Tamiya 35281 - 1:35 Sturmegeschutz III Ausf. B

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B assault gun

Tamiya 35281 reproduces the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) in the Ausf.B variant – a German assault gun based on the proven Panzer III tank chassis. Dispensing with a rotating turret in favour of a short-barrelled 75 mm gun mounted directly in a fixed superstructure lowered the vehicle's silhouette and simplified its production.

The model is developed from new tooling, capturing the vehicle's characteristic squat shape. The short-barrelled 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun is adjustable after assembly, and the kit includes a turned aluminium barrel and photo-etched parts for the engine air-intake mesh. Once the superstructure is removed, the detailed fighting compartment interior is revealed.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure and fittings
• Short-barrelled 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun (adjustable after assembly) with a turned aluminium barrel
• Photo-etched parts for the engine air-intake mesh
• Detailed fighting compartment (gun breech, radio, seats, ammunition racks)
• String to represent the tow cable
• Vinyl belt tracks
• Driver's hatch can be assembled open or closed
• Standing commander figure
• Decal sheet for five marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35281
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 157 mm, width: 85 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (photo-etched parts, detailed interior)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Thanks to the excellent part fit typical of Tamiya, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders. The detailed fighting compartment is best painted before the superstructure is closed up – and because the superstructure is removable, the detail can be displayed. Fitting the photo-etched mesh calls for care and cyanoacrylate glue.

For painting, a uniform German dark grey is recommended (Panzergrau, the equivalent of RAL 7021), matching all five 1941 marking options. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the detail and recesses benefit from a wash and dry-brushing.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B:

The Sturmgeschütz III was developed as an infantry support vehicle, able to provide strong fire support when breaking through fortified positions. It was based on the Panzer III tank chassis, dispensing with the rotating turret and mounting a short-barrelled 75 mm gun directly in a low, armoured superstructure, which lowered the silhouette and aided concealment.

The Ausf.B was the first mass-produced variant – from June 1940. The vehicle received wider tracks and a Maybach HL 120 TRM engine. It fought during the Balkans campaign in April 1941 and in Operation Barbarossa from June 1941. As the war went on, the StuG III evolved from an assault gun towards a tank-destroyer role, becoming one of the most numerously produced German armoured vehicles.

Original specifications (Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B):

• Length: approx. 5.4 m
• Width: approx. 2.92 m
• Height: approx. 1.95 m
• Combat weight: approx. 20 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: short-barrelled 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun
• Powerplant: Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol engine, approx. 300 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 40 km/h
• Range: approx. 160 km
• Armour: up to 50 mm (superstructure front)
• Production of the Ausf.B variant: from 1940, approx. 300 examples

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.