of vehicle is an ideal subject for model makers who are drawn to modern support machinery and specialized armoured vehicles. The scale reduces every dimension of the real vehicle by a factor of 35 and enables detailed results suitable for a single display or for inclusion in a military diorama.

Kit contents and features

The Hobby Boss reference 84565 includes more than 610 parts. The set brings together 14 sprues, an upper hull, a lower hull, and rubber tracks. Photo-etched parts and a copper cable are also provided to enhance the reproduction of the recovery equipment.

A decal sheet is included for finishing the model. The main parts help recreate the vehicle’s imposing volumes, its external equipment, and its running gear. The presence of photo-etched parts requires careful handling and the use of suitable tools in order to preserve the fine detail of the components.

Assembly and finishing

Assembling a plastic model of a military vehicle usually involves preparing the parts, removing the injection points, and regularly checking the fit before gluing. Photo-etched elements can be glued using an appropriate adhesive, while the copper cable can be shaped progressively to represent the winching equipment.

Painting is made easier by applying a modelling primer. Painting by sub-assemblies helps, in particular, with the running gear, tracks, hull equipment, and the crane details. Decals should be applied to a smooth, prepared surface; a light weathering can then be used to highlight raised details, mechanical areas, and the operational look of an armoured recovery vehicle.

Technical specifications

• Brand: Hobby Boss
• Reference: 84565
• Type: assembled plastic model kit of a military vehicle
• Subject: Bergepanzer BPz3 “Buffalo” ARV
• Scale: 1/35
• Number of parts: more than 610
• Included items: 14 sprues, upper hull, lower hull, rubber tracks, photo-etched parts, copper cable, and decals
• Length (assembled): 262.8 mm
• Width (assembled): 100.9 mm

Complementary products

Assembly requires cutting and precision tools, plastic model glue, as well as suitable paints. A primer, fine abrasive paper, brushes or an airbrush, decal setting products, and weathering tones can round out the build effectively.