The Modelling News: Preview: MiniArt's 72nd scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, April 1943 Alkett Prod

MiniArt's 72nd scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, April 1943 Alkett Prod is their latest small-scale release, promising all that MiniArt detail with a lesser parts count for the modeller. We look at what comes in the kit, the markings & decals in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 72nd scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, April 1943 Alkett Prod

Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, April 1943 Alkett Prod

From MiniArt

Kit No #72106

1/72nd Scale

The kit contains eight marking choices in the box.

Photo-etch & clear parts are included

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The Subject: StuG III Ausf. G, Feb 1943 Alkett Prod.

The Ausführungs G 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. This tremendous effort was due to a complete reorganization (by Albert Speer) of the production, spread between other manufacturers like MIAG (in 1943) and many suppliers. This was done in order to avoid disruptions caused by the increasingly efficient Allied bombing campaigns. It was, of course, further increased by the gradual replacement of the Panzer III with the StuG III on the same production lines.

Some Alkett produced StuG III Ausf.G's - the ones shown in this preview are the subjects covered in this release

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 squared mask.

By March 1943, simplification pushed to drop the driver’s periscope. Metal return rollers were also required due to the lack of rubber. Rubber saving road wheels had been already tested briefly in November 1942, but not adopted.

Alkett Production in 1943

By April & May 1943, Alkett started fitting Schürzen (spaced armoured side skirts) to the tanks, but it was rushed out, and the fixations were later proven inadequate at Kursk (this was corrected in March 1944). 80 mm (3.15 in) armour plates were used instead of appliqué armour.

In all, Alkett was responsible for delivering 7500 StuGs, while MIAG built 2586. Alkett also carried out the conversion of 173 older Panzer IIIs to the StuG III Ausf.G standard, and 142 were based on the late Panzer III Ausf.M chassis.

The kit from MiniArt:

The first in the new StuG Ausf.G series from MiniArt in 1/72nd scale. This kit features all of the features that made the 1/35th scale kit great, but in this smaller scale and a reduced parts count as some of them are combined. We have plenty of sprue images to see...