One thing I forgot to mention. When assembling the tracks, they say to put on 91 links per side. I have 92 per side on mine and it's super tight, no slack, so you might need to use 93 per side. But you should get some of the correct late tracks anyways 😛
I wish more channels would do this! A detailed build review discussing fit and finish, accuracy of parts, errors or omissions, confusing instructions, etc. An in-box review can show the contents of a kit and level of detailing but until you get into the nuts and bolts of it you don't know what you're getting for your money. Keep up the great work! 👍
Yep, calling this "the definitive kit review" is certainly not an overstatement! Thank you for putting all this information for us mortals together, it will be very helpful. Your model looks gorgeous, i was expecting precisely that.
Thank you Michael! I had a lot of fun on this one for sure. It's a great kit, and figuring out the few small changes to perfect it was a fun research puzzle :)
Wow! What a SUPERB review! Not only did you provide a learned & detailed assessment of the kit, but you demonstrated easy-to-attain corrections for all the errors. This empowers all builders to make informed decisions re whether or not they will change the order of RFM's build sequence, and what historical errors they feel are worthwhile to correct. IMHO, you have set a new standard for all professional & amateur build reviews (*), and you must be commended for the time & energy you have sacrificed to benefit your peers in the world of modelling! Last, but not least, never ever doubt the entertainment value & informative nature of any other your videos. We are blessed every time you share your enthusiasm & knowledge on TH-cam! (*) This is NOT a criticism of other reviewers...the vast majority of modellers do reviews without compensation, and (understandably) with limited time & resources. In fact, I considered every non-professional review as a gift that should be greatly appreciated by all modellers.
Awesome review Evan! I've yet to receive my RFM StuG III and I had my concerns from my recent couple of RFM kits not being as accurate and well engineered as one had hoped for, and as a fellow StuG III aficionado I'm very thankful for your detailed post build review! It's been a crazy year with all the new StuG III kits coming to market - and although I've not been building like normal since I'm not back to health again I've gladly increased my (rather scary in size) stash of my absolute favourite subject. :) Some kits have been well engineered and easy to correct with regards to details whereas some have been less impressive, but having access to this many new StuG III Ausf. G in not only 1/35 scale but also the Das Werk/Takom 1/16 will bring us a lot of joy years to come! I've not yet managed to get any RFM "working tracks" to be a fun exercise because of the track pin design. I've replace all with metal tracks, but hearing you being successful without pulling your hair out makes me hopeful that they've changed them ever so slightly that they do assemble into working tracks?! Not being able to build any kits for quite a long time did make me to work in Fusion 360 instead and I've made quite a few parts that are better and more accurate than the kit parts in the past, and making winterketten and ostketten track links for panzer III (amongst other things) makes me want to build another kit to see if they fit and work as intended?! I'd love to put them on the 1/16 StuG and make a small winter vignette... When I have verified them I will post them for free, like I do with all my designs for those with descent resin printers. A few things you pointed out here I was surprised that RFM had missed, like the schurzen plates you had to correct, or the loaders armour plate?! In the end of the day it's a balance between time/cost of development and making a profit so in some cases I can accept that they make certain parts simplified (we who are a bit anal can correct them regardless) but every now and then I wish they could spend a little bit more time to make sure that simple things like a mesh being oriented correctly... It doesn't cost any more or less to get it right! Still this does look like a very good kit with relatively few design flaws and I will surely write down your findings and put the list in the box for the day when I get round to build mine! I wish Takom, RFM, Mini Art, Dragon etc would contact you whilst designing new kits since you are hands down the best resource out there on StuG III! It would make life easier for everyone - and you getting something out of it as well... ;) Cheers Evan and many thanks for an excellent review!!!
Hi Panzer36, pls allow me to call you by this simplified code instead, here's greetings from a China modeling fan. I found your content almost a godlike guide which is clear, informative, and thorough enough but does not generate any kind of confusion at all even for a brainless beginner like me. This would be the ultimate main guidance for my StugIII project for sure. Thanks again!
I also had the same gap issue with the front plates. On future builds of this kit, I will put the lower hull totally together first with upper & lower front plates.
I’m not a rivet counter, but I very much enjoy your style of pointing out accuracy, and doing the build review vs. the box review. Nicely done and thank you
You really do approach your modeling with high level of accuracy, sophistication and historical accuracy. Well done, you’re at the top of your game. I enjoy all your videos.
Great review, Thanks.!! So, most ppl may not know that with out the “rivet counters” we would not have updated or mostly accurate kits available. And to that point I believe one can make an accurate late MIAG stug as pointed out on M.L. as RFM gives lots of extra and spare parts in this kit. Anyway I really enjoy your video and how you explain details and mods you have done. I am one of the few that doesn’t mind a longer video when so much information is in it.Take care
Thank you Timothy! There's a few missing parts for a MIAG vehicle. You have the appropriate fenders in the kit (unused from the early version) but you will have to get the MIAG fender supports from elsewhere. You will also need the roof with 3 crane mounts as I have never seen a MIAG late StuG with 5 mounts...even 1945 vehicles. MIAG still used the plug instead of Nahvertidigungswaffe until Dec 1944 but that part is in the kit. And you'll still need to fix the rear light, fire extinguisher, jack foot, side skirts. You can leave the stock tow cable clamps though and you don't have to move the barrel support chain mount or PE mesh. MIAG also had the transmission hatch locks in front of the driver on the opposite hatch.
Thanks for the nice review! Just another suggestion to make sure everything is straight in the beginning: what I do is I use the torsion bars to hold the structure in place. I don't glue the sides nor the bars nor the back or front. With the bars holding everything together you can dry fit the engine part and the front (or whatever) and then glue things as you move along. It works very well this way.
Great build and a great video. I just picked this kit up after seening this video. wish you had done a complete build series on this one including painting and and weathering. Still with the amount of content you put out I can understand why you didn'tdo it . I watched the box review and thought about getting this one but this video sealed the deal. Once again you built another master piece, well done.
Great stuff my friend ..I own the "Achtung Panzer No.5 Sturmgeschutz III/StuG.IV and SIG III" been an absoluted value for money buy all these years and having an App on me phone helps translate the Japanese when no English description (which is alot). Bought the TREX 1/35 PzKpfw.III/IV Tracks Type 6b w/Cleats + Elefants Corporation Tow Cable and Clamps for StuG.III G Late along with RFM KV-I Mod.1942 which is honestly far ahead of Trumpy/Tamiya offerings.
Thank you so much for the quality and style of this review. Everything I have learned about the AMPS modellers shows in how you put the history together with the hobbyist aspects. Giving the references for the aftermarket was icing on the cake, and showed more professionalism in your video than many others with years on you. I am 3 times as interested in this kit and the story behind the tanks production than I was all the other Stugs combined (including Andy's) Truly impressed and looking forward to seeing the complete build out. Between your podcast visits, the tracks comparison, and this video, you have won over a supporter for Patreon. Bravo Zulu Sir.
As a StuG fan I can appreciate this video. I was looking forward to getting this kit but seeing all the problems you incurred, I've decided to pass until RFM is able to work out the kinks.
Super review Evan, far better than just an inbox review. Please do a video painting this Stug, that would be awesome and I can always learn something from your painting/weathering skills. 😊👍
Keep it going great review have 2 on order now,watch your kit talks for a long time now, accurate updates needed on kits now as parts just keep getting missed with all the details pictures around, good side plate pick up, with nice pictures basic stuff missed by today’s model manufacture’s
Great kit build doing my old Tamiya one now, everyone worries about getting the paint in with an airbrush still do mine old school with enamels and a paintbrush don't think they were to worried in 1944 about the paint job 🙄 obviously you can't do it like that if you want a gold medal award winner. Mine will take about 14 hours to do with a base for the Bocage and I'll be happy which everyone who does kit's is bothered about
Great work as always. It's a perfect guide for whom plans to buy this kit. For me, I only disappointed they didn't replace early type tool clamp. Actually, I was just satisfied to buy only StuG III early type of RFM but I'll buy it too. lol Have a nice week end and stay safe carefully my friend. Regards, NOB
The best book on the subject is Sturmgeschütz Volume 2 by Muller and Zimmermann, but it is out of print at the moment and hard to find. The Spielberger Sturmgeschütz book is alright but not perfect.
My Friend you should rename your self to StuGmeister 😉👍👍👍 Absolut perfect detailed and informativ review and big help for me to decide if I should buy this Kit. If I'm not wrong the interior Kit comes with Figures. May be I will buy both of them 🙈 Thank you very much for your superb work. 👍👍👍 OH, and I think you did build more StuG's than me 😁💪💪💪 Congratulations for that 🥇🏆
@@Panzermeister36 My phone does not want me to post pictures on TH-cam. So I will try to explain it. Not being an English speaker. If you look at the right side of the tank, there are 2 lines that go upwards to the roof. At 1/3 of the upward slope there is a plug. I believe in early stugs this was a pistolport for the driver. On the rfm the plug still Deens to be there. I thought it was deleted on late versions. I could be wrong.
@@Panzermeister36 I looked a little deeper at it. Stug 3G's late in Musea seem to have this port. Or plugde up. The one in Munster seems to have this port cut down and welded up. But the Munster one is far from accurate.
Looks great . Odd they would give you early track with the open guide horns , more applicable to an early pz.4 . Nice work with the welds , they wiĺl show up will when painted and weatherd . M
So is there two different rfm Stug kits, is there an early ? Because the hobby shop I work at has one maybe it’s an early because we’ve had for a whole
Love the video's & review. Great kit, will be looking for this one in the hobby store. Just an FYI, the HO scale chain is from Detail Associates, not "diesel details" as mentioned. They do lovely parts, but can be hard to find at times, A-Line also do nice chains in a variety of different sizes.
Hi, I have just bought this kit after enjoying your review, hope you can help, stage 32 shows inserting a spring into the gun mount and then the barrel, can you explain what this is for. Many thanks
Hi Evan, another great review as always!! May I ask you a question please it's regarding the small periscope hatch on the commanders cupola. When the main hatch is in the open position you see a lot of models modelled with the small periscope hatch hanging down in the open position. My question is would this always be the case or could the small periscope hatch be locked in a close position? Many thanks in advance. Kind regards Dave.
Hello Dave, yes the small hatch can be locked down against the main cupola hatch with two small pivoting handles inside. So it can hang free or it can be locked together.
I know the external details of the StuG very well, but the interior I haven't studied much yet. And the two factories that made StuGs -- Alkett and MIAG -- have different interior layouts. It's complicated.
@@Panzermeister36 I know. But they give many options but you need to work from ref pic as I am doing now. Been on it for 3 months now. Love your attention to detail. Are the transfers (welding) worth the investment?
Just a heads up my guy, Border’s Stug is coming out soon as well, and the full interior version comes with a full sprue of stowage, metal ammo, metal gun and all the crew in fighting positions
Early Production are "series 1" side skirts which have holes in them to mount to the rails. The doubler plate is on the outside. Later vehicles have this "series 2" side skirt which has brackets that mount to the triangular teeth on the rail, and the doubler is inside.
On 1945 machines is the rear armor plate notched or straight? I'm using Dragons kit# 6593 and trying for a very late ,kinda like the ones in the 1945 color footage that is well known. thanks,Tim
Best model kit review I have seen. The approach of reviewing post build assists in the "definitive" characterization. I don't get much from the ...ok, lets open the box and look at the parts, oh wow let's admire the nice panel lines....blah, blah. You definitely know your StuGs, excellent work in pointing out differences on late model vs other variations. That Rye Field kit provides some nice detail, but I am not a fan of framing up and then having to square the tub, wrong tracks, missing or bad poly caps, overly detailed interior when not having the interior version, etc. Seems there is a compromise on detail vs kit engineering. You made it look relative easy, but you've built 30 StuGs or so and are an accomplished scale modeler. Something tells me this kit would give the some folks reason to drink. Seriously though, good work. You should consider a book on StuGs.
Thank you so much for your comment :) Yes, I would say this kit is excellent in terms of the details given, but the engineering could definitely be improved; the carryover from the interior kit is a little irritating. But, 18 small extra parts in the hull and maybe 5 in the superstructure isn't major. The slight warp of the hull was easily fixed by putting on the transmission plate and hull side extensions early. I think the reason that they have to leave those off until later again has to do with the interior kit as there are parts that go in there for the transmission and driver. Short shot poly caps wasn't great, but the much more important poly caps for the drive sprockets and idlers were intact. My other RFM StuG doesn't have this issue and I'm sure that they would send you a replacement part. The tracks is the only major issue, and it's only one of accuracy. Most people don't care about that, but I wish they would have fixed it. I guess that RFM haven't designed that track type yet...I'll check their late Pz IV kits.
A great review and thank you for taking the time to do this Can I ask where you purchased the tow cables please or what you would suggest. I’ve tried some ‘metal rope’ which looked good but was very very inflexible so couldn’t get it to sit flat or coiled up So any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you again for sharing the great review
I actually got the metal cable from Hamilkar Barkas. He got it in Germany...it doesn't look like it's a modelling cable but rather a real cable for some purpose.
Panzermeister36 Cool, I guess there is no one else that loves the sturmgesütz as much as you. I think you should get youreself one instead of a car to drive around in XD.
You might know this.....it is a StuG question, but a StuG IV! Some StuG IVs had the earlier ausf g drive sprocket. I'm sure I read somewhere that the drive sprocket s (g&h ) were not interchangeable, so I'm guessing these StuGs had the early final drive too? Any clue?
Buddy what is that item on the center front of the hull under the barrel that looks like a helmet, I have been looking everywhere on line to try and find out what it is ;) cheers buddy 👍🏻🇦🇺
I haven't tried their StuG G kits. They are very complex as they don't use slide-molding, so many things are separated into more parts than they would be otherwise. If you want a full interior then MiniArt's is better than RFM, but exterior only I would say RFM.
Great review Evan 👍. I don't want to open Pandora’s box, but I've got a question regarding... Zimmerit. Do these Late StuGs require Zimmerit and if so, which pattern?
Thank you! No, no zimmerit is required. Zimmerit is a "mid production" feature on the StuG III G, used from September 1943 to September 1944. This kit models a vehicle after October 1944, so no zimmerit required 😊
I’ve been wanting to get one of ryfields stugs with interior,they’re making the best model tanks on the market right now in my opinion,remember when Adam Mann called em “bush league” when he got an early test tiger from em years ago? I think David Byrden actually got em hooked up but anyway, I think he was a little off on that assessment of em,fantastic looking stug though,who doesn’t love the stug?
Great video thank you. 'Can' you recommend 'any' kits with high-quality full-interior, preferably with cut-away...? I'd like to get into some true modeling challenges and I would really like to see the interiors of these tanks. There are not many kits I can find that have full interior detail. If you can, please offer some input. I subscribed so hopefully you will reply to me. Thanks again. I'm currently working on a great kit : 1/35 Strumpanzer 4 Brummbar late version by Academy, unfortunately no interior, but still a great kit to build.
One thing I forgot to mention. When assembling the tracks, they say to put on 91 links per side. I have 92 per side on mine and it's super tight, no slack, so you might need to use 93 per side.
But you should get some of the correct late tracks anyways 😛
His books are the best. Nothing else comes close on the topic of StuG.
They never get the track link count right. Dragon did that all the time. If they said 95 you needed at least 3 more.
I wish more channels would do this! A detailed build review discussing fit and finish, accuracy of parts, errors or omissions, confusing instructions, etc. An in-box review can show the contents of a kit and level of detailing but until you get into the nuts and bolts of it you don't know what you're getting for your money. Keep up the great work! 👍
I must agree. I get very little from in box reviews. They are more like click-bait to me than useful.
Yep, calling this "the definitive kit review" is certainly not an overstatement! Thank you for putting all this information for us mortals together, it will be very helpful. Your model looks gorgeous, i was expecting precisely that.
Thank you Michael! I had a lot of fun on this one for sure. It's a great kit, and figuring out the few small changes to perfect it was a fun research puzzle :)
I would add that the interior kit is fantastic wish you would do one full up. Good luck bud from Australia
I am in awe of your passion, knowledge and attention to detail.
Probably the best build review I’ve ever seen.
Thank you Bruce! You can do the same with Pz IV :)
Wow! What a SUPERB review! Not only did you provide a learned & detailed assessment of the kit, but you demonstrated easy-to-attain corrections for all the errors. This empowers all builders to make informed decisions re whether or not they will change the order of RFM's build sequence, and what historical errors they feel are worthwhile to correct. IMHO, you have set a new standard for all professional & amateur build reviews (*), and you must be commended for the time & energy you have sacrificed to benefit your peers in the world of modelling! Last, but not least, never ever doubt the entertainment value & informative nature of any other your videos. We are blessed every time you share your enthusiasm & knowledge on TH-cam!
(*) This is NOT a criticism of other reviewers...the vast majority of modellers do reviews without compensation, and (understandably) with limited time & resources. In fact, I considered every non-professional review as a gift that should be greatly appreciated by all modellers.
What a well thought out comment.
Awesome review Evan! I've yet to receive my RFM StuG III and I had my concerns from my recent couple of RFM kits not being as accurate and well engineered as one had hoped for, and as a fellow StuG III aficionado I'm very thankful for your detailed post build review! It's been a crazy year with all the new StuG III kits coming to market - and although I've not been building like normal since I'm not back to health again I've gladly increased my (rather scary in size) stash of my absolute favourite subject. :) Some kits have been well engineered and easy to correct with regards to details whereas some have been less impressive, but having access to this many new StuG III Ausf. G in not only 1/35 scale but also the Das Werk/Takom 1/16 will bring us a lot of joy years to come!
I've not yet managed to get any RFM "working tracks" to be a fun exercise because of the track pin design. I've replace all with metal tracks, but hearing you being successful without pulling your hair out makes me hopeful that they've changed them ever so slightly that they do assemble into working tracks?! Not being able to build any kits for quite a long time did make me to work in Fusion 360 instead and I've made quite a few parts that are better and more accurate than the kit parts in the past, and making winterketten and ostketten track links for panzer III (amongst other things) makes me want to build another kit to see if they fit and work as intended?! I'd love to put them on the 1/16 StuG and make a small winter vignette... When I have verified them I will post them for free, like I do with all my designs for those with descent resin printers.
A few things you pointed out here I was surprised that RFM had missed, like the schurzen plates you had to correct, or the loaders armour plate?! In the end of the day it's a balance between time/cost of development and making a profit so in some cases I can accept that they make certain parts simplified (we who are a bit anal can correct them regardless) but every now and then I wish they could spend a little bit more time to make sure that simple things like a mesh being oriented correctly... It doesn't cost any more or less to get it right!
Still this does look like a very good kit with relatively few design flaws and I will surely write down your findings and put the list in the box for the day when I get round to build mine!
I wish Takom, RFM, Mini Art, Dragon etc would contact you whilst designing new kits since you are hands down the best resource out there on StuG III! It would make life easier for everyone - and you getting something out of it as well... ;)
Cheers Evan and many thanks for an excellent review!!!
Hi Panzer36, pls allow me to call you by this simplified code instead, here's greetings from a China modeling fan. I found your content almost a godlike guide which is clear, informative, and thorough enough but does not generate any kind of confusion at all even for a brainless beginner like me. This would be the ultimate main guidance for my StugIII project for sure. Thanks again!
Hello Zhen. Thank you for the supportive comment. I am very glad that you enjoy my videos and find them helpful! I really appreciate it.
I also had the same gap issue with the front plates. On future builds of this kit, I will put the lower hull totally together first with upper & lower front plates.
I’m not a rivet counter, but I very much enjoy your style of pointing out accuracy, and doing the build review vs. the box review. Nicely done and thank you
Excellent video. You almost make me want to build another Rye Field kit... Almost.
Great, comprehensive review Evan - full of a lot of good information.
Excellent review, great intro to all the late StuG features, love it Evan !
Thank you Robin ☺️
Thank you for taking the time to do this detailed walkthrough of the build. Awesome of you!
Awesome kit review! Looking forward to the weathering part
You really do approach your modeling with high level of accuracy, sophistication and historical accuracy. Well done, you’re at the top of your game. I enjoy all your videos.
Great review, Thanks.!! So, most ppl may not know that with out the “rivet counters” we would not have updated or mostly accurate kits available. And to that point I believe one can make an accurate late MIAG stug as pointed out on M.L. as RFM gives lots of extra and spare parts in this kit. Anyway I really enjoy your video and how you explain details and mods you have done. I am one of the few that doesn’t mind a longer video when so much information is in it.Take care
Thank you Timothy! There's a few missing parts for a MIAG vehicle. You have the appropriate fenders in the kit (unused from the early version) but you will have to get the MIAG fender supports from elsewhere. You will also need the roof with 3 crane mounts as I have never seen a MIAG late StuG with 5 mounts...even 1945 vehicles. MIAG still used the plug instead of Nahvertidigungswaffe until Dec 1944 but that part is in the kit. And you'll still need to fix the rear light, fire extinguisher, jack foot, side skirts. You can leave the stock tow cable clamps though and you don't have to move the barrel support chain mount or PE mesh. MIAG also had the transmission hatch locks in front of the driver on the opposite hatch.
Evan, your level of detail knowledge of this vehicle is amazing.
Thanks Dave 😁
Thanks for the nice review! Just another suggestion to make sure everything is straight in the beginning: what I do is I use the torsion bars to hold the structure in place. I don't glue the sides nor the bars nor the back or front. With the bars holding everything together you can dry fit the engine part and the front (or whatever) and then glue things as you move along. It works very well this way.
Great build and a great video. I just picked this kit up after seening this video. wish you had done a complete build series on this one including painting and and weathering. Still with the amount of content you put out I can understand why you didn'tdo it . I watched the box review and thought about getting this one but this video sealed the deal. Once again you built another master piece, well done.
I have yet to paint this one in fact. I am saving it for a project where I might do the painting and weathering step by step in a publication...
@@Panzermeister36 great to hear , I love watching you work and have learned a lot from you Videos
Another great video Evan! 🙂👍
I’m just about to start this kit and I’m really glad I found this video.
*Very good build, your StuG is ready for the paint and i can't wait for it!!!*
I love the way you work the kit to make it as accurate as possible.
Thank you! I enjoy that, it's like a puzzle changing the few small things to make it perfect 🙂
Great job on the build!! Thank you for the in depth review on this kit.
Great stuff my friend ..I own the "Achtung Panzer No.5 Sturmgeschutz III/StuG.IV and SIG III" been an absoluted value for money buy all these years and having an App on me phone helps translate the Japanese when no English description (which is alot). Bought the TREX 1/35 PzKpfw.III/IV Tracks Type 6b w/Cleats + Elefants Corporation Tow Cable and Clamps for StuG.III G Late along with RFM KV-I Mod.1942 which is honestly far ahead of Trumpy/Tamiya offerings.
I have this kit in my stash. Thanks for the heads-ups.
I remember their Panzer IV.J interior kit was pretty good about putting those on marks where details will cover them
I hope it's the same on this one! It would be annoying to have to deal with them, but otherwise the full interior kit looks amazing
Very nice review. Looks like a great kit from RFM. Thanks for the lecture on Stugs, learned a lot in 35 minutes 😉
When I finished recording, I was glad that I hadn't rambled on for an hour 😊
Excellent overview man, thank you!
Good news Nigel, thank you
Time to another to the stash. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to the painting episode
Thanks Steven! I will do some videos on painting and weathering for sure.
Really appreciate your review, massive fan of the Stug ..Thank you
Thanks Colin!
Super video. Bringing all the StuG details to the masses! Really well done and informative. I watched it between customers! 😁 LOL.
Great review. Thank you
Thank you so much for the quality and style of this review. Everything I have learned about the AMPS modellers shows in how you put the history together with the hobbyist aspects. Giving the references for the aftermarket was icing on the cake, and showed more professionalism in your video than many others with years on you. I am 3 times as interested in this kit and the story behind the tanks production than I was all the other Stugs combined (including Andy's)
Truly impressed and looking forward to seeing the complete build out.
Between your podcast visits, the tracks comparison, and this video, you have won over a supporter for Patreon.
Bravo Zulu Sir.
Excellent as always. I can get an early rfm G for about $40 shipped. Thinking about it
I have the early, but haven't built it yet. It looks awesome. For that price it's worth it for sure.
good review, one thing I like about these RFM kits is the styrene,reminds me of Dragon.
Nice review, well done, I like complex builds, and would like to see a review on the full interior one. :)
As a StuG fan I can appreciate this video. I was looking forward to getting this kit but seeing all the problems you incurred, I've decided to pass until RFM is able to work out the kinks.
Super review Evan, far better than just an inbox review. Please do a video painting this Stug, that would be awesome and I can always learn something from your painting/weathering skills. 😊👍
I will do a video on it for sure!
Great video!
Thanks!
I knew rye field and rochm would eventually reach your bench.Just starting to demojovate on the Stug IV,starting exterior.This helps.
As always - a pleasure to watch!
I just got this one and 5069 such bargains There is so much in the kits.
great review, thanks mate. Ive got the RFM StuG III early in the stash and was amazed at the parts count when i looked in the box. Now i know why!
Keep it going great review have 2 on order now,watch your kit talks for a long time now, accurate updates needed on kits now as parts just keep getting missed with all the details pictures around, good side plate pick up, with nice pictures basic stuff missed by today’s model manufacture’s
Great kit build doing my old Tamiya one now, everyone worries about getting the paint in with an airbrush still do mine old school with enamels and a paintbrush don't think they were to worried in 1944 about the paint job 🙄 obviously you can't do it like that if you want a gold medal award winner. Mine will take about 14 hours to do with a base for the Bocage and I'll be happy which everyone who does kit's is bothered about
Great work as always. It's a perfect guide for whom plans to buy this kit. For me, I only disappointed they didn't replace early type tool clamp.
Actually, I was just satisfied to buy only StuG III early type of RFM but I'll buy it too. lol
Have a nice week end and stay safe carefully my friend. Regards, NOB
Thank you! Yes, I wish they gave us the late clamps for the cable. It looks like Border Model also missed this on their kit which comes out soon.
Hi Panzermeister36, would you consider building RMF StuG with interior. I have the G early with interior and from the box the kit looks fantastic.
Nice kit.
Great info. I like Stugs but not an expert. Desert early stug III .. are the Tropical filters and ventilation visible at all ??
Yes, the tropen filters on StuG are visible. They are mounted above the two side ventilators on the engine deck.
Nice video! StuGs looking great. Can’t wait to see it finished!
Superb video. I’m new to afv building and amazed at your knowledge of the Stugs can I ask what you used for reference please.
The best book on the subject is Sturmgeschütz Volume 2 by Muller and Zimmermann, but it is out of print at the moment and hard to find. The Spielberger Sturmgeschütz book is alright but not perfect.
My Friend you should rename your self to StuGmeister 😉👍👍👍
Absolut perfect detailed and informativ review and big help for me to decide if I should buy this Kit.
If I'm not wrong the interior Kit comes with Figures.
May be I will buy both of them 🙈
Thank you very much for your superb work. 👍👍👍
OH, and I think you did build more StuG's than me 😁💪💪💪
Congratulations for that 🥇🏆
Great kit review! Thanks for such an in depth job on this, very useful for a novice Armor builder like myself👍
Love how flash is an old problem nowadays
MOLD LINES on the other hand....
Great and intresting video. I have 1 question. I see a pistol port next to the drivers comparment. Did the late version stil have this port?
Which port?
@@Panzermeister36 My phone does not want me to post pictures on TH-cam. So I will try to explain it. Not being an English speaker. If you look at the right side of the tank, there are 2 lines that go upwards to the roof. At 1/3 of the upward slope there is a plug. I believe in early stugs this was a pistolport for the driver. On the rfm the plug still Deens to be there. I thought it was deleted on late versions. I could be wrong.
I see what you mean. I will verify that.
@@Panzermeister36 I looked a little deeper at it. Stug 3G's late in Musea seem to have this port. Or plugde up. The one in Munster seems to have this port cut down and welded up. But the Munster one is far from accurate.
Use a laser pointer. A flashing hand and waving pen barrel made my head spin.✌️
Very interesting, thanks.
Looks great . Odd they would give you early track with the open guide horns , more applicable to an early pz.4 . Nice work with the welds , they wiĺl show up will when painted and weatherd . M
Magnifico trabajo. Felicitaciones.
Very nice kit!👍
So is there two different rfm Stug kits, is there an early ? Because the hobby shop I work at has one maybe it’s an early because we’ve had for a whole
This is the late kit that came out just 3 weeks ago. The early kit was released a few months ago.
Love the video's & review. Great kit, will be looking for this one in the hobby store. Just an FYI, the HO scale chain is from Detail Associates, not "diesel details" as mentioned. They do lovely parts, but can be hard to find at times, A-Line also do nice chains in a variety of different sizes.
I had a mild stroke trying to get the right combo of word for the chain lol I settled on a line chain too
I can't find that chain online! There is a shop about an hours drive away however...
Hi, I have just bought this kit after enjoying your review, hope you can help, stage 32 shows inserting a spring into the gun mount and then the barrel, can you explain what this is for. Many thanks
There are no bolts on the additional armor of the loader?
Yes, after around July or August 1944 there are no bolts there as it is solid 80mm plate instead of 50+30mm bolted. Kit builds October 1944 or later.
I went with type 5a tracks from TREX because I had some laying around but I guess those are passable as correct for a G late aswell?
Yes I have seen Type 5 on one or two of these. Type 4 once too.
You could contact RFM with all your notes about this model. Maybe they make a rev. 2.0 based on them.
I've offered to help companies before and they never reply.
@@Panzermeister36 sad to hear that :( I'd appreciate this sort of feedback sooooo much.
Very good. You're the Stug-man! And in case you haven't heard - Archer is closing it's doors ☹
I did hear that, it's sad.
Hi Evan, another great review as always!!
May I ask you a question please it's regarding the small periscope hatch on the commanders cupola.
When the main hatch is in the open position you see a lot of models modelled with the small periscope hatch hanging down in the open position.
My question is would this always be the case or could the small periscope hatch be locked in a close position?
Many thanks in advance.
Kind regards
Dave.
Hello Dave, yes the small hatch can be locked down against the main cupola hatch with two small pivoting handles inside. So it can hang free or it can be locked together.
@Panzermeister36 Thank you so much, Evan. I just wasn't sure I can stop stressing about it now Lol.
All the Dave.
Also the interior kit is great but missing many details. Wish you would do one with full interior
I know the external details of the StuG very well, but the interior I haven't studied much yet. And the two factories that made StuGs -- Alkett and MIAG -- have different interior layouts. It's complicated.
@@Panzermeister36 I know. But they give many options but you need to work from ref pic as I am doing now. Been on it for 3 months now. Love your attention to detail. Are the transfers (welding) worth the investment?
Just a heads up my guy, Border’s Stug is coming out soon as well, and the full interior version comes with a full sprue of stowage, metal ammo, metal gun and all the crew in fighting positions
Yeah, it was supposed to come out in February, but it looks like it will finally be released soon.
Do you have any thoughts on the early Ryfield models Stug G ?
IMHO I made some research and I believe that the sideskirts which are used by Panzermeister36 were used on the StuG.III Ausf.G early production.
Early Production are "series 1" side skirts which have holes in them to mount to the rails. The doubler plate is on the outside. Later vehicles have this "series 2" side skirt which has brackets that mount to the triangular teeth on the rail, and the doubler is inside.
On 1945 machines is the rear armor plate notched or straight? I'm using Dragons kit# 6593 and trying for a very late ,kinda like the ones in the 1945 color footage that is well known. thanks,Tim
Tim, It is interlocked on later vehicles.
I am building the RFM panzer IV with panther F turret and it had 2 track jigs so maybe it is standard RFM issue.
Yeah, I figured the same. They only show one in the instructions, but having two made the track assembly much better.
Great modeling as always !. One little thing I noticed is that six holes on the return rollers seems just a little too smaller than the original.🤔
Looks great does the turret shoot
Best model kit review I have seen. The approach of reviewing post build assists in the "definitive" characterization. I don't get much from the ...ok, lets open the box and look at the parts, oh wow let's admire the nice panel lines....blah, blah. You definitely know your StuGs, excellent work in pointing out differences on late model vs other variations. That Rye Field kit provides some nice detail, but I am not a fan of framing up and then having to square the tub, wrong tracks, missing or bad poly caps, overly detailed interior when not having the interior version, etc. Seems there is a compromise on detail vs kit engineering. You made it look relative easy, but you've built 30 StuGs or so and are an accomplished scale modeler. Something tells me this kit would give the some folks reason to drink. Seriously though, good work. You should consider a book on StuGs.
Thank you so much for your comment :)
Yes, I would say this kit is excellent in terms of the details given, but the engineering could definitely be improved; the carryover from the interior kit is a little irritating. But, 18 small extra parts in the hull and maybe 5 in the superstructure isn't major.
The slight warp of the hull was easily fixed by putting on the transmission plate and hull side extensions early. I think the reason that they have to leave those off until later again has to do with the interior kit as there are parts that go in there for the transmission and driver.
Short shot poly caps wasn't great, but the much more important poly caps for the drive sprockets and idlers were intact. My other RFM StuG doesn't have this issue and I'm sure that they would send you a replacement part.
The tracks is the only major issue, and it's only one of accuracy. Most people don't care about that, but I wish they would have fixed it. I guess that RFM haven't designed that track type yet...I'll check their late Pz IV kits.
A great review and thank you for taking the time to do this
Can I ask where you purchased the tow cables please or what you would suggest. I’ve tried some ‘metal rope’ which looked good but was very very inflexible so couldn’t get it to sit flat or coiled up
So any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you again for sharing the great review
I actually got the metal cable from Hamilkar Barkas. He got it in Germany...it doesn't look like it's a modelling cable but rather a real cable for some purpose.
Panzermeister36 Cool, I guess there is no one else that loves the sturmgesütz as much as you. I think you should get youreself one instead of a car to drive around in XD.
If I could, I would love to drive a StuG :) but gas isn't cheap these days lol
@@Panzermeister36 True, convert it to electric XD.
Panzer I bought a 1/35 T34/85 it came with an engine 👍😊
You might know this.....it is a StuG question, but a StuG IV! Some StuG IVs had the earlier ausf g drive sprocket. I'm sure I read somewhere that the drive sprocket s (g&h ) were not interchangeable, so I'm guessing these StuGs had the early final drive too? Any clue?
Buddy what is that item on the center front of the hull under the barrel that looks like a helmet, I have been looking everywhere on line to try and find out what it is ;) cheers buddy 👍🏻🇦🇺
That is a Notek convoy light
@@Panzermeister36 ah thank you so much Brother ;) been trying to find out for ages 👍🏻🇦🇺
What about the Miniart Kit ? any thoughts?
I haven't tried their StuG G kits. They are very complex as they don't use slide-molding, so many things are separated into more parts than they would be otherwise. If you want a full interior then MiniArt's is better than RFM, but exterior only I would say RFM.
Where did you get the clamp(s) from?
Great review Evan 👍. I don't want to open Pandora’s box, but I've got a question regarding... Zimmerit. Do these Late StuGs require Zimmerit and if so, which pattern?
Thank you! No, no zimmerit is required. Zimmerit is a "mid production" feature on the StuG III G, used from September 1943 to September 1944. This kit models a vehicle after October 1944, so no zimmerit required 😊
@@Panzermeister36 whoopee... that's good news 😀. Thank you for your feedback Evan.
I’ve been wanting to get one of ryfields stugs with interior,they’re making the best model tanks on the market right now in my opinion,remember when Adam Mann called em “bush league” when he got an early test tiger from em years ago? I think David Byrden actually got em hooked up but anyway, I think he was a little off on that assessment of em,fantastic looking stug though,who doesn’t love the stug?
RFM has definitely improved a lot from their first kits!
Hi
From which manufacturer did you use for the tracks.
Those are the tracks that come in the kit
But you mention that you will use other type of tracks
Yes, I will replace the kit tracks with the appropriate late type, so either Masterclub MTL-35013 or T-REX TR85027. R-Model R-35041H would also work.
Thank you for your quick reply
Nice
Great video thank you. 'Can' you recommend 'any' kits with high-quality full-interior, preferably with cut-away...? I'd like to get into some true modeling challenges and I would really like to see the interiors of these tanks. There are not many kits I can find that have full interior detail. If you can, please offer some input. I subscribed so hopefully you will reply to me. Thanks again. I'm currently working on a great kit : 1/35 Strumpanzer 4 Brummbar late version by Academy, unfortunately no interior, but still a great kit to build.
Welp looks like I'm going to havespend some money on another kit for my birthday!
💪💪💪💪
FYI. Archer has just announced they will cease production and sales of their decals as of November 30, 2022.
I did see that the other day. I hope there are other options soon...
I'm done with the Jagdpanther and it came outok
👍👍👍
If this is the late version of sturmgechutz lll !? Why does it have early tracks !?
That's one of the errors in the kit as I described in the video. But fortunately there's plenty of aftermarket options to remedy this.
Hitting out the park. Rye field is my go to. Then takom. Dragon is my parts kit. But no where as good as rye field.