Ultimate 1945 Sturmgeschutz Kit -- Post-build Review: StuG III Ausf.G Late Production (RFM 5086)

One thing I forgot to mention. When assembling the tracks, they say to put on 91 links per side. I have 92 per side on mine and it's super tight, no slack, so you might need to use 93 per side.

But you should get some of the correct late tracks anyways 😛

If this is the late version of sturmgechutz lll !? Why does it have early tracks !?

Looks great . Odd they would give you early track with the open guide horns , more applicable to an early pz.4 . Nice work with the welds , they wiĺl show up will when painted and weatherd . M

I have this kit in my stash. Thanks for the heads-ups.

I can't find that chain online! There is a shop about an hours drive away however...

Thanks for the nice review! Just another suggestion to make sure everything is straight in the beginning: what I do is I use the torsion bars to hold the structure in place. I don't glue the sides nor the bars nor the back or front. With the bars holding everything together you can dry fit the engine part and the front (or whatever) and then glue things as you move along. It works very well this way.

Hi Evan, another great review as always!!

May I ask you a question please it's regarding the small periscope hatch on the commanders cupola.

When the main hatch is in the open position you see a lot of models modelled with the small periscope hatch hanging down in the open position.

My question is would this always be the case or could the small periscope hatch be locked in a close position?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards

Dave.

Hi, I have just bought this kit after enjoying your review, hope you can help, stage 32 shows inserting a spring into the gun mount and then the barrel, can you explain what this is for. Many thanks

I just got this one and 5069 such bargains There is so much in the kits.

Hi Panzer36, pls allow me to call you by this simplified code instead, here's greetings from a China modeling fan. I found your content almost a godlike guide which is clear, informative, and thorough enough but does not generate any kind of confusion at all even for a brainless beginner like me. This would be the ultimate main guidance for my StugIII project for sure. Thanks again!

Love how flash is an old problem nowadays


MOLD LINES on the other hand....

As a StuG fan I can appreciate this video. I was looking forward to getting this kit but seeing all the problems you incurred, I've decided to pass until RFM is able to work out the kinks.

Good news Nigel, thank you

Great video thank you. 'Can' you recommend 'any' kits with high-quality full-interior, preferably with cut-away...? I'd like to get into some true modeling challenges and I would really like to see the interiors of these tanks. There are not many kits I can find that have full interior detail. If you can, please offer some input. I subscribed so hopefully you will reply to me. Thanks again. I'm currently working on a great kit : 1/35 Strumpanzer 4 Brummbar late version by Academy, unfortunately no interior, but still a great kit to build.

Great review Evan 👍. I don't want to open Pandora’s box, but I've got a question regarding... Zimmerit. Do these Late StuGs require Zimmerit and if so, which pattern?

Great video!

Where did you get the clamp(s) from?

RFM makes some great kits, but I ran into the same thing with their Firefly. Do not follow their assembly sequence!

Excellent video. You almost make me want to build another Rye Field kit... Almost.

I went with type 5a tracks from TREX because I had some laying around but I guess those are passable as correct for a G late aswell?

Hi Panzermeister36, would you consider building RMF StuG with interior. I have the G early with interior and from the box the kit looks fantastic.

Excellent review, great intro to all the late StuG features, love it Evan !

Use a laser pointer. A flashing hand and waving pen barrel made my head spin.✌️

Do you have any thoughts on the early Ryfield models Stug G ?

Great info. I like Stugs but not an expert. Desert early stug III .. are the Tropical filters and ventilation visible at all ??

Nice review, well done, I like complex builds, and would like to see a review on the full interior one. :)

I am in awe of your passion, knowledge and attention to detail.

Just a heads up my guy, Border’s Stug is coming out soon as well, and the full interior version comes with a full sprue of stowage, metal ammo, metal gun and all the crew in fighting positions

Very interesting, thanks.

Hi
From which manufacturer did you use for the tracks.

Super review Evan, far better than just an inbox review. Please do a video painting this Stug, that would be awesome and I can always learn something from your painting/weathering skills. 😊👍

Buddy what is that item on the center front of the hull under the barrel that looks like a helmet, I have been looking everywhere on line to try and find out what it is ;) cheers buddy 👍🏻🇦🇺

Panzermeister36 Cool, I guess there is no one else that loves the sturmgesütz as much as you. I think you should get youreself one instead of a car to drive around in XD.

Also the interior kit is great but missing many details. Wish you would do one with full interior

Hitting out the park. Rye field is my go to. Then takom. Dragon is my parts kit. But no where as good as rye field.

Awesome review Evan! I've yet to receive my RFM StuG III and I had my concerns from my recent couple of RFM kits not being as accurate and well engineered as one had hoped for, and as a fellow StuG III aficionado I'm very thankful for your detailed post build review! It's been a crazy year with all the new StuG III kits coming to market - and although I've not been building like normal since I'm not back to health again I've gladly increased my (rather scary in size) stash of my absolute favourite subject. :) Some kits have been well engineered and easy to correct with regards to details whereas some have been less impressive, but having access to this many new StuG III Ausf. G in not only 1/35 scale but also the Das Werk/Takom 1/16 will bring us a lot of joy years to come!
I've not yet managed to get any RFM "working tracks" to be a fun exercise because of the track pin design. I've replace all with metal tracks, but hearing you being successful without pulling your hair out makes me hopeful that they've changed them ever so slightly that they do assemble into working tracks?! Not being able to build any kits for quite a long time did make me to work in Fusion 360 instead and I've made quite a few parts that are better and more accurate than the kit parts in the past, and making winterketten and ostketten track links for panzer III (amongst other things) makes me want to build another kit to see if they fit and work as intended?! I'd love to put them on the 1/16 StuG and make a small winter vignette... When I have verified them I will post them for free, like I do with all my designs for those with descent resin printers.
A few things you pointed out here I was surprised that RFM had missed, like the schurzen plates you had to correct, or the loaders armour plate?! In the end of the day it's a balance between time/cost of development and making a profit so in some cases I can accept that they make certain parts simplified (we who are a bit anal can correct them regardless) but every now and then I wish they could spend a little bit more time to make sure that simple things like a mesh being oriented correctly... It doesn't cost any more or less to get it right!
Still this does look like a very good kit with relatively few design flaws and I will surely write down your findings and put the list in the box for the day when I get round to build mine!
I wish Takom, RFM, Mini Art, Dragon etc would contact you whilst designing new kits since you are hands down the best resource out there on StuG III! It would make life easier for everyone - and you getting something out of it as well... ;)
Cheers Evan and many thanks for an excellent review!!!

Great kit review! Thanks for such an in depth job on this, very useful for a novice Armor builder like myself👍

great review, thanks mate. Ive got the RFM StuG III early in the stash and was amazed at the parts count when i looked in the box. Now i know why!

Love the video's & review. Great kit, will be looking for this one in the hobby store. Just an FYI, the HO scale chain is from Detail Associates, not "diesel details" as mentioned. They do lovely parts, but can be hard to find at times, A-Line also do nice chains in a variety of different sizes.

Evan, your level of detail knowledge of this vehicle is amazing.

Great stuff my friend ..I own the "Achtung Panzer No.5 Sturmgeschutz III/StuG.IV and SIG III" been an absoluted value for money buy all these years and having an App on me phone helps translate the Japanese when no English description (which is alot). Bought the TREX 1/35 PzKpfw.III/IV Tracks Type 6b w/Cleats + Elefants Corporation Tow Cable and Clamps for StuG.III G Late along with RFM KV-I Mod.1942 which is honestly far ahead of Trumpy/Tamiya offerings.

You really do approach your modeling with high level of accuracy, sophistication and historical accuracy. Well done, you’re at the top of your game. I enjoy all your videos.

As always - a pleasure to watch!

Great modeling as always !. One little thing I noticed is that six holes on the return rollers seems just a little too smaller than the original.🤔

IMHO I made some research and I believe that the sideskirts which are used by Panzermeister36 were used on the StuG.III Ausf.G early production.

Best model kit review I have seen. The approach of reviewing post build assists in the "definitive" characterization. I don't get much from the ...ok, lets open the box and look at the parts, oh wow let's admire the nice panel lines....blah, blah. You definitely know your StuGs, excellent work in pointing out differences on late model vs other variations. That Rye Field kit provides some nice detail, but I am not a fan of framing up and then having to square the tub, wrong tracks, missing or bad poly caps, overly detailed interior when not having the interior version, etc. Seems there is a compromise on detail vs kit engineering. You made it look relative easy, but you've built 30 StuGs or so and are an accomplished scale modeler. Something tells me this kit would give the some folks reason to drink. Seriously though, good work. You should consider a book on StuGs.

I knew rye field and rochm would eventually reach your bench.Just starting to demojovate on the Stug IV,starting exterior.This helps.

💪💪💪💪

Thank you for taking the time to do this detailed walkthrough of the build. Awesome of you!