1:35 StuG IV

What the set offers

A set of photo-etched parts for a model of the German StuG IV assault gun in 1:35 scale. With combat hardware it is the quickest route to a credible surface: photo-etched metal is thin, so once swapped, the fenders, the grilles over the engine compartment, the brackets, eyes and clasps look like sheet metal rather than like a plastic part several millimeters thick. The scope of the set and the placement of the individual parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

The real subject

The StuG IV was a German assault gun of the Second World War. It arose by combining the superstructure of an assault gun with the chassis of the Panzer IV medium tank and was deployed for direct fire support of infantry as well as against armored hardware.

Building and painting tips

• Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface and sand away the remains of the holding tab.
• Run the bends along the scored line, over a straight edge or in a bending tool, in one calm movement.
• It is glued with cyanoacrylate or soldered; polystyrene cement does not hold on metal.
• First cut off the plastic parts the photo-etched ones replace and level the surface.
• Before painting, degrease the sheet and prime it, otherwise the finish will not hold on smooth metal.

Who it is for

The set is intended for a modeler who wants to go into detail on hardware and does not mind working with tweezers. It pays off on the parts most on show on a finished model: on fenders, bent sheet metal and grilles, where the thickness of the material gives the scale away at first glance.

Terms of supply

The model of the vehicle, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise. Which kit the set is cut for is given in the manufacturer's instructions.