Monday, July 1

Preview: MiniArt's Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G May-June 1943 Alkett Prod...

MiniArt's newest release of the StuG III Ausf.G came from the Alkett factory in May-June 1943. We look at the CADs, sprues, decals, etch, profiles & the real subjects from this boxing in our preview...

Preview: Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G May-June 1943 Alkett Prod. from MiniArt...

Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G May-June 1943 Alkett Prod.
From MiniArt
Kit No #35341
1/35th scale
The kit contains five marking choices in the box.
Photo-etch & clear parts are included
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.

A machine seen in this boxing, this StuG III Ausf.G assault gun from the 2nd company SS-StuG.Abt.10 during training in France in 1943. From June to August 1943, the division received 42 StuGs. And in January 1944 it was disbanded to create the 7th and 8th tank companies SS-Pz.Rgt.10.
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.

Another machine that is captured in this boxing is this "223" from the 10th Panzer Division, "Frundsberg", 2/StuG.Abt.10, from France in 1943
Being transported by rail in the summer of 1943. These vehicles of the StuG.Abt.276 are seen near Fastov, near Kyiv on the eastern front. New tank destroyers without factory applied Zimmwerit but with the Panzerschurtzen. You can see one of the vehicles fromt his boxing, called "Strolch" in the photo.
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.

"Mid" Alkett Production in 1943
By May 1943, Alkett started fitting Schurzen (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.
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.

StuG III Ausf.G of Stg.Brig.322 with its name "Uschi"

The kit: MiniArt's Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G May-June 1943 Alkett Prod...
This kit is a continuation on of the StuG Ausf.G kit from MiniArt. This one depicts Stugs made in the Alkett plant form May - June in 1943.
This kit features hatches that can be modelled in open or closed positions. The tracks are the workable type and clear parts are also included for the transparent parts like the opticals in the cupolas. We also know that two sheets of photo-etch is included in the kit.
Miniart give the option of extra tracks, the sperate shurtzen so you can leave some off if you like.
You can see in blue the optional tracks on the front and rear for extra armour or just carrying them on the rear.
You can see th "all-on" shurtzen here with these two alternate configureations.
The two different engine decks are shown in this comparison...
Tank repair & pioneer tools are included in this kit.
A close up of the running grea od the StuG - showing the detail afforded to this kit's every corner.

The plastic layout & photo-etch:
Several sprues including light greay and one clear sprue make up most of this kit. The kit is a normal (no interior) kit that gives the great detail of this series, but without the inteior 's time to construct and the risk of a bad fit transferring on to other parts of the model...
Clear sprue of the pericsope lenses incuded...
Two sheets of photo-etch are include d- one mostly for the Shurzten and the other the finer parts of the kit that can't be replicated successfully (or are too fragile) in plastic.

Five Marking choices/ Decals:
A decal sheet for five marking options is included in the kit. Shown above, we have photos of some of the original tanks in her to compare them with...

The five marking choices in the kit...
The Decals for this kit....
This kit is due for release in a month's time
See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...