Tamiya 1/35 scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B Sd.Kfz.142 [Unboxing & Pre-Assembly Review]

Designed as a support vehicle for attacking infantry, the Sturmgeschütz had seen its fair share of battle during World War 2 (WW2). It ran the gamut from being the spearhead of infantry in epic battles on the Eastern Front to being cannon fodder in its final deployments during the desperate last days of the Third Reich. I plan to recreate a 1/35 scale painted version of this Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV), I'll be using the Tamiya 1/35 scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B Sd.Kfz.142 model kit.

Tamiya 1/35 scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B Sd.Kfz.142 plastic model kit

Choosing the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B as my next WW2 AFV project will signify a sharp departure from my previous effort in terms of both size and complexity. But more significantly, it will mark a slight change in artistic approach for painting AFVs. My earlier attempts had focused on recreating a realistic yet flat look that can be rather dull. However in this project, I am going to try my hand at an airbrush technique called Color Modulation. In short, this method artificially heightens the contrast between shadows and highlights. It works especially well for hard edges like those found on the Sturmgeschütz. It's widely agreed the end result isn't necessarily realistic but it does look better.

Side box art of the Tamiya Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B scale model kit

This Tamiya scale model kit comes with the added bonus of photo-etched parts

Plastic sprues, vinyl tracks and photo-etched parts are all neatly packed inside the box

Options for the different versions of Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B that can be build are displayed in a colored spread, which accompanies the usual black and white instructions. Sturmgeschütz variant is limited to Ausf.B but the kit allows for up to at least six different Assault Gun AFVs that existed historically; all predicated upon markings found on the water decals. These specific six were from either the 1st, 2nd and/or 3rd Kompanie of the Wermacht Panzer Division. My initial plan, subject to change, is to build a specific Sturmgeschütz that saw action on the Eastern Front in 1941.

In addition to black and white instructions, there was a colored guide showing versions that can be build from this kit

Water decals containing vehicle markings for at least six different versions of the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B

In one of the few Tamiya kits to include photo-etch parts, the 1/35 scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B Sd.Kfz.142 scale model kit has a small set comprising Notek light covers, grilles and antenna holders.
The kit also provides an Aluminium Gun Barrel that is touted to have been accurately reproduced to include spiral rifling. Apart from this, the other molded parts are generally made from plastic.

Photo-etched parts are available for the gun barrel, engine grilles, antenna holders and Notek light covers

Compared to the King Tiger, the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B has relatively fewer parts which translates into lesser sprues. This is to be expected as the Sturmgeschütz is so much smaller in size when compared with the German Heavy Tank. The lower part count is also due to the fact that the tank tracks provided in the Sturmgeschütz kit comprised just two elongated pieces of vinyl rubber. In comparison, the MENG King Tiger kit had sections of the track molded in individual link pieces.   

Lower hull of the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B is the largest single molded piece in the kit

Vinyl tank tracks are the only track options available for the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B

So far I've only ever build one Tamiya AFV kit namely the T-55A Medium Tank. Compared to the T-55A which had sparse interior details, the Sturmgeschütz devotes a significant amount of part count to its interior including the assault gun, which is the main component of its crew compartment. The rest of the sprue mainly consists of the outer hull sections/details, suspension system and wheels. And only one miniature figurine is included in this kit: a crew member standing upright.

Sprue A & E: Tank wheels, rollers, suspension arms, miscellanous parts

Sprue B & C: Upper hull sections, tow cables, etc.

Sprue D: Gun assembly parts, bulkhead, tank crew figure, etc.

Interestingly enough, Tamiya also included four separate suspension springs. I assume these metal springs, together with the suspension arms and rollers, provide a rudimentary suspension system for the Sturmgeschütz. But until I assemble the whole thing I cannot tell for sure. And as is standard is all Tamiya AFV kits as far as I can tell, poly-caps are also provided. These poly-caps allow the creation of smooth and secure joints without the need for glue, and are usually used on the wheels section.

Two different sizes of poly-caps and four individual suspension springs for the track wheels

In most cases, each new hobby project tends to coincide with a chance to learn new techniques. And because the Tamiya 1/35 scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B Sd.Kfz.142 model kit builds into a fairly flattened hull with numerous hard edges, it should in theory enable an easier and straightforward Color Modulation process. Moreover the Sturmgeschütz is relatively small in size thus requiring less work (and time) before an end result can be seen. That's the idea anyway.

You know you wants its ... gollum, gollum

More importantly however, this kit allows me to make a dent in my substantial AFV kit hoard, of which I've decided to stop adding to until I can finish at least ten from the existing pile. In short, no more buying new AFV model kits ... for now. But that new Tamiya WW2 tank kit looks really cool. No, I can't. What's one more? The missus won't notice surely. I have too much already. I ... I just can't. That's a limited edition you know. Arghhh, get out of my head. Gollum, gollum!