Review

This offering from MiniArt arrives in the usual packaging of a cardboard tray with a separate card lid. Inside, all of the sprues are packed in a single plastic bag. Also in the bag is one that contains the photo etch, decals and clear sprues - a practice that I am not a fan of, and I wish they would go back to having the photo etch in a card envelope. A look over the contents reveals no major issues, other than some flash in some areas. 

The Stug offered in this release is one of the bells and whistles offerings with a full interior. All of the elements are present on the oily and transmission side of the model, with the requirement to just add some wire to end up with a stunning representation. The amount that was wedged into the interior of this vehicle and is considerable and makes you wonder how crews managed to work and live in the cramped space. This particular kit is what I would refer to as a flat-pack kit, and this process has enabled MiniArt to provide a very excellent level of detail on all faces. One issue with the flat-pack design is that it can be very difficult to accurately place the panels around the hull of the model. There are some good guides on this particular model in that the front and rear locations are indicated, the firewall between the engine bay and crew compartment ensures that the sides are at the correct angle and that just leaves you to carefully position the lower seam. 

The interior detail provided in the model, is truly stunning and MiniArt do deserve a clap on the back for a job well done. The breech of the main gun has a good level of detail, which as far as I can tell from on-line images is accurate. I certainly as of yet not heard anyone complaining about the accuracy. Some internal cable routing for items such as the battery and radios is covered within the model, and while the materials for it is not supplied a reasonable effort has been made to help you clearly understand what goes where and how it gets there. The casemate for the model is assembled away from the hull, again using the flat-pack design and you will have to be a little more careful about how you assemble this, as the support structures are not really present. However, in the belief that you will get it right, when the casemate is applied to the chassis I defy anybody not to be impressed with the busy look and the small details that MiniArt has included. 

Due to this model having a full interior, as you would expect MiniArt has provided you with the option of having every panel open that could be open. If you set them in the open position, it is going to cause you problems when it comes to painting, and so I suggest just dry fitting them into the closed position and then opening them up when you have finished the exterior painting. The Commander’s hatch has been provided with clear periscopes and a set of bunny ear scope. The MG42 provided for this release has the correct barrel being a heavy duty barrel without all the cooling vents in it, which as I understand it enabled a more sustained period of fire. 

The wheel stations have been well detailed throughout. However not everybody will be happy to see individual track links throughout. However, while not the easiest method it does provide very accurate representation. The tools have been provided clean, with non-workable clamp detail. The tow cable is not included in the model, but you are provided with the required length of cable and nicely detailed eyes within the kit to attach it to. Phot etch clamp detail has again been provided to secure these. I am pleased to see a single piece barrel for the main gun, with a multi part muzzle brake which is not split in halves. Aerials have been provided in the model, but this is the kind of part that has the risk of breaking during removal from the sprue.

Moving on to the diorama base, I am a little irritated that MiniArt has used a vacuum form base rather than an injection moulded offering which they have proved they are very good at. The base has been provided with a light pillar, which if you want to be clever should not be too difficult to power up with LEDs. You also get a drain in the kerb. The figures which number 7 are a mixed bag as 5 of the figures come from earlier figure sets and are not of the quality that MiniArt provides today, but with a little work they are very usable. The 2 figures shown working on the engine comes form a much more recent release and so are a good quality figure set. These have been provided with tool chests and boxes providing a good selection of spanners, hammers and screwdrivers plus pliers. There are tools for working on a scene not really relevant to this set in the form of picks, hatchets and shovels plus some wood working tools which again would not really be applicable. An anvil has been included, and I look forward to seeing how a modeller would show it being put to good use. Only 1 finishing option has been provided for the model:

Panzer-Abteilung 103 (Pz.StuG Abt.103), 3.Panzergrenadier-Division

So, this offers a lot of plastic and is worth being titled as one of MiniArt's big set releases.