This is my Dragon Stug IV (late production) with a few modifications
and Revell link and length tracks.
As a reference, I used Achtung Panzer Stug III and IV and
Wydawnictwo Militaria No 94. The text is all in Polish so I could
only rely on drawings and artwork. Achtung Panzer, on the other
hand, was a mine of information especially on the differences
between the late and early models. One of the differences shown in
both books is the bow towing arrangements. The early vehicle used
bolted or riveted towing eyes on the front plate just inboard of the
tracks like the Panzer IV. The late model, which was based on the
Panzer IV Ausf J, had the side armour plate extended a little
forward to form an eye for towing at either end of the front plate.
In the Dragon Late Stug IV kit, they tell you to cut these side
armour towing eyes off and use the bolt-on ones supplied. I did the
opposite, filled the holes for the bolt-ons and left the side armour
ones as is.
The kit part for the LHS spare road wheel carrier was very chunky
and extended out too far so I discarded it and scratch-built one
from plastic card. Much narrower and more detailed.
The figures are Preiser Panzer Crews.
Paints
are Tamiya enamel lightened with white. After the main camouflage
colours were applied, the model was glossed with Tamiya acrylic
gloss and decals applied. I then went over the whole model with
Tamiya German Grey and a fine brush to make chips and scratches were
I thought the paint would ware and followed with a brown filter
wash. Most of this wash was left on to darken the model and add
shadows to the recesses. The final Dullcote was applied and almost I
literally attacked the model with the new Tamiya Weathering powders
to give that dirty dusty look and high-light the detail.
For about eighteen months now, Dragon's 1/72 scale kits have been
considered co-leaders in the Small Scale Armour field along with
Revell Germany. I say co-leaders because I don't think they (Dragon)
have surpassed Revell yet but they are awfully close. The only thing
holding them back is their DS 100 tracks. They have bettered Revell
in the level of detail and equaled them in moulding quality but the
Braille Scale Modellers want link and length tracks no matter how
good the DS 100s are and they are good. I can understand why Dragon
have persisted with the DS 100s, their pre-built and painted kits
use the same parts as their construction kits and I can't see a
production worker struggling with L&L
tracks. However, why not do both DS 100 and L&L tracks for each kit?
Okay, it will increase the cost of the kit but I think most Braille
Scale modellers would be willing to pay extra for the quality.
Now, having said all of that, it's not the reason I used the Revell
tracks on this kit. Some of Dragon's other 1/72 scale kits based on
the Panzer IV, namely the Nashorn and Hornisse, have lengthened
chassis but Dragon supplied the same length DS 100 track, so we know
they are going to be short. By using the Revell tracks, I now have
two lengths of DS 100s to lengthen the tracks for those models.
The above criticisms aside, these later Dragon Braille Scale kits
are superb. With a level of detail never seen before in 1/72 scale
and parts moulding to rival Tamiya, they almost fall together. The
interior detail in their Sd.Kfz. 251 C has got to be seen to be
believed. Go Dragon. Wow!
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