Tamiya’s retool program began in the 90s with their reworking of the Tiger I Ausf E (35146), rectifying many of the criticisms of their old version (35055). The new generation tooling was more precise, there was better engineering, more options, and greater accuracy and detail fidelity. Many of their early kits were withdrawn by that time, one of which was their Sturmgeschutz III Ausf G. I had no idea there was such a kit until finding a diorama built around it in an early-90s issue of FineScale Modeler. This vehicle is a significant one, at the end of the Second World War it was by far the most numerous armoured vehicle available to the Germans, as the turretless self-propelled assault guns were much quicker and easier to build than actual tanks.
The retool of the StuG (35197) is an excellent piece of plastic engineering. It pretty much fell together, it was possible to finish the suspension and lower hull details in one evening session, build up the gun and mantlet at the same time, and in no time be moving on to the wheels.
There are plenty of options in this kit. It is supplied with brackets and rails to mount a suite of stand-off armour (included); there are triple smoke grenade launchers for the forward hull to model an Ausf G early production type (they were deleted at the end of 1943 as unneeded); twin radio antenna mounts in case you want to build a command version, which featured extra radio equipment in the starboard side superstructure; the loader’s and commander’s hatches can be posed open, though there is no interior detail and the sponsons are open, a throwback to earlier generations of tooling; the MG-34 shield can be assembled folded down or raised with the gun mounted; an alternate barrel is provided for the 105mm howitzer to build the Sturmhaubitzer 42 variant; and two figures are included, plus a small dog, creating a vignette of a crew in an off-duty moment which is a pleasant reminder of the humanity of the crews who manned these machines of war. The kit provides markings for three vehicles, the 303rd StuG Brigade, Wermacht, Norway, 1943, in overall dark yellow; the 237th StuG Brigade, Wermacht, Russia, 1943, in dark yellow with red-brown disruptive stripes; and a StuH 42, “55” of an unknown unit in Italy, 1944, in overall dark yellow. I used a set of Echelons on mine as I fancied a green mottle camo job.
Tamiya produces a photoetched fret, sold separately, for the engine intakes and exhaust assembly, though a cheaper one is made by Eduard (seen here) and does admirable service, even including a few extra parts.
There are very few fiddly bits on this model. Locating the ventilator, spare track retainer and radio mast mounts on the rear wall of the superstructure calls for use of a template part, you simply draw around a set of indents to create locator marks, then glue the pieces directly on without guides or pegs: that would have required slide-molding. You need to be aware that the main gun mounts to a pedestal inside the hull with a push-fit, so dry-fitting this part invites a permanent fit before you’re ready.
Beyond this, there is really very little to comment on, other than ease of assembly and alignment, the overall pleasing sit of the vehicle on its tracks (which are vinyl, with full double-sided detailing.) There are plenty of aftermarket options for this kit, from photoetched details, including a general PE set by Eduard, gun parts by CzechMaster, probably full PE stand-off protection by one of the AM companies to replace the too-thick and too-regular plastic parts, a zimmerit set made by Cavalier, decals by Bison, Echelon and others, Panzer III indie tracks by Dragon and replacement tracks for Panzer III series vehicles by ModelKasten and Friulmodelismo. You can indulge your taste for AMs as far as you like, but the basic kit builds a very nice, realistic model. There are tiny details you may wish to change depending on how much of a stickler you are, or how much you want to depict a specific point in the production run, such as fender brackets, and fasteners for the removable armour of the superstructure roof.
I finished mine in Tamiya acrylics, with oil wash weathering and Echelon decals as a StuG III early, with smoke grenade launchers but without stand-off armour, single antenna mast, and with hatches closed. There are endless other ways to build this kit, and I have two more in my stash. One day I hope to do one in zimmerit, with winter camo and stand-offs.
As a longtime fan of Tamiya I am delighted with their products new and old, and the sheer ease of construction and precision of engineering one encounters is always worth the price of opening the box. Yes, Dragon’s Ausf. III/G is that bit more accurate and consistent in its fine details; it’s that bit more expensive too, and you pay for what you get, as ever. This little kit is easily one of my favourites, and teamed with the Squadron Signal Sturmgeschutz III in Action and Sturmgeschutz III Walk Around volumes, I rapidly became knowledgeable of this historically important vehicle as I was building it.
Here are some online references for this vehicle: http://www.primeportal.net/the_battlefield_armor.htm
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