(Self propelled artillery) StuG III with Winterketten, Ostfront.

[Meter rat]

Someone justify one to me. Has to have a genuine back story and unusual for some reason.

[Rob59]

Hello Tankers, about time for a little update on this StuG project.
Work to do: the Schürzen.
Both the hulls have to be tight together, so there are no gaps here and there between them.
If I would have layed them just on top of each other, not thightened, the Schürzen might hang at different heigths.
They still are not screwed onto each other so I thightend them with a few tie-wraps.

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Because I want both the first Schürze on each side begin at the same spot on each side, I taped a wooden skewer onto the bow of the upper hull

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[Rob59]

After bending and drilling I could hang the first one onto the hooks, against the skewer up front

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And the other 3 followed

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[Rob59]

Next step, bending some brass strips to make hooks which I screwed onto the mudguards with 1.4mm screws and nuts.
Not scale I know, but this has prooved itself during outdoor runs with my other Panzers with Schürzen!
I never lost anything and nothing ever broke off.

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[Rob59]

This is how the StuG is at the moment.
Next step will be bending and drilling again, so I can secure each Schürze onto a hook at the mudguards.
When that has been done too, I can attach some minor things onto the upper hull and start thinking about its paintjob.
CU next time guys.
Rob

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I'm watching, Rob59. I find Winterketten so nasty looking and I would like someday to have a Stug with Schürzen. For now, I noticed your idea to use zip ties to hold the hulls together. I struggled with just that problem on the Chaffee I'm working on. Now why didn't I think of that?

[Rob59]

Sometimes things can be sooo simple, you do not even think about it.
Rob.

[Rob59]

G‘day folks.
Proceeded with the Schürzen.

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[Rob59]

And the lefthand side

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[Rob59]

Here are 2 pics, showing the difference between Winter-and Ostketten:

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And Winter-Normalketten:

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