Differences

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--- blog:military:models_stug3g [2025/07/28 09:34] – [Box Contents] john
+++ blog:military:models_stug3g [2025/08/10 13:23] (current) – [In Progress Images (kit #2)] john
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 If that isn't entirely obvious, almost all of the axles have not been cast onto the parts - I'm missing 5 on one side and 2 on the other. And no, they haven't been cut off or been snapped while in the box - it's clear under a magnifying lens that the axles have not been cast correctly as each one has a little raised 'bump' where the axle should be; no cracks or cuts are evident.
-Email sent to <support@miniart-models.com> to ask if replacements are available. For now, this goes back in the box.
+Email sent to <support@miniart-models.com>, as well as https://www.emodels.co.uk to ask if replacements are available. For now, this goes back in the box.
+===== In Progress Images (kit #2) =====
+Whilst I left eModels to sort out the original kit, I bought another identical, new box. Look what I found when it turned up:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250731123344.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250731123541.jpg?500|}}
+Both sides with one axle broken off and rolling around the (sealed) bag. I suspect that the pins on the earlier kit possibly broke off in the same way due to a manufacturing flaw - they weren't rattling around in the bag of that one.
+First job was to fix the broken axles - easier said than done as there is so little to work with. Eventually got them re-attached and the main lower hull built up:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250803142306.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250803142314.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250803142403.jpg?500|}}
+Next is building up the wheels. These are a massive pain. Every wheel is two part, including the tiny return rollers. Most of them go together quite easily, with a flat mounting face and 'peg' design, but the main road wheels, which are in 24 parts, are really tricky. The road wheels don't have an easy mounting face to glue the two halves together, just 5 tiny little pegs that are supposed to keep them the right distance apart. Not all of them ended up aligned perfectly.
+I decided to drill out the holes in the road wheels slightly as these seemed to be //very// tight when attempting to locate on the axles. Since it's clear the axles are a weak link in this kit it's not worth the risk.
+I //hated// this part:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250804201912.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809093226.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809104613.jpg?500|}}
+Now it's attaching the tracks to the wheels. The kit uses link and length styrene tracks which makes it incredibly easy to glue together securely, but time consuming to add the 8 individual cleats around the drive sprocket and 7 around the idler wheel at the rear. Looks good and is very detailed though, so the pay off is worth it:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809120143.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809125114.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809125121.jpg?500|}}
+Adding the casemate upper. Fairly simple, but it's worth gluing the gun mount in place - it's designed to allow the (very limited) traverse and elevation that the StuG gun had, but the way it is implemented isn't very secure and the gun can fall off the mounting pins quite easily. Better to get everything lined up and then just cement it in place.
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250804201855.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809125623.jpg?500|}}
+Here we're now building up the rear deck area:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809132259.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809133845.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809174307.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250809180038.jpg?500|}}
+Adding main gun, hatches and additional details:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250810083743.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250810104749.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250810104756.jpg?500|}}{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250810104804.jpg?500|}}
+Framework for the additional //schurtzen// armour plates being built. This looks a bit more structural and a little easier to put together than the parts on the [[:blog:military:models_panzer4j|Dragon Panzer IV]] kit:
+{{:blog:models:stug_iii_g:img20250810104836.jpg?500|}}
 ===== Completed Images =====