Introduction

StuG Ausf. G Sturmhaubitze from Artitec is a 1:87-HO scale resin kit with photo-etch parts. It is item 87.040.

Modelers and historians are well acquainted with the Sturmgeschütz III so I will not present much of a history. The Ausf. G was the most-produced version and many were armed with the powerful 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42.

Assault guns are an offensive weapon and give the infantry immediate, powerful support through mobility, fire and striking power. - Sturmgeschütz Training Manual.

StuG IIIs were relatively inexpensive and supplanted PzKpfw III production when that tank reached obsolescence. StuGs became increasingly more important to the Wehrmacht as tank losses increased, and StuG crews were credited with some 20,000 tank kills. The 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42 increased its infantry support firepower significantly, as well. I have read that as StuG gunners were trained by the Artillerie, their gunnery was better and StuGs were more popular with the infantry than the panzers.

Now we'll look at the model.

The Kit

Artitec's StuH G is a simple model consisting of five resin pieces and a fret of 17 photo-etched parts:

Resin
Hull
Left and right running gear
Saukopf mantel and 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze barrel
Kommander hatch

P/E
MG 42
MG gun shield
10.5cm Sturmhaubitze barrel lock
Schürzen armor side skirts (14 parts)

A pair of Balkenkreuz are included.

Casting is crisp. There are no air pocks or other casting flaws. Only a minute amount of excess resin is present - on the bottom of the tracks. I am still amazed at the detail able to be reproduced by resin - the Notek lamp is cast on the hull. The cannon barrel was slightly warped but 20 seconds under hot water and rolling between my fingers straightened it out.

The photo-etched parts are sharply formed with thin brass.

Assembly of the basic StuG is simple and I assembled it without any glue.

Detail

Artitec sculpted a lot of detail into the StuG components. The tracks and road wheels have fine detail. The hull has all components cast on: tow cables, armor plate joints, vision ports, tools. Even the concrete extra armor is molded on in front of the commander's cupola. Even the spare tracks and road wheels are cast on.

StuGs were often heavily loaded with stores and supplies and that gear is also cast onto the rear deck.

Fourteen of 17 p/e parts are Schürzen. That's detail.

I offer the close-up of the MG 42 as its own statement of the detail etched into it.

Instructions & Decals

The instructions are simple - why would they not be?

The decals are dry transfers. Only two Balkenkreuz are included.

Assembly

Minimum clean up was required. The parts fit well. The most challenging assembly was the P/E schürzen brackets and the rails. It was challenging but not difficult. I secured those with CA and attached the schürzen with tacky glue. I also used CA to attach the P/E gun lock and lower hull spare track racks.

The machine gun shield is etched flat with two recesses to easy folding. Be careful bending the sides.

Conclusion

Artitec's StuG G is a crisp and detailed small StuG. It features crisp casting and sharply etched parts. Assemebly was easy for the basic vehicle and the schürzen and mounts were the most challenging items to attach.

Some modelers may object to the extra gear cast on to the rear deck.

Artitec's StuG G is an impressive model in the popular scale of HO-1/87. It should offer modelers of that scale an excellent StuG for their dioramas, wargaming tables, and layouts.

Recommended.