StuG III Ausf. G Dec. 1943 Production - Smart Kit

Dragon Models Limited ‘39-‘45 Series, 1/35 Scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

FirstLook

Once again, as with the DML Tiger and Panther kits, it is time for “Mouseketeer Roll Call of the kits produced by DML of just the StuG III Ausf. G variant:

6229 cyber-hobby.com - StuG III Ausf. G with Deep Wading Muffler (2008)
6320 StuG III Ausf. G Early Production - Smart Kit (2008)
6365 StuG III Ausf. G Early Production w/Schurtzen - Smart Kit (2009)
6412 cyber-hobby.com - StuG III Ausf. G May 1944 Mid-Late Production - Smart Kit (2010)
6417 StuG III Ausf. G “Georg Bose” DX 07 Special Kit (2007)
6607 cyber-hobby.com - StuG III Ausf. G Initial Production - Smart Kit (2010)
6658 cyber-hobby.com - StuG III Ausf. G “Black Knights” Comic Version (2010)

This latest kit provides an Ausf. G without “zimmerit” paste coating, both a welded and a “Saukopf” mantlet, a new set of solid cast return rollers, new driver faces, and new fenders and hull details. But from comments on the Internet it seems to be that it should have had zimmerit factory installed for the date it was built and also not come with the “Saukopf” mantlet as that was (according to the only source I saw that noted it) not available until April 1944 and then only from Alkett. I leave it to those wiser than I on StuG III models to figure out what DML was trying to produce.

It uses most of the past sprues Panzer III and StuG fans are familiar with, such as the seven-in-one wheel sprue, lower hull and driveline fittings, and the long 7.5 cm interior parts.

The same 20-piece etched brass fret is included with the wheel rims and the air intake and exhaust grilles on the engine deck plus some non-slip gridding. It also comes with the styrene mounts and etched nickel schurtzen protective shielding.

Technical assistance was provided by Steven Van Beveren, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Three different finishing options and a targeted Cartograf decal sheet are provided:

• StuG.Kp. 1019, 19th Luftwaffe Felddivision, Ukraine 1944 (sand with green and brown overspray, white 127);

• StuG.Brig. 226, East Prussia 1945 (whitewash over sand, black 1068); and

• Pz.Jg.Abt. 2, 12th Panzer Division, Estonia 1944 (whitewash blotches over sand, black 221).

Overall it seems that with too many trips to the same well DML may have missed the boat on this kit, if the comments by German armor fans and historians are correct. But many modelers have seen this version as the “real deal” StuG III and will probably be happy with it, errors and all.

Sprue Layout:

A 61x2 Wheels and torsion bars (7 mini-sprues connected)
B 48 Road wheel arms and lower hull details
C 29 StuG III - Casemate
D 32 StuG III - upper hull details, applique armor
E 34 StuG III - Interior and radio sets
F 16 StuG III - Gun barrel and early welded mantlet
F 31 StuG III - Saukopf mantlet, schuertzen 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 10 Clear styrene
L 5 StuG III Late - fenders, lower hull front
L 4 StuG III Late - engine deck, radiator air intakes
L 8 StuG III Late - upper glacis, trim
K 108 Magic Track - Left
M 108 Magic Track - Right
N 14 StuG III Mid/Late - driver faces, return rollers
P 2 Final drives
Z 1 Twisted steel wire
WC 4 MG34
MA 20 Etched brass
MB 6x2 Etched nickel

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.