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Built Review
187
StuH Ausf. G
StuG Ausf. G Sturmhaubitze
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by: Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]

Introduction
StuG Ausf. G Sturmhaubitze from Artitec is a 1:87-HO scale resin kit with photo-etch parts. It is item 87.040.

Modelers and historians are well acquainted with the Sturmgeschütz III so I will not present much of a history. The Ausf. G was the most-produced version and many were armed with the powerful 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42.
    Assault guns are an offensive weapon and give the infantry immediate, powerful support through mobility, fire and striking power. - Sturmgeschütz Training Manual.

StuG IIIs were relatively inexpensive and supplanted PzKpfw III production when that tank reached obsolescence. StuGs became increasingly more important to the Wehrmacht as tank losses increased, and StuG crews were credited with some 20,000 tank kills. The 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42 increased its infantry support firepower significantly, as well. I have read that as StuG gunners were trained by the Artillerie, their gunnery was better and StuGs were more popular with the infantry than the panzers.

Now we'll look at the model.

The Kit
Artitec's StuH G is a simple model consisting of five resin pieces and a fret of 17 photo-etched parts:
    Resin
    Hull
    Left and right running gear
    Saukopf mantel and 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze barrel
    Kommander hatch

    P/E
    MG 42
    MG gun shield
    10.5cm Sturmhaubitze barrel lock
    Schürzen armor side skirts (14 parts)

A pair of Balkenkreuz are included.

Casting is crisp. There are no air pocks or other casting flaws. Only a minute amount of excess resin is present - on the bottom of the tracks. I am still amazed at the detail able to be reproduced by resin - the Notek lamp is cast on the hull. The cannon barrel was slightly warped but 20 seconds under hot water and rolling between my fingers straightened it out.

The photo-etched parts are sharply formed with thin brass.

Assembly of the basic StuG is simple and I assembled it without any glue.

Detail
Artitec sculpted a lot of detail into the StuG components. The tracks and road wheels have fine detail. The hull has all components cast on: tow cables, armor plate joints, vision ports, tools. Even the concrete extra armor is molded on in front of the commander's cupola. Even the spare tracks and road wheels are cast on.

StuGs were often heavily loaded with stores and supplies and that gear is also cast onto the rear deck.

Fourteen of 17 p/e parts are Schürzen. That's detail.

I offer the close-up of the MG 42 as its own statement of the detail etched into it.

Instructions & Decals
The instructions are simple - why would they not be?

The decals are dry transfers. Only two Balkenkreuz are included.

Assembly
Minimum clean up was required. The parts fit well. The most challenging assembly was the P/E schürzen brackets and the rails. It was challenging but not difficult. I secured those with CA and attached the schürzen with tacky glue. I also used CA to attach the P/E gun lock and lower hull spare track racks.

The machine gun shield is etched flat with two recesses to easy folding. Be careful bending the sides.

Conclusion
Artitec's StuG G is a crisp and detailed small StuG. It features crisp casting and sharply etched parts. Assemebly was easy for the basic vehicle and the schürzen and mounts were the most challenging items to attach.

Some modelers may object to the extra gear cast on to the rear deck.

Artitec's StuG G is an impressive model in the popular scale of HO-1/87. It should offer modelers of that scale an excellent StuG for their dioramas, wargaming tables, and layouts.

Recommended.

Click here for additional images for this review.

SUMMARY
Highs: Crisp casting and sharply etched parts.
Lows: Some modelers may object to the extra gear cast on to the rear deck.
Verdict: Artitec's StuH G is an impressive model in the popular scale of HO-1/87. It should offer modelers of that scale an excellent StuG for their dioramas, wargaming tables, and layouts.
  Scale: 1:87
  Mfg. ID: 87.040
  Suggested Retail: $20.75, €18,20
  PUBLISHED: Jul 12, 2017
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 90.00%

Our Thanks to Artitec!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Frederick Boucher (JPTRR)
FROM: TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES

I'm a professional pilot with a degree in art. My first model was an AMT semi dump truck. Then Monogram's Lunar Lander right after the lunar landing. Next, Revell's 1/32 Bf-109G...cried havoc and released the dogs of modeling! My interests--if built before 1900, or after 1955, then I proba...

Copyright ©2021 text by Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Very nice details for the 1/87 scale.
JUL 12, 2017 - 02:25 PM
Ho! Ho! Ho! (Small railroaDFER
JUL 13, 2017 - 02:30 AM
Darn! Cap lock and misspelled words...anyways I was trying to say that this a great addition to the railroader world that normally doesn't go in for this kind of cross-over.
JUL 13, 2017 - 02:32 AM
Hi Frank, Ricky, Yes, I am quite impressed. I will have several more reviews coming up soon, including their HO motorcycles, flat car blocking and chains, and Flemish buildings.
JUL 13, 2017 - 02:47 AM
It's been too long but I finally got some modeling time and the StuG got painted. (She's downstairs drying from a gloss coat prior to decals and weathering.) It has been humid and my airbrush spat water out into my paint. I went back and prettied up the camo demarcation edges with dunkelgelb. Not the look I wanted but I like it.
NOV 07, 2017 - 10:42 AM
This StuG is complete (except for darking the inside of the hatches).
DEC 03, 2017 - 09:15 AM
   
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