Preview: Das Werk's new StuG III Aus.G (early) in 1/16th scale

Das Werk has supplied modellers of large scale tanks with an interesting gift for Christmas - a 1/16th scale StuG III Ausf.G (early) coming December. We have images of the test kit, the feature set, colours and more in our preview...

Preview: Das Werk's new StuG III Aus. G early in 1/16th scale

StuG III Aus. G early. 

Sturmgeschütz III / Sd.Kfz. 142

From Das Werk

1/16th scale

Item Number: DW16001

All new tooling in this scale

Five marking choices included in the box

Available in Early December

RRP $100 USD

Product Link on the Das Werk Website

The Subject: The StuG III Ausf.G / Sturmgeschütz III / Sd.Kfz. 142

Sturmgeschütz (or StuG) meaning "assault gun" was a simple derivative of the Panzer III signed for infantry support, but it ended as one of the most important German vehicles of WWII. With its low-profile and low cost, it was the real warhorse of the Wehrmacht, shifting from a close support vehicle to a tank-hunter, soldiering without interruption anywhere from North Africa to Europe and Russia. The crews loved it because of its low profile and good armour, and the infantry it was supporting was grateful for its firepower and availability.

The Ausführung G model stood apart from the other production versions. It was, in essence, the main production run for the entire StuG series, with more than 8400 rolling of the line from December 1942 to April 1945, equivalent to the total production of all Panzer IV types combined. 

Simplification and standardization helped to further reduce costs and delays. The main superstructure was simplified. The side sloped armoured boxes were eliminated, and the casemate sides were extended half-through the mudguard width. This extra storage allowed to store even more rounds. The engine/fighting compartment rear wall was strengthened, the ventilation fan relocated further back and appliqué armour was standardized. Furthermore, the upper MG 34 was factory-fitted, protected by a guard for the operator's protection.

A Finnish StuG III Ausf. G (June 1944)

By March 1943, simplification pushed to drop the driver’s periscope. Metal return rollers were also required due to the lack of rubber. The main gun was unchanged, and in June 1944, it received a coaxial MG 34. Another big change was the adoption of a rotating cupola with periscopes, later replaced by a fixed, welded one, because of the sudden shortage of ball bearings. These had shot deflectors generalized by February 1944. Zimmerit anti-magnetic coating was factory applied for just a year, from September 1943 to September 1944.

The kit from Das Werk
Taking the design of the Takom kit ("in co-operation with Takom" as it says on the box art) this kit is already coming from a good design. 

A CAD of the kit showing the only partial interior of the model as supplied.

The kit of course has a few features worth pointing out:

Workable tracks & suspension
Basic interior

Photo-etch parts are in course included with a metal barrel for the main gun.

Five different Marking & Decal Options

The Five colour choices in the kit:

This version of the StuG III Ausf. G in 1/16th scale comes with five different choices in the box:

Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 742, Northern Finland, July 1943

StuG-Brigade 242, Monte Cassino, Italy, February 1944

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 189m, Orel, Russia, May 1943

StuG-Abteilung „Großdeutschland“, Kursk, Russia, July 1943

SS StuG Abt.2 „Das Reich“, Belgorod, July 1943

Photo-etch parts are in course included with a metal barrel for the main gun.

The kit in the flesh:

We also have CAD images of this kit, but they only show what

s represented here in the test shot build. Take note, this IS a test shot build you see here...

You can find out more information on this kit, or where to pre-order it from on the Das Werk Website