DML 1/35 StuG III Ausf.F8 Late Production w/Winterketten - Smart Kit

The Kit

The Ausf. F/8 variant of the Sturmgeschuetz III series appeared in the fall of 1942 and added to the upgrade in the vehicle’s armament provided by the base Ausf. F (the long-barreled L/48 gun) by a redesign and uparmoring of the hull. Other parts were either simplified or strengthened. 250 were built before production changed over to the Ausf. G which would become the most widely produced.

This kit provides more than 80 new parts to DML’s popular kit of the Ausf. G. and also adds the “Winterketten” and ice cleat set from their recent Pzkw. III Ausf. M kit.

As with all kits in this series. it comes with many of the accouterments seen on kits like the DML Tiger I and Panther, starting with individual torsion bars and road wheel arms as well as all of the external details on the lower hull such as shocks and bump stops. Each idler wheel consists of five parts with twin brass inserts between the plastic castings. All wheels are detailed to the point of having the rubber tire manufacturer’s data readable!

The brass is provided only for those bits where plastic cannot do the job, such as the aforementioned wheel rims and the air intake and exhaust grilles on the engine deck. All fender details are separate and go on in subassemblies. In point of fact, most of this model consists of subassemblies, which is how it gets its tremendous level of details. This also shows in the sprues, as for example the “A” wheel sprue actually consists of seven sub-sprues, so future kits can be done by gating off or ungating other sections of the master sprue to meet the need of those kits.

The kit comes with a high level of interior parts, including the gun, commander’s cupola assembly, floor, and the radios and stowage racks for various bits on each side of the casemate. This kit adds new radio sets and other changes plus the twin hatch (vice commander’s cupola) casemate roof and details. There is also a preformed plastic or etched brass guard for the gunner’s sight (parts R12 or MB1/MA8/R23) but the directions are not very clear on how these assemblies install.

The kit comes with a new engine deck that like previous kits consists of several subassemblies combined to form the deck. Note that every hatch on this vehicle can be opened for display of the interior, but there is no engine or transmission provided.

The kit comes with the single-link “Magic Track” tracks with the extended blades for the Winterketten molded in place. While many modelers have been asking for the easy to install DS plastic single track runs, as I noted with the Pzkw. III Ausf. N kit this may be better here due to strength and rigidity. The ice cleats are separate and suggested installation options are provided.

Technical credit is given to Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Three finishing options are provided: StuG Brigade 901, Kharkov 1943 (whitewash over sand with black crosses); StuG Brigade 901, Kharkov 1942-43 (whitewash over grey with black crosses); and three separate vehicles from Luftwaffe Felddivision, Norway 1943 (whitewash spots over grey, “Gerda”, “Erika” or “Ulla”). A small sheet of Cartograf decals are provided for these options.

Overall, this is a nice option to a popular kit and the offering of an F8 makes for another member of the “Stug” family.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

- Cookie Sewell

Kit, DML 6644, StuG.III Ausf.F/8 Late Production w/Winterketten

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED

Product Specifications.

6644, StuG.III Ausf.F/8 Late Production w/Winterketten Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 732 styrene parts (including 14 clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, one bag of track grousers, one etched metal fret, one length of braided metal wire, three water-slide decal marking schemes (with variations) and eight pages of instructions in 17 steps.

Introduction.

As most modelers know, when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, they came in for a shock when encountering the Red Armys T-34 medium tank and KV heavy tank. Simply stated, there was virtually no tank or anti-tank gun that could penetrate these adversaries, save for the press-ganged 8.8cm FlaK. It would be many months before a solution was fielded in the form of the 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 and L/48, and its cousin, the 7.5cm StuK40 L/43 and L48. It was the final version of the latter gun which was fitted to the StuG.III Ausf.F/8. This combined a modified casemate from the Ausf.F with a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.L or Ausf.M hull.

Now, DML has released a kit of what might be termed as the link between all of the StuG.IIIs that went before, and the penultimate model, the Ausf.G.

Tracks.

These come loosely packed in a two bags and are so-called Magic Tracks. They represent the so-called Winterketten (winter track), which were based on 40cm-wide links that had solid guide horns, cleat faces with spuds and extended wings on the outer edges. These tracks are handed, so the modeler is cautioned not to open up the bags and mix things up prior to assembly; as an added bit of help, each sides links are a slightly different color of gray styrene. Being Magic Tracks, they have no sprue attachment points, which is a definite time saver since no cutting or clean-up in that regard is required. Each has a pair of extremely faint ejector pin marks on the inner face. These can be ignored or erased as the modeler sees fit. They fit together easily but quite loosely, and must be fixed together with glue prior to handling. The final items here are several dozen parts to represent what were called Mittelstollen (center grousers); these were fitted on outer face of selected links in order to provide for a better grip in icy conditions.

Suspension System.

The road-wheels are conventionally molded in inner and outer pieces, with integral rubber tires. The outer faces of the wheel hubs feature perforations and weld beads where appropriate, while the tires have a facsimile of the manufacturers logo (ContinentaU) on their rims. On the inner faces, the pins (or tubes?) that helped join the wheel halves together are molded on (for the first time in styrene) providing an unprecedented level of detail in this regard. Spare road wheels and spare track pins are also given for stowage. The return rollers are in two parts (inner and outer halves).

The drive sprockets come as conventional inner and outer pieces and are completely detailed. The idler wheels are also in inner and outer parts, but feature separate hubs as well as etched brass inner rings. The idler wheels also have a separate axle arm that can be adjusted for fit. The modeler is advised not to glue it in place on the hull until the fit and sag of the tracks have been worked out.

Separate internal torsion bars are given as are beautifully-detailed separate external swing arms. This will allow the suspension to be fixed in an articulated fashion if the modeler desires to place his work on a base with irregular terrain; to do so, simply cut off the pins that protrude from the hull sides, which are there in case the modeler wants a level, fixed suspension. Bump stops, slide-molded shock absorbers and final drive housings (as well as mounting plates for the latter, which have the holes for tow hooks) are also separate parts

Hull.

The main part of the hull comes from a slide-mold so it is fully detailed on all faces. This includes mounts for the road-wheel torsion bar/swing arm units, idler wheel mount, bump stops and shock absorbers, as well as the various bolted strips that connected the hull to the superstructure. Weld seams and weld beads are also present. The belly has drain plug and access plate detail molded in place, plus bolt and rivet heads, as well as weld beads.

The bow plate is separate and its configuration represents the base armor of 50mm. To this base armor is added the bolted 30mm plate, which has crisply-rendered nut and bolt heads that are all at different individual angles. The latter is certainly a nice touch. The hull rear plate is composed of many separate parts including one version of the exhaust deflector, spacer plates, various access covers, tow points and exhaust pipe/muffler assemblies. These last come with opened pipe ends and separate mounts. Finally, an etched brass screen is provided to be placed under the superstructure over-hang.

The separate glacis plate also depicts the type with a 50mm armor basis and also has a separate part to depict the bolted-on 30mm applique plate. On this is mounted a three-piece Notek black-out driving head-lamp, stem and base. The split-style final drive/brake drum access hatch lids are all separate parts and feature separate locking levers.

Track-Guards and OVM.

New, separate track-guards are provided, with the main parts being detailed on the top and bottom surfaces; neither is marred by ejector pin marks. There are a number of styrene and etched brass parts added to these main parts so that all braces, etc. can be depicted in great detail. Most of the tools, as well as the five-part jack, two-part, slide-molded jack block, tow cable mounts, end-loops and brackets (with braided metal wire for the cables), fire extinguisher and two-part convoy tail-lamp are attached to them. The tools have nice clasp details, while the tow cable mounts and jack mounts are separate parts. A number of small wing-nuts are given to detail these items and the end result is bound to be most impressive.

Superstructure.

The new engine deck is a separate part and is configured much like the original; the entire assembly can be left off to depict an engine change. Coming from a slide mold, it has details on all faces including various styles of plate and weld detail as well as attachment flanges and bolt heads. It is of the type that was not inter-locked along the top side edges. The four hatch lids are separate parts, with proper coaming detail around the hatch openings. The new, properly contoured armored guards that surmount the hatch lids are separate parts as are their mounts. A separate tool box as well as gun tube bore swabs and staffs are also mounted here. The latter includes fine separate bracket detail, while more tools are mounted on the side walls. At the side are proper air intake vents, with the correct means of attachment to the walls, including their internal openings. These are topped by etched brass screens, and detailed with, among other items, lift hooks and various tools. The final new item, seen on the engine decks rear plate, was a mount rack for spare track links.

The new casemate is what characterizes the Ausf.F/8. It is a separate, slide-molded part and attaches much like the original. It features excellent weld and panel details, mounting strips and bolt heads, all molded in place. Separate parts are provided for the side lift rings (both inside and outside), rear antennae mounts with flexible rubber bases, and (wait for it!) rod antennae for them. This is a first in any DML StuG.III kit; all I can say is: its about time! Separate sponsons are given to house the radio sets. The radio parts are new (the originals from the Ausf.G are still in the box, but are no longer to be used; spares box take note) and there are enough of them to create a command assault gun. Note that the instructions do not mention that only the starboard side radios were fitted to a standard battery vehicle. Install the radios on the port side and use the second antenna if building a command assault gun. The sponsons are slide-molded and have beautiful weld details; separate parts to stow the cable are given. These are also where the antennae and mounts are fixed. Finally, a pair of spare rod antennae are fixed to their brackets on the outside surface of the casemates rear wall.

The roof plate is separate and has fine recessed screw head details around its edges, as well as hinge, weld and panel details, all molded on. Separate parts for the loaders machine-gun shield (complete with an excellent slide-molded, multi-part Gen2 MG34) are provided. These are given as two options: one deployed, the other folded down. The commander and the loader each have two hatch lids, which can be depicted opened or closed; they are fully detailed inside and out. The plate that covered the gunners sight comes in two options; it includes a separate gun-sight in clear styrene. It is topped by a peculiar protective cage, which is provided as a styrene assembly or a styrene and etched brass assembly. The etched part is pre-formed and must be partly-assembled while still fitted to the cover that protects it during shipment to the modeler. The central part of the roof includes a multi-part fan, with internal detail.

Up front there are separate, bolted-on armor plates as well as the drivers view port cover. The internal glass block is represented in clear styrene and comes in two options: one has the twin periscope heads deployed for use, the other has them folded to either side. The visor cover is separate and can be posed opened or closed, while the splash guard is also separate. It may be that this item should be moved over towards the vehicles centerline, as this kit represents an Ausf.F/8 built on a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.L hull. Over his left shoulder, the driver also has a separate view-port flap, with clear styrene for the vision block.

The gun mantlet is the welded/bolted type; it comes from a slide-mold and is completely detailed with proper weld beads and bolts. The L/48 gun tube is a single part with a slight seam that will need to be cleaned up; for this I recommend the classic Flex-I-File. The slide-molded muzzle brake is a three-part affair and includes the internal lug and external locking nut. The separate collar, where the gun tube enters the mantlet is exquisitely-rendered to include counter-sunk screw heads. Various new parts are also provided for the smaller baffles and plates situated around the gun opening

Interior.

Internally, the 7.5cm StuK40 main gun is complimented by an almost totally complete mount. This includes cradle, recoil cylinders, mount, traverse and elevation hand-wheels, gunners seat, multi-part breech block, sight mounts and clear Sfl.Z.F.1a gun sight. This entire item mounts over the drive shaft tunnel, which in turn, is attached to the floor plate. A bulkhead/engine firewall unit encloses the compartment at the rear. A pair of MP40s are now provided for stowage; these include etched brass parts for slings and to hold them in place on the rear wall. There is also a commanders seat. The commanders scissors telescope comes in two versions, one of which is stowed, the other deployed.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Slide-molds have been used in a very intelligent way either to allow for better detail rendition, or for ease of assembly. On visible surfaces, not a single ejector pin mark was found and there was no shrinkage of any kind. Fit of major parts was excellent and mold seams were faint and easily dealt with.

Accuracy.

As far as I could tell, using the scale drawings in reference 1, 2 and 6, this kit is extremely accurate in its major dimensions, shapes and angles. In the area of omissions I noted that there is no ammunition magazine, or belted ammo for the loaders external MG34, and no spent shell case bag is given for beneath the StuK40 main gun.

Decals and Markings Information.

The decals are the usual excellent Italian product from Cartograf. They are crisp, in register and have thin, closely-cropped carrier film. Markings and painting guide for three assault guns (with two additional variations) are given as follows:

StuG.Abt.901, Kharkov 1943.
StuG.Abt.901, Kharkov 1942-43.
Ulla, Erika or Gerda, 14.Luftwaffe Feld-Division, Norway 1943.

Instructions.

These are in the conventional drawn style. Note that where the colors are called out in the painting and markings section, they use the names given them by various hobby paint manufacturers. This will result in improper colors on at least two of assault guns, since they were most probably painted in the 1942 Tropen (tropical) paint schemes as correctly shown on the box cover art.

Conclusion.

I have a personal bias in favor of the StuG.III and the Pz.Kpfw.III. So, any kit of a major model or even a minor one, gives me cause to be satisfied. That this new kit is an exquisite representation of the evolution of the Sturmgeschutz III that bridged the gap between the short and long gun-armed versions is simply icing on an already tasty cake.

- Frank V. De Sisto

6644 StuG.III Ausf.F/8 Late Production with Winterketten
1/35 injection plastic kit with decals and photo etch

The Sturmgeschutz Abteilung (assault guns battalions) were heavily deployed on the Eastern Front and many StuG were fitted with wider tracks to improve mobility in the bitter Russian winters. The Sturmgeschutz (StuG) III Ausf F/8 with the longer L/48 75mm barrel was a major adversary to the Soviet T-34. Manufactured in the later part of 1942, the Ausf F/8 had a Panzer III Ausf J/L hull while retaining the superstructure of the Ausf F. The “/8” in F/8 refers to a change in the chassis design and not the barrel.

Later production Ausf F/8 were fitted with 80mm thick frontal armor where the supplementary armor on the lower hull and around the driver and radio operator was bolted on (rather than welded) to save production effort. The brake access hatches revert to the hinge design fitted on previous StuG. Some later F/8 were also fitted with a hinged
shield to protect the loader while he exposed himself firing the roof mounted machine gun (this became standard on the Ausf G). The late production F/8 were issued to the troops during the winter of 1943, a period when winterketten used on the Eastern Front.
This new release features several new sprues include a new upper superstructure (casemate), engine deck and upper hull. The winterketten are also new and have chevrons on the track’s outer faces. The lower hull and suspension are based on other Smart kit releases. This kit shares no parts with Dragon’s 1990’s 1/35 scale F/8 release (which interesting also had winterketten).

The gatefold instructions have 17 steps of line drawings that are clearly laid out and, straightforward. Photo etch is provided for the air intake grills, mesh over the air deflector (faced downwards on the hull rear), upper fender supports, centres for the idler wheels, and base of the periscope guard. The few injection marks are placed so that they are hidden on the finished kit. Clean up of this kit’s part should be very quick. As the Ausf F/8 were produced before zimmerit was introduced, this kit will depict a front line vehicle straight out of the box.

SUPERSTRUCTURE & FIGHTING COMPARTMENT

The new superstructure is slide-molded and has a separate roof with the periscope layout specific to the Ausf F/8. The parts have realistic detail for weld seams and bolt heads. The roof plate could be left loose if you wished to display the detailed internal fighting compartment. The hatches can all be modeled open and have detail on both sides. The gunner’s MG shield has separate parts for the hinges and can be modeled up or down, or not fitted. The F/8 had fixed aerial and the aerial base and rod are both included. The one-piece injection barrel has a separate three part muzzle break. The applique armor on the superstructure front is added using separate parts with crisp detail for the bolt heads that indicate a later production F/8.

Many F/8 had a wire ‘bird’s cage’ guard over the gunner’s periscope. This kit includes the option of a pre-formed metal cage (which would be my preference) or injection plastic part. Both options are better than those in older kits or aftermarket 1990’s PE.

The side panniers are separate parts which house the Gen-2 radio sets, a design approach which may help with sequencing assembly and painting.

This kit has a meaningful amount of interior detail which will meet most modelers expectations. The StuK 40 gun is quite detailed with the breech, sights, hand wheel, gunner’s seat, recuperator cylinders, and recoil guard. It is attached to a realistic mount that is placed on a floor, which has anti-skid plate, recessed handles for the access points and a transmission tunnel. The rear firewall now has a pair of MP40s with PE straps. The roof has the internal housing for the ventilator fan. The commander’s seat is included. Clear plastic parts are provided for the driver’s vision block, cupola and the main periscope gun sight. If you want much of the other detail such as the ammunition racks, driver’s position 75mm rounds, gas mask canisters, and headphones could be source from spares or aftermarket sets.


HULL & ENGINE DECK

Like with other recent Dragon 1/35 StuG/Panzer III the hull is very well designed and lets modelers choose the level of detail they want. The lower hull is a one-piece tub with slide-molding used to provide detail such as weld seams on the bottom and counter sunk holes on the sides, which has been laid out specific to the F/8. The suspension arms are separate and linked to the separate internal torsion bar suspension arms. The angle of the arms could be adjusted (e.g. for dioramas). The rear idlers have photo-etched rims and the road wheels have the tyre and rim as one piece.

Separate parts are provided for small detail such as the track tension adjusters, rear bump stop, exhaust deflector, frame for the deflector, and starter port cover. Many of these parts have been slide molded and the exhaust pipes have hollowed out ends.

The new side fenders have an anti-skid pattern on the upper surface and underside and integrated front fenders (these were fixed on the F/8). The holes for the tools are predrilled for the F/8 arrangement. The tools have the brackets and clamps cast on for ease of assembly and the jack is built from four parts plus separate parts for the brackets. The tow cables are made from twisted wire with plastic end eyes.

The winterketten are new to this kit and differ from those in the Panzer III Ausf N. This release has chevrons on the link’s outer face (the previous kit had no chevrons). As photos of StuG III F/8 show a variety of track types; and winterketten was used across the Panzer III and IV families, I am sure many modelers will swap tracks between kits. The winterketten, meaning winter tracks, had triangular extensions which reduced the ground pressure to allow the tanks to operate on snow. Winterketten were introduced in 1942 and differed from the latter Ostketten which were wider single cast track links. You have to fit 18 to 31 separate ice cleats to each track run.

The engine deck is based on a new slide molded frame. The spare wheels are on two of the louvers and spare tracks are stored in a frame on the rear of the deck (photos show when winterketten was used, the extension grousers weren’t always fitted to the spares). All four hatches can be modeled open (although you will need to supply your own Maybach HL 120 engine). The two-part toolbox has crisp padlocks and anchors. Weld detail is finely rendered.

DECALS

The instructions profile three different schemes each featuring whitewash over dark grey or dark yellow. A small Cartograf decal sheet supplies the markings. Most photos of StuG III F/8 show relatively few, if any, makings beyond Balkan Crosses.

The first two profiles are from Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 901 at the Third Battle of Kharkov during February to March 1943 (also known as the Donets Campaign). This Wehrmacht unit had a windmill unit insignia and was attached to Lehr-Regiment 901 (motorised) which was formed from training units to provide much need reinforcements following the losses at Stalingrad. Photos of this unit F/8 show stowage such as ammo crates stored on the engine deck.

The third profile is from 14 Luftwaffen Felddivision in Norway 1943. The suggested profile is a mottled whitewash with a choice of three German female names (Ulla, Erika & Gerda) all of which are based on photos. Several references books have later photos of this unit in summer with these markings and a distinctive camouflage scheme which gives some flexibility if you swap the tracks.

RECOMMENDATION

The StuG III F/8 Late should be a popular as it is an impressive kit, which introduces a new production series to the Smart Kit range of sturmgeschutz.. The inclusion of a new profile of winterketten in Magic Tracks, along with PE and much of the interior enhance its appeal. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord

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