1:35 StuG III ausf. G Topfblende MG mantlet with KwK40 gun (final muzzle brake)

A barrel with a cast mantlet for the StuG III Ausf. G

An accessory to the model of the German assault gun StuG III Ausf. G in 1:35 scale. It replaces the barrel and mantlet from the kit with a version having a cast conical mantlet, for which the German name Topfblende came into use, and with an opening for the machine gun. The barrel belongs to the 7.5 cm gun and ends in a muzzle brake of the late shape. The turned part has an even muzzle and a wall of the same thickness all the way round, which a split plastic barrel does not have without careful filling.

The real subject

The StuG III was built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank as a low tracked vehicle with the gun mounted directly in the hull, that is without a rotating turret. The Ausf. G version was the most numerous and was built until the end of the war. At first it had an angular welded barrel mantlet; in later production a mantlet cast in a conical shape was added. Its design also allowed for a machine gun mounted beside the barrel.

Building and painting tips

• Try the fit of the part in the hull front dry on your particular kit before you reach for the glue.
• Cut the excess material off a little way from the part with a sharp blade and sand the rest down.
• Wash the part in lukewarm water with dish soap before painting and let it dry.
• Apply an undercoat to the smooth surface, otherwise the paint holds poorly.
• The glue suitable for the material used is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

What the delivery contains

This is an accessory to a kit, not a model in its own right. The vehicle model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.