6454 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf.G w/zimmerit 1/35 injection plastic kit with decals and photo etch Based on the Sturmgeschutz (StuG) III, the Sturmhaubitze (StuH) were armed with a 10.5cm howitzer and provided infantry with mobile support artillery capable of taking out enemy troops protected by bunkers, buildings and the like. The Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf. G entered series production in May 1943 and was built by Alkett alongside the StuG III Ausf G. All early production, and many later production StuH has the squared gun mantlet. Most StuH, were covered in zimmerit, and like StuG III assembled by Alkett had a distinctive stamped zimmerit pattern. For modelers this pattern with its large square grid stamps each containing with a waffle pattern (of smaller squares) is extremely hard to replicate, such that most AFV modelers I know choose to avoid it. This new release of the Sturmhaubitze comes with the waffle pattern zimmerit molded onto all parts that had zimmerit. For modelers this will be a welcome relief, which will save time and for many the cost of purchasing an aftermarket resin zimmerit. Slide-molding is used to achieve a first rate zimmerit effect which compares very favourably to photos. The pre-zimmerited parts are the one piece lower hull tub, rear upper hull over the vent, lower and upper front armour, engine deck, fighting compartment superstructure and drivers vision flap. On the hull tub the zimmerit is authentically reproduced with an unenven band of the zimmerit on half of the hull’s side plates. MODULAR FORMAT The Sturmhaubitze is based on the StuG III G Early Smart Kit and shares its modular design. The major subassemblies, which are based around one large piece, are the lower hull/running chassis, the upper superstructure, the engine deck, and the gun mount/floor of the fighting compartment. These modules come together in the last two steps. This approach allows modelers to neatly divide construction over several modeling sessions and offers some benefits for painting. The kit includes wire for the tow cables and Photo etch for all mesh screens/grilles, the rear idler rims, some upper fender supports (which looks quite sharp) and the internal collar ring of the commander’s cupola. The gatefold instructions have 19 steps of line drawings that are clearly laid out and, straightforward. When built as per the instructions this kit is representative of a StuH 42 Ausf G produced from October 1943 when the armoured deflector in front of the cupola was first fitted and shortly after zimmerit was first applied in the factories. This kit has a one piece 80mm frontal armour, return rollers with rubber tires, and a shield to protect the loader while he exposed himself firing the roof mounted machine gun. By leaving off the armored deflector (part B40) one of the first StuH with zimmerit could be built. Many StuH with zimmerit were fitted with schurzen (side skirts) and while not included in this kit, is readily available as aftermarket PE. This kit correctly does not include the smoke dischargers, which had been dropped prior to the introduction of zimmerit. The 10.5cm StuH 42 L/28 howitzer barrel tube and muzzle break are from the Heuschreke. This is a one piece injection plastic barrel with fine detail around the break and its collar. The StuK 40 from the StuG III is included as a spare allowing more construction options. HULL The lower hull is a one-piece tub with slide-molding used to provide detail such as weld seams on the bottom and counter sunk holes on the sides, as well as the previously noted zimmerit. The suspension arms are separate parts, which are linked to the separate internal torsion bar suspension arms. The angle of the arms could be adjusted to provide flexibility for use in dioramas. The rear idlers have photo-etched rims. The road wheels have the tyre and rim as one piece (two units per station), and like the return rollers now feature the Continenta(U) brand name on the sidewalls. Separate parts are provided for small detail such as the track tension adjusters, rear bump stop, exhaust deflector, frame for the deflector, and starter port cover. Many of these parts have been slide molded and the exhaust pipes have hollowed out ends. The side fenders have an impressive anti-skid pattern on the upper surface and underside and integrated front and rear fenders. The holes for the tools are predrilled. The tools have the brackets and clamps cast on for ease of assembly and the jack is built from four parts plus separate parts for the brackets. The three-part Notek light on the front glacis is nicely done. The tracks are Magic Tracks where each link comes loose, and for most modelers will require no clean up, although there are two small injector pin marks on each link which could be shaved off with a hobby knife. These links are the 40cm wide type with open guide horns and no chevrons on the outer faces, a type that was common during the mid-war period. The tracks are asymmetric in that there is a separate set for each side to reflect the way the track pins were fitted. Each side is separately packed and has its own shade of grey. SUPERSTRUCTURE & ENGINE DECK The superstructure is slide-molded and has crisp details such as the finely rendered weld marks. There is a separate roof, which would be useful if you wished to display the detailed internal fighting compartment. Clear plastic parts are provided for the driver’s vision block, cupola vision ports, and the main periscope gun sight. The commander’s hatch has interior details, such as handles and, like the loader’s hatch can be assembled open or closed. The engine deck, has zimmerit which in a feature seen on Alkett assembled self-propelled guns, and all four hatches can be modeled open (you will need to add your own Maybach engine). The detail underneath the louvers (which also have zimmerit) is achieved using an extra piece for each louver and as result is crisper than what I have seen on older Panzer III family models. The two-part toolbox has crisp padlocks. FIGHTING COMPARTMENT This StuH includes a significant amount of interior fitting, which will satisfy most modelers, when the hatches are left open. The gun is quite detailed with the breech (borrowed from the StuG’s 7.5cm StuK 40), sights, hand wheel, gunner’s seat, recuperator cylinders, and recoil guard. It is attached to a realistic mount that is placed on a floor, which has anti-skid plate, recessed handles for the access points and a transmission tunnel. The rear firewall with the ventilator’s fan housing is included and the side panniers come with two radios mounted in their racks. The commander’s seat is also included. Other detail such as the spent shell case, rounds and racks, MP40 with ammunition pouches, as mask canisters, and headphones could be source from spares or aftermarket sets if you want to add that finesse. DECALS The Cartograf decals provide markings for three StuH from the Eastern Front. The first is the dark yellow StuH on the box art from and an unidentified unit, and the other two are whitewashed guns from 202nd Sturmgescheutz Brigade, Kurland 1945 (black 202 on barrel) and 904th Sturmgescheutz Brigade, East Prussia 1945 with black 305 and Balkan Cross on the panniers. RECOMMENDATION This new release of the Sturmhaubitze really impressed me. The pre-cast zimmerit is very realistic and avoids all the problems previously associated with the complex waffle pattern. Like with the related StuG III G kits, the tooling is crisp and accurate, and the inclusion of photo etch and Magic Tracks allows for an impressive model to be made out of the box. Highly recommended.
- Neville Lord
