Tamiya 35087 - 1:35 Sturmgeschutz IV Sd.Kfz 163

Plastic model kit of the German Sturmgeschutz IV (Sd.Kfz. 163) assault gun in 1:35 scale

When bombing of the plants building Panzer III chassis threatened the supply of StuG III assault guns, a solution was found quickly: the casemate with the 7.5 cm StuK 40 was moved onto the Panzer IV chassis. The result was the Sturmgeschutz IV, produced from December 1943 and used both for infantry support and against tanks.

Tamiya 35087 comes from classic 1970s tooling and captures the vehicle's distinctive shape: the low casemate with sloping plates, the extended front hull with the driver's cab and the Panzer IV running gear. A figure and a decal sheet for well known armoured units of the Western Front complete the kit.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, casemate, gun and running gear
• Vinyl band tracks
• One crew figure
• Decal sheet with markings for the 2nd, 9th and 116th Panzer Divisions, the Panzer-Lehr Division and assault gun brigades
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35087
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: approx. 191 mm (including the barrel)
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The build is straightforward and the good parts fit lets you concentrate on the painting. It is worth taking care that the barrel sits straight and that the road wheels are aligned, since this determines how naturally the tracks run. The vinyl band tracks are joined with cyanoacrylate glue rather than plastic cement.

Vehicles of 1944-1945 usually wore a three-colour camouflage: a dark yellow base (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) with patches of green and red brown. The large flat casemate surfaces take shading and a wash well. A matt varnish suits the finished model, and pigments can add dirt to the running gear.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the vinyl band tracks
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle - Sturmgeschutz IV (Sd.Kfz. 163):

Assault guns of the StuG family were among the most numerous German armoured vehicles of the Second World War. Doing without a turret lowered the silhouette, simplified construction and raised output, while the long 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun made them effective tank killers.

The StuG IV was introduced to supplement StuG III production after part of the plant building Panzer III chassis was destroyed. The assault gun casemate was mounted on the Panzer IV chassis, with an extended driver's cab added at the front. Production began in December 1943.

Vehicles of this type served with assault gun brigades and with panzer and panzergrenadier divisions, where they supplemented or replaced tanks. They fought on the Eastern and Western Fronts, including in Normandy, often using their low silhouette for ambush defence.

Original vehicle specifications (Sturmgeschutz IV):

• Combat weight: approx. 23 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun
• Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol, approx. 300 hp
• Chassis: Panzer IV medium tank
• Frontal armour: up to 80 mm
• Top speed: approx. 38 km/h
• Production: from December 1943 until the end of the war

About the manufacturer - Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. It began as a timber business and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 scale tank that established this scale as the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, well thought out kit engineering and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of items covering vehicles, guns and figures from the Second World War and the modern era. Alongside kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.