GutenTag

[Berthold]

Hi All, I have a project in mind and while researching it I came across this forum, very impressive with great models and a wealth of information. Okay that's the flattery out of the way and I had better introduce myself, my name is Tim, I'm 65 and live down in Devon on Dartmoor (yes, very near the Prison)

I built a few models as a kid (still love Airfix) but never a tank. Why now? I suppose I have never really grown up and now I'm starting to have more time on my hands I thought why not.

So, the project. My father (deceased) was German and fought in WW2, graduated as a Panzer Leutnant in 1941, observed the invasion of France as part of his education/training and was part of operation Barbarossa in 1942, spent most of his war in Russia but became a POW in late 1945 (taken prisoner by the Americans) sent to Fort Devons in Texas but was returned to Europe a few months later and handed over to the British. He ended up in a POW camp at Friday Bridge, just outside Wisbech in Cambridgeshire.

So growing up as a kid my heroes were Werner Molders, Adolph Galland and Hans Joachim Marseille. Also Otto Skorzeny and quite a few others. He told me lots of stories about his time in Russia and of course about the kit he was given to play with, his favourite armoured vehicle was a Sturmgeschutz or Stug 3.

The real project is to recreate (as close as possible) his tank, simple as that. And with that in mind what is the best (most accurate/detailed) model to buy.

Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me.

[Maccrage]

Welcome!
Was your father in Stugs, or was that just his favorite?

[Herr Dr. Professor]

What an excellent project to have and a most helpful introduction. I recommend one of the Taigen Stug IIIs with the latest Taigen sound (also as Torro, even here in the US as Imex/Taigen).

Here is a five-year-old video about the Taigen sound, just when it was introduced. The Taigen Stugs manufactured since 2017 have the appropriate sound already installed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtxaYCl1XNY.

Unfortunately it seems that most of the UK, German, and even the US sellers are out of stock of the Taigen/Torro versions, likely a result of manufacturing schedule and Covid-related delays. Here is one showing a good version, which may be in stock: https://www.rctank.de/Taigen-StuG-III-w ... d-V3-board.

There is a less expensive HengLong version with HengLong's 7.0 electronics. https://heng-long-panzer.de/en/RC-Tank- ... -V7-0.html. I think these are fine, but the sound choices are limited to the Tiger tank and three modern tanks. As a result, I prefer the Taigen/Torro quality and sound.

(The more complicated way is to get a basic Stug III, replace all the electronics, etc., etc., etc. Doing so is easy for many here on RCTW, but not for beginners. After 12 years of RC tanks, I am just dipping my toe into this challenge.)

[EAO]

Berthold,

What a great way to honor your Father's memory! He certainly saw some of the biggest moments in history up close and personal! Do have a look around and ask any questions you have. These guys will help you out and get you set in the right direction in no time! Looking forward to seeing this build in the future! Would love to see some photographs of your Father back in the day too!

Cheers,
Eric.

[stu_the_flat]

Hello and welcome. That is quite a story! Did your father take any photos during the war or will this be built from the verbal stories he told you?

[jarndice]

Hi Bertie, Welcommen
Galland, Molders and Marseille all worthy of respect as honourable fighting men,
Skorzeny not so much, I have served with men who much like this fellow had Psycotic tendencies, I always gave them a wide berth because they would more than likely take chances with your life to advance their future
Enjoy this place and do ask lots of questions.

[Berthold]

Welcome!
Was your father in Stugs, or was that just his favorite?

Hi Maccrage, the Stug was a favourite because he claimed that it saved his life during a particular engagement with some T34's, a round went over the top of them fired from a T34 on higher ground, the T34 then tried to dig itself in as it couldn't depress it's barrel low enough to hit the Stug, the distance between the two vehicles was such that the low velocity 75mm gun on on the Stug would not knock out the T34 so my Dad went straight for T34 at full tilt in order to close the gap before the Russian tank could lower itself sufficiently, the race was on.

Sufficient to say that they managed to get close enough to disable the enemy before being hit themselves. He believed the the lower profile of the Stug save him and his crew that day.

Like all my Dad's stories/recollections I do not know for certain if they are true or not but it was a good story and I believed then and now.

[Berthold]

What an excellent project to have and a most helpful introduction. I recommend one of the Taigen Stug IIIs with the latest Taigen sound (also as Torro, even here in the US as Imex/Taigen).

Here is a five-year-old video about the Taigen sound, just when it was introduced. The Taigen Stugs manufactured since 2017 have the appropriate sound already installed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtxaYCl1XNY.

Unfortunately it seems that most of the UK, German, and even the US sellers are out of stock of the Taigen/Torro versions, likely a result of manufacturing schedule and Covid-related delays. Here is one showing a good version, which may be in stock: https://www.rctank.de/Taigen-StuG-III-w ... d-V3-board.

There is a less expensive HengLong version with HengLong's 7.0 electronics. https://heng-long-panzer.de/en/RC-Tank- ... -V7-0.html. I think these are fine, but the sound choices are limited to the Tiger tank and three modern tanks. As a result, I prefer the Taigen/Torro quality and sound.

(The more complicated way is to get a basic Stug III, replace all the electronics, etc., etc., etc. Doing so is easy for many here on RCTW, but not for beginners. After 12 years of RC tanks, I am just dipping my toe into this challenge.)

Great information Herr Dr. Professor, exactly what I need. Many thanks.

[Berthold]

Berthold,

What a great way to honor your Father's memory! He certainly saw some of the biggest moments in history up close and personal! Do have a look around and ask any questions you have. These guys will help you out and get you set in the right direction in no time! Looking forward to seeing this build in the future! Would love to see some photographs of your Father back in the day too!

Cheers,
Eric.

Hi Eric, a bit of a tough one this, I'm not sure that "Honour" would be the right word, we had a difficult relationship over the years so maybe this project is more for me than him. Sorry that's probably a bit to deep for a model forum.

[Berthold]

Hello and welcome. That is quite a story! Did your father take any photos during the war or will this be built from the verbal stories he told you?

Hi Stu, no photo's I'm afraid, just my memories of his stories (very graphic on occasion)