Hi, For something of a break today from working on Dragon's Pz. IV, I started working on the new Tamiya Stug III Ausf B.kit that just came out here a few weeks ago. I don't know, maybe I've been spoiled by Dragon's new generation of models, but I'm just not all that impressed with this latest 1/35 scale Tamiya German AFV.

Now don't get me wrong, it's a really nice kit and all, with nice crisp parts and moldings, great instructions, etc., things that Tamiya has always been known for in the modeling industry. But there's a certain "something" that's lacking some place or other on it, esp. when being compared to Dragon's stuff.

Yes, I think "spoiled" is the word I'm looking for here. The one good thing about is that it's going to be something of a fairly quick build,much like some of the Trumpter kits, due to the lack of pieces included in the box. And that's saying something just in itself as I've been fooling around with that Panzer IV, on and off, since it came out last year. Ha, ha! But at this point I'm not even sure I'm going to be going to the extra expense of adding the Fruil tracks to ithis kit at at a later date, and that, in itself, is saying something for someone like me who looks on the Fruils with something of a 'religious' mind set when it comes to German and Russian World War II vehicles.

I guess the one thing that bugs me on it is that I paid as much for it at the local hobby shop as I did for Dragon's new "super" kits. So it really wasn't that good of a buy, all in all.

Take care, Larry

To be honest, if you've been working on a PzIV, you're going to find a Stug especially an early one, a fairly "simple" build - there just ain't that much to it anyway! I'm sorry you're disappointed in the kit, that's a shame, but if you really hate it you will have wasted your money!

Direct link to shots:

Hi, Been working on this thing quite a bit this evening while the wife has been watching a 'chick flick' on the TV-- great way to spend a snowy and cold Saturday night-- and I do believe it rates a set of Fruil tracks now, providing, or course, that I can do my part in the building it properly.

Take care, Larry

Hi all,
For some reason or another I just do not feel any excitement about this new Tamiya release. With all that Dragon and AFV Club has been doing, along with Tristar and Eduard, Tamiya just does not seem as relevant as it used to. So, even though this new kit seems interesting and intriguing I will pass.

Chris-the ignorant Swine (++)

In just started on this one last night. For me it is a pleasant change from all of the super tiny parts and p/e that I cant see anyway.

Can't decide whether to bother with this kit or not...

Sells for over $50 here... I can buy the DML Tiger Late 3 n 1 for less than $40..

But as the LHS doesn't have any other early model StuG's... may just get one anyways.

Martyn

I'm building the Stug III B right now as a break before I finish my Panzer IV E. At first I too was unimpressed, but I soon realized that this was only because I was comparing it to the Dragon kit.

The Stug is building really quick and clean. The most noticiable difference, besides the huge difference in kit parts, is the plethora of knockout marks. I've simply been spoiled with the Dragon kit. This kit is still up to Tamiya's standards. I'm not too thrilled about the throwback to the '70's dark grey plastic though.

This Stug is a great addition the 1/35 line, and I hope to have paint on mine soon. I will put some pictures up then.

Patrick