Stug IV Sd.Kfz.167

 I’m really getting a taste for these Airfix AFVs! 

While I consider the finishing touches required on my Cromwell, I therefore, thought I’d take another look through my stash of 1:35 scale tanks. 

I believe the Stug IV also saw action in Normandy during June 1944 and beyond, and thus may face off nicely against my Cromwell … so here goes!

As I'm currently on a D-Day 80th Anniversary mission, the best fit for this seemed to me to be that Stug IV that I recently received as part of the Airfix Weathering Starter Kit bundle. While the kit comes with painting instructions for the 4th SS PanzerGrenadier Division on the Eastern Front, I believe the Stug IV also saw action with a couple of units in Normandy during the summer of 1944.

This is a re-boxed Academy kit, which when released in 2018 actually came with two sets of decals, coincidentally a similar set to that Airfix provide for the 4th SS PanzerGrenadier Division and more relevant to me, a set for the 17th SS PanzerGrenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen" in Normandy 1944. 

 

This is a great looking kit, with the only slight disappointment being the choice of just the one set of flexible tracks which are interestingly advertised on the front of the box as being the "special feature". After building the Cromwell, I'm now really sold on the solid track pieces which add a much more realistic look to the finished model. That aside, I am so far very impressed with the moulding quality and fit.

It wasn't that long before I had the chassis and wheel axles built. I hope to make a start on the wheels and upper gun section tomorrow.

It always surprises me as to how much time the wheels take! 20 wheels made of 3 pieces which I sprayed first with tyre black and then added the dark yellow to the wheel centres. Meanwhile the base got my usual black primer followed by the dark yellow base colour.

This freed the way for me to then fit the wheels and the flexible tracks, which I had pre-tinted with a layer of rust, and then the upper sections of the Stug which I had pre-primed with black.

The upper parts of the Stug build very neatly in layers with no gapping, although a bit of tape was required here and there to hold the joins safely together.

After the fitting the minuscule handles and hatches, leaving the wider gunners hatch open ... the only one large enough to install a figure ... it was time for a bit more black primer followed by a light dusting of dark yellow. This Stug will be having the three tone yellow, green and red camouflage so I wasn't looking for a perfect coverage.

One mistake I made when fitting the spare wheel carrier was to cut the brackets between carrier and track guards too short! I, therefore, replaced them with two pieces of similar sized fuse wire, drilled and secured top and bottom. I'd ideally like to add side skirts to this Stug, they come with the kit, but there are no fitting instructions provided either by Airfix nor with the original Academy kit. 

So, I've added the Normandy 3 tone camouflage. It’s way too bright at the moment but this will be addressed once I apply a light fading wash. 

I also have tools and heard from a fellow modeller who's suggested I look at the Panzer IV kit to see how those side skirts to fit, oh yes and a crew member. More to follow.

The Airfix 1:35 scale Stug IV is almost there. I just need to decide which decals to affix. 

As you will recall, I was hoping to be able to use a set of Panzer IV side skirts which this kit includes the spues for, however, the fittings just did not line up. I guess these were designed to work with the higher tank structure. I also tried using the Stug's brackets but, again, they did not align to the skirts. Yes, I guess I could have scratch built some, but having them was to be a 'nice to have' rather than a 'must have'. I'm just going to have to get my hands on a Panzer IV now, as at least I have the skirts all painted up ready and prepared!

I’ve therefore, gone with the 'out of the box' build although my finish will be for a Northern Europe and not Easter Front setting. The figure is from David Harris's 3D Gizmo range of Panzer crew. I chose the resting crew member to mirror that I used in my Cromwell, leaving the tank commander figure for another build as he wouldn't have fitted through his dedicated hatch without some major surgery! 

For the decals, I'm pondering whether to just add the crosses, leaving the numbers and division markings in the box. My dilemma is that Airfix provide for the 4th SS PanzerGrenadier Division which served on the Eastern Front while it was the 17th SS PanzerGrenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen" which was in Normandy. Will anyone other than myself notice this or care? Also, in archive photos I have found I see no numbers nor division markings, just crosses. What do you think? 

This morning I'd have another look at those skirts. Offering them up to the Stug brackets showed again just how different the fittings are to the Panzer IV for which they are intended. So out came the knife and I moved the hoops to better align with the teeth ...

I think it kind of worked. We now have the 1:35 scale Airfix Stug IV on which I reworked the Panzer IV side skirt fittings included in the kit to fit to what would have been a skirtless Stug! 

All this has done though, is to postpone that decision I need to make on what decals to use!

Decision made. When checking out archive pictures of the June 1944 Normandy based unit, 17. SS- Pz.Gren.Div "Götz von Berlichingen, I spotted their tank numbers matched perfectly with decals included in this kit, although intended by Airfix for a different unit! 

:)