Model was my first complete scratch-built project, did not wanted to be restricted in building a scaled replica of an actual German tank destroyer, so I combined conceptual features with whatever items I had in the spare parts bin. Model mimics a German WW2 Jagdpanzer IV variant, hence I called it Ersatzjagdpanzer (replacement tank destroyer). Spare parts used included :

• Thermal-sleeved barrel - 1.35th ESCI Russian T-72 tank
• Saukopf gun mantle - 1.35th ITALERI Hetzer (small hook on the mantle was used for gun installation)
• Spare road wheels - 1.35th Mobelwagen AA platform
• Shovel and left-side MG port - 1.35th TAMIYA Tiger I
• Front track braces - 1.35th TAMIYA Stug IV tank destroyer
• Travel light and towing clip - 1.35th Panther tank

Gun travel lock was scratch-built, used gun lock assembly from 1.35th TAMIYA 88mm AA Gun glued to tube styrene. Lock's rotated at the base, created by using small tube styrene, secured by clothing pins. Spare road wheels placed on front glacis plate to provide additional armor protection.

Infrarot-Scheinwerfer (Infrared Fighting Light) was a late-war German invention, deployed to armored units for night fighting. This sighting equipment was few in numbers and primitive by today's standards, but did give Germans a distinct advantage. Nightfighting Panthers - strangevehicles.greyfalcon.us/Nightfighting%20Panthers.htm

Inset 1 : Close-up of Infrarot-Scheinwerfer apparatus bolted to tank commander's hatch opening. German Infrared Night-Vision Devices Infrarot-Scheinwerfer - www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/ir.htm

Both driver and commander infrared lights were scratch-built. Parts used included 1.48th WW2 aircraft landing gears, T-72 tank search light, soldering wire for power cable, handles from Schurzen (side skirt) mounts of various Panzer IV + Stug IV + Jagdpanzer IV model kits. German stick-grenade attached to Infrared device, which complied with standing orders that explosives must be rigged to prevent device from falling into enemy hands if the crew bailed out. Tank commander was responsible for its denotation during evacuation. Infrared - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared

Note the ballistic enhancement of the Saukopf (Pig's Head) gun mantle and its sloped armor plates. Bolted-down armor (applique armor) at the mantle base gave added protection to the hull. German national insignia placed on upper front right side. The marking was large and visible to prevent "friendly-fire" incidents which was a very common occurrence in WW2. Interestingly, gun mount scratch-built from square plastic divider of storage box, large rubber cushion for bottom of chair legs, ring from 1.35th TAMIYA M2 heavy machine gun ring.

Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) option for web browser not able to render graphic rollover code | Rear compartment close-up, parts also scavenged from parts bin. Model was build before I start using grey paint primer to prime model surface for final painting and identify blemishes, hence some plastic flash were not seen until final paint job (ah, live and learn on my part):

• Access Hatch- 1.35th TAMITA King Tiger tank (hatch mounts cut from tube styrene)
• Ventilation Plate - 1.35th TAMIYA Stug IV tank destroyer
• Spare road wheel & mount - 1.35th Mobelwagen AA platform
• Smoke Dischargers - 1.35th ESCI T-72 tank
• Spare Track Mount & Track - 1.35th TAMIYA Stug IV tank destroyer
• Hanging Shovel - 1.35th TAMIYA Stug IV tank destroyer

Inset 2 : Although German had various Panzerjagders (tank hunters : anti-tank guns mounted onto wheeled or tracked vehicles), Stug III assault gun was the first German tank destroyer with fully enclosed crew compartment.

Originally, Stug III was a self-propelled assault gun mounting a low-velocity short barrel 7.5cm gun providing infantry support against enemy fortified positions (ex. pillbox, building, armor vehicles).

However, emergence of Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks in 1941 greatly alarmed German frontline troops due to lack of effective anti-tank guns. Hence, Stug III was upgraded to high-velocity long barrel 7.5cm StuK40 L/48 gun. Given its low silhouette, Stug III was effective against Allied armor throughout WW2. Screened KV-1 - rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV_1scr.htm

• Soviet Armor GALLERIES - rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries.htm

Stug III was easier and cheaper to produce than tanks (ex. did not have to accommodate gun turret assembly), though its ballistic superstructure was not designed for tank destroyer role in dueling match against enemy armor. Stug III photo depicts mid-production version with Schurzen (armor side skirts) and frontal bolt-on applique armor. Sturmgeschütz IV - www.achtungpanzer.com/stug.htm