StuG III Ausf. G May 1943 Production mit Schuerzen - Smart Kit

Dragon, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

FirstLook

Believe it or not, this is the 12th DML release of a Sturmegescheutz III Ausf. G vehicle. This time it has some changes to the basic body work from the early production variant and also comes with a set of DS Plastic tracks vice the single-link Magic Track of past kits.

As before, this kit provides an “earlier production” – e.g. welded mantelet/recoil cover vice the later “Saukopf” mantelet – version of the Ausf. G. It uses individual torsion bars and road wheel arms as well as all of the external details on the lower hull such as shocks and bump stops. Each idler wheel consists of nine parts with two three-piece brass inserts between the plastic castings; the directions still read for the first release of the kit with one piece rings, however. All wheels are detailed to the point of having the rubber tire manufacturer’s data readable!

The brass is provided only for those bits where plastic cannot do the job, such as the aforementioned wheel rims and the air intake and exhaust grilles on the engine deck plus some non-slip gridding. All fender details are separate and go on in subassemblies. In point of fact, most of this model consists of subassemblies, which is how it gets its tremendous level of details.

The kit comes with a high level of interior parts, including the gun, commander’s cupola assembly, floor, and the radios and stowage racks for various bits on each side of the casemate.

Likewise the engine deck consists of several subassemblies combined to form the deck. Note that every hatch on this vehicle can be opened for display of the interior, but there is no engine or transmission provided.

Final assembly again has a number of different modules combined into one final assembly – lower hull, fenders, engine deck, interior, gun barrel, casemate, and tracks. Oddly enough, while the radios and antenna bases are supplied, no comment is made about the antennas for them!

Anyone who has done any of the other DML kits with “schuerzen” will recognize the concept of using styrene hangers and etched nickel plates, and this kit has the same options with it. There are two angled end pieces and two overlapping center sections provided for each side of the vehicle.

The kit does not come with any “zimmerit” which photos show applied to vehicles just like this one, and it will disappoint more than a few modelers. It now comes with the single piece DS Plastic runs vice the single link “Magic Tracks”. Modelers seem to fall into one of the two camps about tracks; it is a shame DML doesn’t simply provide BOTH types with kits like this to give modelers the option and finally put an end to the naysayers of either option!

Technical advice for the kit is credited to Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Only two different finishing options and a targeted Cartograf decal sheet are provided: SS Pz.Rgt. Totenkopf, SS Pz.Gren.Div “Totenkopf”, Kursk 1943 (green over sand, white crosses and tactical insignia); and Pz.Abt. 215, 15th Pz.Gren.Div., Sicily 1943 (sand overall, no markings).

Overall, this is another version but raises the question of how many StuG III kits are really needed?

Sprue Layout:

A 61x2 Wheels and torsion bars (7 mini-sprues connected)
B 48 Road wheel arms and lower hull details
C 31 Casemate and fenders
D 31 Basic upper hull details
E 34 Interior and radio sets
F 16 Gun barrel and mantelet
F 18 StuG III schurtzen hangers
G 15 OVM and light components
G 55 Fender and upper hull details
G 24 OVM and hull details
H 1 Lower hull pan
J 13 Clear styrene
L 12 StuG III Ausf. G engine deck, upper and lower glacis
L 1 DS Plastic Track Run - Left
R 1 DS Plastic Track Run - Right
Z 1 Twisted steel wire
MA 28 Etched brass
MB 12 Etched nickel

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.