The Modelling News: Enter Saukopf - MiniArt's 35th scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G 1945 Alkett Prod.

MiniArt have made alterations to their 1/35th scale StuG III Ausf.G to create an Alkett Production version from 1945 for their latest kit. We have two of the original vehicle photos plus six marking choices & the kit's features in CAD our preview...

Enter Saukopf - MiniArt's 35th scale Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G 1945 Alkett Prod.

Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G 1945 Alkett Prod

From MiniArt

Kit No #35388

1/35th scale

The kit contains six marking choices in the box.

Photo-etch & clear parts are included

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The Subject: Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G 1945 Alkett Production.

The StuG Ausf.G entered production in December, 1942 and remained in production until March/April, 1945. It was the most numerous from all Sturmgeschutz III, and some 7893 were produced by Alkett (Altmaerkische Kettenfabrik GmbH) and MIAG (Muehlenbau-und-Industrie AG). Production reached its peak when in 1944, 4013 Ausf Gs left factories. Alkett produced over 5000 Ausf, while MIAG began production in March 1943 and produced some 3000 vehicles.

One of the marking choices of this kit. The Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G "701" from the 9th Panzer Division, Hohenstaufen", Hungary, Balaton Area, Spring 1945.

The Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G's modifications included the introduction of 80mm cast Saukopf (also known as Topfblende) mantlet in February, 1944; the coaxial MG in early 1944, installation of Nahverteidigungswaffe (90mm NbK 39 close-in defense weapon) and roof mounted remote controlled MG (Rundum Feuer) in late spring of 1944. In addition, vehicles produced since January, 1943 had the fighting compartment fan mounted on the rear superstructure wall instead of the roof. Two kinds of "Saukopf" mantlet were produced and mounted on Stug III Ausf G, one housing only the gun and other housing the gun and coaxial machine gun (from September, 1944). Original "boxy" gun mantlet was made of 50mm (front) and 30mm (sides) armor plates. Ausf Gs were also mounted with 5mm Schurzen since mid 1943.

The second version of the kit markings (no #815) is shown here. The caption we have is "630th Tank Destroyer GI S German Tank Near Zweibrucken"

The Topfblende/Saukopf mantlet:

From October 1943, some Ausf.G versions were fitted with the Topfblende pot mantlet (often called Saukopf "Pig's head") with or without a coaxial mount. This cast mantlet, which had a sloped and rounded shape, was more effective at deflecting shots than the original boxy Kastenblende mantlet that had armour varying in thickness from 45 mm to 50 mm. The lack of large castings meant that the trapezoid-shape boxy mantlet was still also produced until the very end. Topfblende were fitted almost exclusively to Alkett-produced vehicles.

The kit: Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G 1945 Alkett Production kit from MiniArt.
This kit is a continuation of the StuG Ausf.G kit from MiniArt, this one with the very easily identifiable "Saukopf" mantlet as the first point of difference. MiniArt has provided CAD drawings of the kit so we can see how the kit looks, also the colour choices and decals - Six versions of the Sturmgeschütz are available inside the box.

This kit does not feature an interior, so a fast build is predicted, which suits a lot of modellers. All of the ion. All of the hatches can be modelled in open or closed positions, and the weld seams on this kit are accurately depicted for this version.

The photo-etch sheets in this boxing replicate the thinner parts of the tank. These can be placed on as singles or as the full run, choose your subject and replicate it from there...