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Armor/AFV: Axis - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Axis forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
stug III with field modified schurzen
durruti16
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Milano, Italy
Joined: October 24, 2009
KitMaker: 134 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 10:08 AM UTC
I took some pictures to find mistakes... some already seen.

On the rear I will put some figures...

Please any suggestion is welcome...

Thanks, Luca

IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/x2w7ig.jpg[/IMG]








retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2009
KitMaker: 11,610 posts
Armorama: 7,843 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 10:22 AM UTC
I've been wanting to break into stugs, because of builds like yours. Really exceptional job! The sprocket is inspiring. I usually trace the teeth with graphite and add a little steel. With the level or rust, on the spare tracks, the ones in use should be a little more worn. I'm not sure that a schurzen field mod would be primed red oxide. Of course, this depends on where they acquired the plates. I look forward to the figure.
panzerbob01
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Louisiana, United States
Joined: March 06, 2010
KitMaker: 3,128 posts
Armorama: 2,959 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 02:09 PM UTC
VERY, very nice job, Pard! I'll echo Matt; builds like this trigger my wist to break out and into a StuG kit pronto!

The camo is very nice, the schurzen look cool and actually pretty authentic to later-war types, and the scrapes on same are pretty darned slick! I can hear this thing squeaking through some small trees and brush right now!

I would also echo the uncertainty about those schurzen being oxide-red on the hull-side. IF they were going to get all painted and camo'd on the outside faces, I would expect that they would have been at least sort of base-painted (dunkelgelb) on the hull-sides, too.

There is a sort of question stewing in my mind, however, about those track-lengths mounted on the top-front... HOW are they supposed to be held in place? They look to be simply placed there without evident "keepers"? They doubtless would NOT just lie up there as the StuG moved along. Spare tracks hung as ad-hoc additional armor were often welded onto the hull - weld-lines or spots would be evident. Alternatively, some were clearly held on by added rails or clamps or bolts and even by wires tied across the lengths. IF these were added as ad-hoc armor, they would likely have been spray-painted in camo as they were "part of the vehicle". On the other hand, if spares, they would need clips or other hangers that allow stowage and removal?

All in all, it's a very nice StuG indeed!

Thanks for sharing this!

Bob
durruti16
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Milano, Italy
Joined: October 24, 2009
KitMaker: 134 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 05:59 PM UTC

Thanks for the comments, for what concerns the red primer on schurzen, I considered the book "Panther" of ___, where on of the auhtor found a panther schurzen in Hungary, with just primer (grey, in that case) in the inner part, but of course there is plentu of possibilities... Let' say red primed inside was just an "artistic" choice among the different possibilities.

The tracks added for more protection are fixed with a rough "pin" similar to what I saw in this picture, but I may change the head with a bolt...





From the pictures I examined, sometimes they were painted, other not... Rust was a choice to depict a veteran tank, however also in this case it just a choice among the various
AFVFan
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: May 17, 2012
KitMaker: 1,980 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 - 03:08 AM UTC
Hi Luca, good job on the StuG. You might want to think about adding a second pin to each of the spare track sections. With only one, as you now have, it seems that the upper ones would want to hang canted to one side instead of straight down. Just a thought....

The only other thing I see (and it's hard to tell in the pictures) is that the gunners sight needs a lens, or, at least needs to be painted where a lens should be.
durruti16
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Milano, Italy
Joined: October 24, 2009
KitMaker: 134 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 - 03:53 AM UTC

the second pin is a good idea, I will add it.

The gun sight has a transparent glass, probably I should paint it to make it darker...
1721Lancers
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: March 21, 2012
KitMaker: 1,673 posts
Armorama: 1,640 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 - 04:11 AM UTC
Hi Luca,
cool StuG I really like the rusty track armour you´ve added. How did you paint it?

As to the Schurzen question, well the field workshops changed
the pattern of the original skirts on many vehicles, by simply cutting them and adding new holders and such, so your interpretation is quite correct.

Looking forward to the figure and maybe a jerry can or two




Paul
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