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Building DML’s SiG 33B

Introduction
Throughout World War Two, the German military attempted to mount the Sturm Infantergeschutz (SiG) 33 15cm cannon on several vehicle platforms, one of which was a modified StuG III E. Designated the SiG 33B, 24 of these vehicles were ordered in 1942, 12 of which saw action at Stalingrad and were lost with the other 12 serving on the southern Russian Front throughout 1943. The base kit for this build is DML’s kit #6042 in their ’39-’45 Series together with Model Kasten SK-24 replacement tracks, Aber engine deck grilles, a turned aluminum 15cm barrel from Jordi Rubio, and a turned brass tank variant MG34 barrel from Model Point.

Lower Hull Construction
As one of DML’s older kits, many of the parts trace their heritage to the StuG III B and Pzkpw III kits of various types and ages. Construction began with the road wheels, sprockets, idlers, and return rollers as is customary and due to the multiple sprue attachments, quite a bit of cleanup was necessary along with some flash removal on some wheels depending. The lower hull, consisting of a single-piece tub, required only slight modification in the form of sanding off the molded-on escape hatch outlines and filling in some unnecessary mounting bracket holes for the earlier Pzkpw III vehicle types.

The suspension did require some extensive mold line cleanup on each arm and the instructions continued the history of reversing parts B13 and B14 in the instruction sheet. Some flash was also encountered on the mount arms and test fits with the road wheels revealed that not all of the molded holes on the inner halves were the right diameter to fit properly on the arms, requiring some surgery to correct. I quickly discovered that trying to force them on is not a good idea, snapping off not 1 but 2 arms in the process of dry fitting all the wheels. They were relatively easy to repair but something easily avoided in the first place with just a little care.

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About the Author

About Bill Plunk (wbill76)
FROM: TEXAS, UNITED STATES

Like many, I started out in the hobby as a kid building airplanes to hang from my bedroom cieling. I took a long break from the hobby, returning in 2001 with an interest in armor inspired mostly by online gaming. WW2 armor, 1/35 scale, is my preferred genre with a special taste for the stranger vehi...


Comments

I already made a few post in Bill's original building thread, but hey!, if this can help here's another round of "Wow!, great built" :-) I should also add that this feature is now bookmarked for the day I'll find one at my LHS (or order one from an online store )
FEB 15, 2007 - 02:46 AM
Good on you both, Bill for writing the feature and Jeremy for posting it, nice one fella's.
FEB 15, 2007 - 03:53 AM
Richard, knowing that is far more gratifying than gathering up a bunch of attaboys since that was the main reason for keeping the log in the first place. Mark, thanks for your comments as well!
FEB 15, 2007 - 04:48 AM
Another great article Bill sorry i havent replied sooner but comp layed down on me, its always appreciated even if not always said so. Ron.
FEB 15, 2007 - 11:18 AM
Thanks Ron, glad to hear you're back online, missed you the past couple of days, hope that didn't slow your factory down any?
FEB 16, 2007 - 12:32 AM
Bill, Simply put this is really well done. Everything. I have already printed it off and will use it as a reference for when I build my sIG 33B. Besides really helping in identifying what to look out for in the build, I really learned a lot from your painting and weathering methods. For my sIG I hope to put an engine in it and open up the rear compartments and have two mechanics working on it. It is going into a small Stalingrad diorama. Thanks again, Marty
FEB 19, 2007 - 11:53 PM
Hi Bill, Interesting and useful article and a really excellent looking kit. Not a big fan of German armour but I like this one. Cheers Al
MAR 14, 2007 - 03:29 AM
Thanks Alan, have to agree that it's got a strange appeal to it that's hard to pin down, but the moment I saw it available I scooped it up until the time was right to build it.
MAR 14, 2007 - 04:09 AM
Hi all, Nice article Bill, I'm building this one right now...as well as a few others. Only issue I see is the instructions show a Stanlingrad camo of Dark Yellow, Red Brown, etc...but I would think this should be Panzer Gray? Also, no exhaust deflector? Pretty nice kit...kinda falls together. Paul
MAR 22, 2007 - 09:25 AM
Paul, The instructions do have an error in that regard...the camo scheme and markings they provide in the finishing guide are for a 1943 vehicle, not the Stalingrad vehicles. Of the 24 built, 12 were used in Stalingrad and would've been straight Panzer Gray, the other 12 were delivered later and would've been done in the dunkelgelb/camo scheme. As for the heatshield, the StuG III-E was the basis for these and they didn't have the heatshield fitted.
MAR 22, 2007 - 10:07 AM