So I'm planning some future projects (1/35th) and got to wondering what kind of tread plate was installed in Pz IIIs and IVs, and Stugs for that matter. Did they all use the same type? Any recommendations on pe or styrene?

TIA

Kimmo

Judging by this Pz III interior picture :

http://www.penguin-mayhem.net/gallery/album175/aae?full=1

or this StuG III picture :

http://svsm.org/gallery/StuGIII/IMGP2873

...I guess Aber PE plates #PP04 or/and PP06 should fit the bill (both patterns can be seen)...

http://www.airconnection.on.ca/ABER/ABERMESH/airconnection_ABER_PEPP04.htm

http://www.airconnection.on.ca/ABER/ABERMESH/airconnection_ABER_PEPP06.htm

HTH

H.P.

Holy hi-res photo Batman!

The ball is rolling. Thanks!

Check out Archer. They now have 3D resin tread plate (several styles) that is printed on decal sheeting. You apply like a decal and then paint over it. PROBLEM SOLVED!

I've heard good things about Archer stuff, but it ain't exactly cheap and with the postage hikes recently, it's pretty much a no go. A shame really. I don't mind paying for quality, but I'm not going to pay roughly the price of a kit, or a mid priced book for one sheet and can't justify laying out the bucks for 4-5 sheets at once. Like I said, a shame, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Just a bump and an observation I made while doing some Googling. I noticed that the Pz IIIs have the raised dot pattern while the Pz IVs had the cross hatch pattern, so is it safe to assume that what's on the fenders is on the inside too? Or is that an over simplification?

Kimmo

I guess you're right Kimmo. Just take a look at Aber PP13 "Pz IV fenders pattern" thread plate :
http://www.airconnection.on.ca/ABER/ABERMESH/airconnection_ABER_PEPP13.htm

and PP14 "Pz III fenders pattern" thread plate :

http://www.airconnection.on.ca/ABER/ABERMESH/airconnection_ABER_PEPP14.htm

H.P.

I figure it would make sense from a production standpoint. Any thoughts on what happened with Stug IVs then?

Kimmo