Italeri bring out another all new easy assembly kit in their 1/56 scale Warlord Games series: a StuG III that can alternatively be built into a Sturmhaubitze. There's also yet another boxing of an oldie Pz.Kpfw I.

Italeri announce the availability of their fourth German addition to their now six strong range of 1:56 (28mm) scale WWII combat vehicles. Kit number 15756 is an Sd.Kfz.142/1 Sturmgeschütz III, with alternative parts (well, mostly the gun tube probably) provided to enable it to be built as the 105mm assault howitzer. The kit also includes a half crew member for the optionally open commander's hatch. Wheels and hull sides are moulded integrally, with separate tracks in hard plastic lengths. Side skirts are also included, as well as decals with a couple of different insignia (I don't recognise either off the cuff) and lots of mix and match numbers to allow entire battalions to be built. Has to be said that the built up and painted versions in the photos look pretty nice, perhaps ideal if you want to practice your painting skills without the hassle of lots of building beforehand.

They also announce another incarnation of what I suppose is the now long in the tooth Pz.Kpfw I Ausf B. This is kit no. 6523, which I believe is essentially from the same moulds as used in the 1970s, and used to be no. 222. In 2014 I think it was reboxed with four new sprues of link and length type tracks to replace the old vinyl offerings. I'm not sure if that release already had the etched fret of the grille for the engine deck, but that component does now form part of this boxing. Decals are included for four versions, and of course there's the (now quite elderly) crewman on the sprue as well. Nice art on this boxing though - a real old fashioned action shot.