Rye Field Models RM - 5086 1/35 StuH 42 & StuG. III Ausf G late production (gun box, engine deck and fixing the loaders front armour plate)

I’m currently building up the engine deck which comes as a separate moulding but I’m not going to attach all the parts permanently until I can confirm how the Legends Production stowage I have sourced is contoured to fit. 

 

Engine deck, armoured engine hatches and gun box roof still dry fitted.

The loaders front armour plate provided in the kit is of the earlier production design which incorporated two (50 & 30mm) plates. Late Ausf G had a single 80mm plate. It would be quite easy to hide the join if it were not for the fact that the kit’s outer 30mm plate part does not feature the extra portion that curves down to match the contours of the inner plate. I shaped a similar thickness piece of grey styrene to mimic the outer plate then scribed torch marks over both plates to hide the join. I understand the correct single 80mm plate can be found spare on the sprues of many a Dragon StuG kit.

 

 

RFM appear to have used the same gun box moulding as in their early Ausf G kit, so some features require alteration. The instructions do point out the removal of witness marks for the smoke dischargers, and the removal of four rivets on both sides, to enable the fitment of the Schurzen hangers. They don’t however instruct you to fill the four small holes on the rear. These were to enable fitment of the earlier production rear loaders hatch which was re-designed.

 

Moving onto the engine deck moulding, this fits perfectly onto both the lower hull and against the back of the gun box, and if you wish, can be fixed in place before any further accessories are added. If like me, you prefer to add the most fragile items once the large assemblies are in place, access to all the added parts shown in steps 25 to 27 remain unhindered if you do. 

 

All the engine hatches come as separate items. Yet another oddity with the instruction sheet is that a small 3D part is to be added just behind the cleaning rods on the rear deck, yet there isn’t one in the kit, nor is it shown in the included parts map! Very odd, as the part shape is both difficult to identify should you wish to scratch a replica, and you are left with a small locating hole on the deck! A more important possible anomaly is the inclusion of diagonally shaped mesh for the engine cooling louvres. Although not conclusively proven it is believed that Alkett produced late Ausf G vehicles were only seen with a square mesh type. Late MIAG vehicles look to have retained the diagonal type, but to muddy the waters further an unmolested museum piece has a combination of both! I don’t think using the kits photo-etched item would be a massive issue, but the square type is available from two aftermarket manufacturers. The kit also includes a multipart photoetch support rail which fits around the outside of the engine deck. As period images showed these vehicles crammed with added stowage and crew gear, I plan to add some aftermarket stowage so that will be tackled at the same time to ensure it all fits together nicely.