LATE StuG III SURVIVOR

[HERMAN BIX]

Another acquisition from the estate sale is a StuG III with a very nice paint job but gravity defying stowage.
Has an Asiatam lower hull,Tamiya PzIV electronics, and a modified H/L upper with the Rundumfeuer M.G. station.
Once the stowage was removed and the spots of glue repaired, I made a near enough stowage 'basket' on the rear deck, and set about making pendulum schurzen.
That was made from brass and cut around a cardboard template.
The swing mounts were also from 3mm brass tube(thats tooob to you left hand drivers!!) with a 1mm hole drilled through its end for a pin, I've yet to make those.
Looking at many period pictures the upper side plates were old Panther skirt sheets which were either a field expedient, or a convenient kit product which also suited the Panther as required.
I have gone with the upper plates missing, exposing heavy timbers wired together to augment the side plates which have been torn off.
One side had a section of guard/fender missing when I got it, so when I made the schurzen , I allowed for the missing section to be reflected in the final look.
As I quite like a rough looking tank I have no problem having a section of schurzen missing due to mine or lost track damage!
I have been mulling over the final look of the schurzen for a few days the idea of exposed timber took hold. Balsawood with a wash of MIG -1000 Brown for German Dark Yellow which was wiped off and reapplied until the look was about right.
The tracks are just plastic for now until better ones come up.

Intend to paint the swinging skirt panels in a different pattern to the one on the hull to represent material used from another vehicle.

Stugs .........they have a life of their own & easily drag me into it.

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[HERMAN BIX]

Timber armour retaining straps are the remains of the Panther sheet straps that had the timber beams shoved into the void between the outer schurzen and the mounting straps for them.
Well that’s my story & Im sticking to it

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[tankme]

Herman says: "Honey, there is an estate sale full of RC tanks that I want to buy."

Mrs. Herman says: "Honey, do you remember where I put that divorce lawyer's business card?"

[ColemanCollector]

Rear stowage frame looks righteous. Something about Stugs that demand them to be roughed up and covered in the crew's worldly goods. Love the looks of this one, Herman!

Mike.

[HERMAN BIX]

Herman says: "Honey, there is an estate sale full of RC tanks that I want to buy."

Mrs. Herman says: "Honey, do you remember where I put that divorce lawyer's business card?"

You are quite prophetic mate! Especially when I made a promise not to buy any more tanks until I had finished the projects I had and we went on a holiday to the USA

If times were older I swear I could hear the sound of firewood being gatheted

[HERMAN BIX]

Rear stowage frame looks righteous. Something about Stugs that demand them to be roughed up and covered in the crew's worldly goods. Love the looks of this one, Herman!

Mike.

Thanks Mr Collector they sure do!
Seems if a body is keen enough he can find a picture of almost every conceivable variation of a StuG from which to inspire a build !

[Raminator]

Great work with the pendulum skirts and stowage Herman, the brass master's back at it again! I think the mix of additional armour in concrete, heavy timber and metal plate create a really unique vehicle. StuGs make for endless possibilities!

[HERMAN BIX]

Cheers Mr Ram, there sure is. I didn’t expect to be doing another one so soon but the “StuG Life “ has its own rules !!

Funny enough getting camo on these was a bit of a conundrum, colours? Patterns? Placement?
Damn the torpedoes, we’re on!!
Pinned the plates to a board in the order they fit and primed, then over with a base of lightened and blended dunklegelb. Mix of XF-88 Dark Yellow 2 and 1/3rd XF-57 Buff.
Then I just winged 3 different patterns. These have been taken from other vehicles as required.
Im not 100% happy with the left side with the gap soo that might be altered yet.
Of course once this outer reno is finished, I still need to get the thing running

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That panel will go on the engine deck

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[HERMAN BIX]

Stowage is mostly set in place. Two pieces of Value Gear German part 2 set, and the damaged schurzen plate, a jack chucked on top of it, & some jerry cans for good measure. Will add necessary rope to tie in place to avoid the gravity effect of stowage retention !!
Still to paint the muzzle brake, the schurzen pins, the bucket, add tow cables and the canvas infill around the rear of the mantlet. I also need to source and place a decent section of PzIV track on the radio operators front armour. The aerial bases are broken off too, so they will need to be squared away.
Oh, and replace the tracks as soon as someone down here gets stock.
Plus, get the thing to run
Still got a bit on

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[Ad Lav]

Mate that’s well smart