Tamiya 35310 - 1:35 StuG III G Finland

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the StuG III Ausf.G assault gun “Finnish Army”

Tamiya 35310 reproduces the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G in the version used by the Finnish army. Supplied to Finland by Germany, these guns became one of the main armoured vehicles of the Finnish army and played a significant role in the defensive fighting of 1944. After the war they remained in service for many years, until the 1960s.

The model captures the low, characteristic shape of the assault gun with its long-barrelled 7.5 cm gun. In Finnish service these vehicles received a series of modifications reflected in the kit: the Schürzen anti-shaped-charge armour was removed, stowage boxes were placed on the rear deck, and concrete blocks and wooden logs were attached to the hull to improve protection. A Soviet DT machine gun was also fitted. The kit allows an early or late version to be reproduced.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull and superstructure parts
• 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun
• Finnish modifications: concrete blocks and wooden logs attached to the hull
• Soviet DT machine gun
• Stowage boxes, tools and spare track links
• Vinyl belt tracks
• Parts allowing an early or late version to be built
• Commander figure (torso)
• Decal sheet for four marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35310
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 189 mm, width: 85 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (many accessories, Finnish modifications)

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 choice of building the early or late version, and how to arrange the concrete blocks, logs and boxes, is best made at the outset, as it affects assembly of the hull equipment.

For painting, the characteristic Finnish three-colour camouflage (grey-green, sand and dark brown) is recommended, matching the chosen marking option. The concrete blocks and wooden logs are best painted in separately chosen colours, with the whole finished in a matt varnish. 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)
• 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 – StuG III Ausf.G in Finnish service:

The Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G was the most numerously produced variant of the German assault gun, based on the Panzer III tank chassis. Its low, fixed superstructure housed the long-barrelled 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun, which made the vehicle an effective tank-killer.

Finland received StuG III Ausf.G vehicles from Germany during the fighting against the USSR, and they quickly became the backbone of the Finnish armoured forces. In the spring and summer of 1944 they played a significant role in halting the Soviet offensive. Finnish soldiers called them “Sturmi”. To improve their protection, concrete blocks and wooden logs were attached to the hulls. After the war, the StuGs remained in Finnish army service until the 1960s.

Original specifications (StuG III Ausf.G):

• Length with gun: approx. 6.77 m
• Width: approx. 2.95 m
• Height: approx. 2.16 m
• Combat weight: approx. 24 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 gun
• Secondary armament: machine gun (Soviet DT in the Finnish version)
• Powerplant: Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol engine, approx. 300 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 40 km/h
• Armour: up to 80 mm (front)
• Finnish army service: from WWII until the 1960s

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.