Dragon has a Stug lllG/105mm howitzer, kit #9058, which can be built as a final Stug model,ie. Saukopfblend, remote MG and revised loader hatch, revised rear hull plate, no zimmerit, steel return rollers, and aluminum barrel. I totally missed this one. Does anyone know if this is a fairly recent release (within last 5 years)? Or one of their really old series?

I'd have to guess it's fairly old. They typically have molded Zimmerit now (DML just announced a new StuG with the waffle pattern) and I haven't seen the 105mm variant.

Hi Biggles. This is an old kit ... the 9000 series are kits that Dragon took over molds from other companies ... these coming from Gunze Sanyo. They were "state of the art" when they were released, but are soft in detail in some areas comparing to todays/their own standards.
On the other hand, with a little extra attention and replacing things like pioneer tools and sanding fenders edges to make them thinner, they can still be very nice models. They come with indy tracks, that still look OK. It all depends on your own demands. I believe there is a modern 105mm version of the Stug III as well.

Actually, I didn't want it as a StuHlll but to re-arm it with a 75mm gun. It has everything neccessary for a final 1945 version of the StuG lll as noted above. I thought that with the P/E and metal barrel included it was not that old. Dragon has not released this particular version of the Stug lll as a retooled kit yet, although they've done nearly every other model. I did a quick search on Dragon USA and apparently it is a 2004 release - that's only 8 years ago. Was Dragon still using Gunze Sangyo moulds as late as then?

Hello,

In my opinion this kit is still best value for money.
And yes it still uses the Gunze lower hull with the wheel arms already molded in place.
It also comes with 3 different gun mantlets, a nice pe fret for the schurzen rails and loads of other pe parts.
If u can get it cheap, go for it, you wont be dissapointed. I have build this kit before and still have one in the stash.

Greetz
Tony

Apparently so ... it has certain sprues from older Pzr IIIs and Stug IIIs, with only the 105 related details being new. The lower tub part has all the torsion bars molded in a fixed position, as did the older Gunze copies.

There is a review on PMMSwith more details. There appears to be a lot of extras given on the various sprues and Terry wrote "The kit includes a number of alternate parts to allow almost any combination of the fittings seen on different StuG Gs".
Theres also a post on FSM and there may even be a plastic 75mm barrel in the 9058 kit (see last line).

Don´t have this particular kit myself, but it looks like it does suit your purpose ....

Whoo-hoo! Maybe on the other hand I should wait a bit and see if Dragon does re-release the final version. After all, I won't die if I can't get it now...or will I?

Why not build this one now? Then, if a new Dragon kit appears, you can do it and write up a comparison of the two.

Ahhh, if only I had a money tree I would buy 'em all.

DML just announced ANOTHER StuG III. Normal StuG parts, only the 75mm gun though.