StuG.III Ausf.B
Etched Detail Set#HLX48003
1:48 Scale
Review by Terry Ashley

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The quality of the etching is excellent and well up the current state of the art and as you would expect being 1:48 scale there are some quite small parts but these are still very well defined. The parts have the usual relief etching where applicable and engraved bend lines which is quite normal for current etched sets.

The largest parts in the set are the front and rear mud flaps which have separate hinge parts that while not workable do look very convincing with the remainder of the parts being smaller detail items.

The front head light faces are provided with the small side fittings and then nearly all the tool clips and brackets are provided for the tools moulded separately in the kit, this does require the moulded on tool clips to be cut off but the etched clips provide a far higher level of detail definition. As well as the tool clips there are the brackets for the fire extinguisher, aerial tray, the NOTEK light, tail light and right fender mounted storage box to again add nice details.

The top crew hatches get inside latch mechanisms if you want to cut the kit hatches in two to show these open plus the engine intake grills which have fine diamond shaped hatching on the grill work and fine bolt head rendering on the surrounds that looks quite good.

Conclusion:
A nicely detailed set that contains many very fine parts that will add considerable detail definition to the Tamiya kit and there is also the separate resin tool set #HLX48023 of you want to shave off the moulded on tools to add more detail.

Highly recommended.

See additional images of the parts fitted to the Tamiya StuG III B kit

Etched parts

Thanks to Jan from Hauler Shop for the review set.

Page created 16 April 2005