The recently released brand new StuG.III Ausf.G from Dragon was by any standards an excellent kit. It included such things as Magic Track individual links, photo etched engine grills, working torsion bar suspension, and incredible levels of detail. As with any injection moulded kit however, there are things that could be improved upon by using more expensive materials such as photo etched brass! Enter this update set from Cyber Hobby, which is the first of two sets for this kit.
the set
The set arrives in the usual blister pack, with coloured instruction sheet. Inside we are given a small photo etched fret, a large photo etched fret, six turned brass smoke dischargers, and their two brackets. The first small photo etched fret contains what looks like a heat shield which requires bending into a curved shape for the rear exhausts. To be perfectly honest, I really don't know what this structure is, as it seems too narrow to be a heat shield and cover both exhausts, doubtless somebody will know? The rest of this small fret contains brackets for use with the two full-length fenders contained within the other fret. As you can see from the photographs, both fenders are engraved, and this extends to both sides, however, it's very finely engraved indeed, which is probably to scale, but difficult to say whether it will actually up under a coat of paint. If you spray then it won't be a problem, but if you brush it could be a problem, as it's far finer than the pattern engraved on the original styrene fenders. The material they are made from is also quite thick compared to normal photo etch, but with the engraved fold lines bending isn't a problem. Note however, that there are some long bends on these fenders that might be a problem for anybody without a photo etch bending tool such as a Hold'n'Fold to perform neatly.
The six turned smoke dischargers are wonderful. I've seen these before but can't quite remember which kit, possibly the Initial or Late Tiger?
conclusion
A very nice set indeed from Cyber Hobby that will certainly make a difference to your StuG III. I've no idea of the price yet, but with that reservation..............recommended!
SUMMARY
Update set number one from Cyber Hobby for the recently released StuG.III Ausf G from Dragon. This set includes a new set of full fenders and some really nice turned brass smoke dischargers.
Hey Vinnie,
two things that people might find useful when using this update set. According to Spielberger's "Sturmgeschultz * It's Varients", the smoke grenade launchers were only fitted to StuG's from February-May 1943. It was reported by troops in the field that enemy small arms fire could pierce the tubes and set off the smoke grenades. So only vehicles built during this time frame should have them included.
The armoured shield you refer to, i beleive, was to protect the exhausts. Agai nthis is a feature that was only used on certain versions of the StuG. For instance those StuG's built on the Pz III M chassis did not include this feature if they had the deep fording echaust system. From what i can find out this armoured shield was not included on that many versions of the StuG and it seems to have been a haphazard implemntation that started around the time of the introduction of the F/8, so check your references before adding this shield.
Regards from the Swamp
Eth
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