Tamiya 35197 - 1:35 Sturmgeschuetz III Ausf.G

Plastic model kit of the German Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G assault gun in 1:35 scale

The Sturmgeschütz III started life as an infantry support vehicle and ended it as Germany's most effective tank destroyer — with no turret and a very low profile, it could fire from cover and stay unseen until the last moment. Tamiya 35197 depicts the early-production Ausf.G, based on tooling created in 1995.

The kit offers a significant choice right at the planning stage: the vehicle can be armed with either the 7.5 cm gun or the 10.5 cm howitzer. Also included are the Schürzen side skirts fitted to protect the hull sides from anti-tank rifle fire. Two figures of a resting crew, accompanied by their dog, round out the box and provide a ready-made idea for a small vignette.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure and running gear parts
• Choice of 7.5 cm gun barrel or 10.5 cm howitzer
• Schürzen side skirts
• Cementable band tracks
• String for the tow cable
• Two figures of a resting crew with a dog
• Waterslide decal sheet for three marking options (including Sturmgeschütz Brigades 237 and 303)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35197
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 193 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (armament option, side skirts)

Please note: the kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

Assembly progresses smoothly thanks to the excellent parts fit typical of Tamiya. The armament choice — 7.5 cm gun or 10.5 cm howitzer — is worth making before you start, as it affects which marking option you can use. The Schürzen and their brackets call for some patience; aligning them neatly makes a clear difference to the finished model.

For painting, the typical German 1943–1945 colours are recommended: a Dunkelgelb base (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) with patches of green (XF-58 Olive Green) and red brown (XF-64 Red Brown). Applying decals over a gloss coat helps to avoid decal silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish. A wash brings out the detail on the superstructure.

For modellers looking for a higher level of detail, Tamiya offers separate accessories for this kit: photo-etched parts (Tamiya 35199) and turned brass shells (Tamiya 35198). These are not part of the box and must be purchased separately.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers 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)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G:

The Sturmgeschütz III was conceived as an infantry support vehicle built on the proven Panzer III chassis, with its gun mounted in a fixed casemate rather than a rotating turret. This lowered the silhouette and simplified production, while allowing a heavier gun than a turret of the same weight class could carry.

The Ausf.G, introduced late in 1942, was the final and most numerous variant. It carried the 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun, capable of engaging Allied and Soviet tanks at normal combat ranges. A parallel version armed with a 10.5 cm howitzer was designated StuH 42 and was intended chiefly for infantry fire support. The roughly 24-tonne vehicle was operated by a crew of four.

The StuG III became the most numerous German armoured vehicle of the Second World War. Assault guns fought on every front, and the tank kills credited to them exceeded those of many tank units. A low profile, respectable frontal armour and an effective gun made them particularly dangerous in the defence.

Original vehicle specifications (StuG III Ausf.G):

• Combat weight: approx. 24 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun (the 10.5 cm howitzer version was designated StuH 42)
• Chassis: Panzer III medium tank
• Layout: casemate-mounted gun, no rotating turret
• Additional protection: Schürzen side skirts
• Production: from late 1942; the StuG III was the most numerous German armoured vehicle of the Second World War

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. It began in the timber trade and wooden models, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the scale as the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for exceptionally precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this StuG III Ausf.G belongs, runs to hundreds of releases and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles anywhere. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of paints, cements, tools and brushes, as well as detail-up accessories for selected kits. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.