STURMGESCHÜTZ III Ausf E BRONCO 1/35

This is Bronco Models Sturmgeschutz III Ausf E. I thought there are many parts because it is a Bronco, but not so much. Bronco kits aren’t the only ones, but it’s a bad thing that the prices of multiple overseas manufacturer kits go up considerably when they are distributed in Japan. I really like the manufacturer itself.

The mold looks good. Maybe I can enjoy this kit.

The base of the turret and part of the dowel didn’t fit. I adjusted the shape and proceeded.

The guide ring of Type III tank series contained the same photo-etched parts also in the Dragon Models kit. Broncos are the same. Why would they stick to this point that’s barely visible after I’ve made it?

Because of the virus in Tokyo, a special warning has been issued and people are not allowed to go out (It’s not an order. It’s a request from the government.), but today the weather is good so I took a walk with my wife on the bank of Arakawa. It was beautiful weather without a cloud, and the scenery was so peaceful that I could not believe it was such a bad thing in the world.
The news I watched today introduced the tense atmosphere of the intensive care unit of a hospital, and it was impressive. I don’t want medical collapse to happen.
(2020/04/25)

I covered the anti-tank gun compartment. It’s so hot that it looks like a square-faced early type of the German tanks.

It seems that this is also the same system as Dragon’s kit, assembling the fender and OVM together, and then attaching it to the body.

Even if it is a short barrel, the barrel is a metal part, so the mold is good. Plastic parts are also included, but I should choose the metal parts.

This kit’s connecting track is a movable type with small plastic pins inserted from both sides. It’s amazing to include such complicated tracks in the kit from the beginning. Even if it has a special jig, assembling is quite troublesome. Especially it is troublesome to insert side pins.
(2020/04/28)

A movable track is the best because it can be adjusted slowly when I wind it around a tank. When I connected it, it became a little diagonal, but in the end, I could wind it normally. If I want to take the time to make it, I can choose the movable type. I was surprised that it took longer than I expected.

This time there were several photo-etched parts that bend at right angles, so I tried using the Mission Model Etchmate after a long time. It doesn’t have a good cost performance, but it’s a convenient item to use.

I managed to wind movable tracks. After that, I poured a large amount of super-glue and fix the whole thing.

The supporting part of the antenna case was a photo-etched part. It was difficult to adjust the dimensions, so I got tired of it on the way. But I managed to fix it with a lot of super-glue.

Towing ropes at the rear of a tank body. If I attach it according to the size of the assembly instruction, I feel it is short somehow. Even so, I couldn’t do it again, so I forced it to make it look better. If I just attach it, I would only put it on the engine grill, so I tried to use the attached etching parts, but it was too difficult. I added some extra work with a thin plastic sheet to fit it, I wonder if it’s structurally different. Better than nothing.

The Abeno mask that is rumored on the street has arrived at my house. I don’t think it’s that small. It may shrink when washed. We still have a few masks in stock, so if we run out of stock, we will be glad to use them.
(2020/04/30)

In the German tank self-propelled assault gun, the caterpillar was set up in the wrong direction once, so I have to be reviewed many times after the assembly is completed.

Maybe I should have pressed it more tightly against the sprocket wheels and the track when I took a photo from the side. I didn’t see much detail. If I’m worried after painting, I have no choice but to fill it with mud.

The photo-etched parts in this kit are thick and difficult to bend, choosing plastic parts is also a good idea.

I thought I contrasted it with white, but it turned gray… The paint was a bit too thin.

Maybe I should emphasize the contrast this much.

There are 3 colors of German gray in the latter number of Mr. Color. I mainly used 514 this time. I think the blue-gray matches well with the early German tanks. But what color is it exactly because it is undercoated and contrasted?

All I have to do now is to paint the details and do weathering. But there’s still a little more work to do.
(2020/05/02)

Sturmgeschutz III Ausf E is complete. This self-propelled assault gun, which carries the main artillery in a fixed combat chamber, was developed mainly to support the close combat of infantry.

Type E is the last type with a short 75 mm gun. About 270 tanks were produced from September 1941 to March 1942.

This time, I haven’t painted the rear lights at all, and only the basic color, but I still don’t understand it well.

The sponsons are stretched out from side to side, and the radio is stored inside. Two antennas are installed to improve the communication capability, and these are the features of the appearance of the E-type.

The marking of this tank is German StuG. Abt 177 on the Eastern Front in 1941.

I tried chipping for the first time in a while.

Overall, I like the angular form and the unreliable antenna case. Since it is a short gun barrel, it may be an infantry support weapon. After that, the characteristics of the anti-tank weapon became stronger and the main gun was changed to long and powerful.

It’s called German gray, but it’s a little too blue.

When I took some pictures, I can see a cat’s hair or a rabbit’s hair. I clean frequently in my room, but I have to be careful more.

It is a nice point that I personally have a high evaluation that the connected track is included in the kit. Is that why the price goes up? But I can’t say for sure if track parts will directly lead to higher costs since the price is higher in the distribution process compared to the price overseas.
(2020/05/03)