Review

This offering from MiniArt arrives in a cardboard tray with a separate card lid. Inside is a single plastic bag containing all of the model parts and another bag inside that containing the clear parts and photo etch. MiniArt has released a good number of the Stug family so far, and this one would have been classed as an assault gun version to attack hard points, rather than attacking enemy armour. 

MiniArt must have had good success with this line, as they just keep coming one after another, and I must say that for 1/72nd scale the detail provided is very pleasing. The body of the vehicle is provided in a number of flat panels which does mean that you have to be careful to correctly place and orientate the various pieces. What MiniArt has done by tackling this as a flat pack kit is make it easy for themselves to mix and match sprues to provide lots of different vehicles. It also means that the moulded on detail is of a very high standard. 

Moving away from the body shell, and looking at the wheels and suspension, the suspension arms are moulded as part of the side panels, and so set for  a flat level surface. Wheel detail for the road, return and idler are all very well detailed and should please everyone who is a fan of this scale. The drive wheel itself, is made up of 3 separate cogs, giving you 2 options for the finish. This highly detailed suspension system for the scale and is further enhanced via the tracks which are link and length, with a natural track sag moulded into the top track runs. The track guards have especially nice detail on both faces, rather than the underside being a “that will do” solution. 

The casemate is again made with flat panels, with the exception of where the main gun protrudes. There is no interior detail provided, and so if you have any upper access points open you need to consider how you are going to fill them - as this is an option on this release. Some of the tools present are provided moulded on, but have been tackled in a way that as long as care is taken when painting, a wash will make them pop and difficult to tell that they are moulded on. The main gun is moulded with a front and rear half, and so easily cleaned up. 

The MG 34 provided for the loader’s hatch is particularly nicely detailed and is provided with a seperate drum magazine. The tow lines, need to be partially scratched as MiniArt has provided the eyes but not the cable. The Schürzen hangers are made up of a number of parts, and will I feel take a lot of care to assemble and add to the model. The Schürzen plates themselves, have been provided in photo etch and this does provide the modeller with a very pleasing potential result. I was especially pleased to see the grills for the engine deck also supplied in photo etch. 

MiniArt has provided 4 finishing options for this release:

Unidentified Unit. Eastern Front, Autumn 1943

Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front, Autumn 1943

Stug.Abt.237. Eastern Front, ELNY, Autumn 1943

Stug.Abt.276. Eastern Front, Autumn 1943

If you have a steady hand and a good eye this is another great edition to MiniArt’s set of Stug models, and if favourably photographed will be hard to tell it's 1/72nd scale.