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Commander copula installed Sfl Zielfernrohr 1a (telescope sight) periscope with long anti-glare tubes to prevent sun glare from obstructing crew vision, also prevent enemy distant detection of its reflection. Periscope part from 1.35th ITALERI Hetzer, anti-glare portion cut from styrene tube. 
Copula surrounded by spare tracks, used as defacto applique armor in thwarting enemy shaped-charged warheads (using intense focused heat to burn through armor) to dissipate impact energy onto these tracks rather than the hull. Tracks painted TESTOR Dark Brown, dry-brushed TESTOR Military Brown for a rustic look.
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Germans introduced armor copula (hatch with multi-sided mirrors) for commanders to recon battlefield from within the vehicle, thus tracking targets of opportunity and direct engagements during heat of battle. Battlefield experience revealed without a copula, tank commanders have tendency to look down the main gun periscope which projected restricted linear field of vision, hence peripheral targets are ignored or missed outright.
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Inset 1 : Dragon Model Limited boxart showing field-green Panzer tunics and trousers worn by German assault gun / self-propelled crews. Field green was selected since these crews often dismount to coordinate attack with Landser or Panzergrenadier units, hence required less conspicuous uniforms contrasted with black Panzer uniforms worn by regular tank crews. Boxart shows 2 crewmen on left with 1930s-design Panzer Berets, crew in middle has M1943 service cap, right personnel has M1940 Panzer cap. Assault Gun Uniforms - www.panzerworld.net/uniforms-heerassaultgun.html
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Another assault gun variant was field-grey uniforms, comparable to color worn by German infantry. However, collar patches denoting armor crew rank and specialization evolved throughout the war (such as use of Skull insignia) By 1944, due to shortage of uniform supplies, Panzer and Sturmartillerie crews mixed-and-matched what ever uniforms colors they could obtain, as depicted in photographic evidence of that era. Collar Insignia - AFV Uniforms - www.deutschesoldaten.com/uniforms/collarpanzer.htm
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Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) Episcope (single lens periscope) protruding in front of copula is for the gunner, part came from 1.35th TAMIYA Sturmgeschutz IV kit. Loader manned top MG42 machine gun for close-in defense behind armor shield, which only blocked light caliber weapons, but was sufficient to reduce high casualties rates of previous gunners in such open positions. Nevertheless, fully remote-control close-in defensive machine gun mounts were introduced in 1944 to eliminate need for armor crews to protrude out of hatch to fire the machine gun. REMOTE-CONTROLLED MACHINE GUN FOR ASSAULT GUNS AND TANK DESTROYERS - www.lonesentry.com/articles/remotemg/
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Stug III unit depicted in this model, originally formed in 1940 as German Sturmgeschutz-Batterie 667 and deployed to Ostfront Army Group North from 1941-1942. Summer 1942, brigade expanded to Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 667 (battalion) status. August 1942, unit attached to 1st Panzer Division part of 9th Army - Army Group Center and fought Soviet counter-attacks against Rzhev transportation junction, Nov 1942. Battles of Rzhev - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Rzhev
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July 1943, battalion refitted with new personnel and equipment, assigned to 4th Army - Army Group Center. By Feb 1944, expanded to Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 667 via addition of Panzer II tanks 
(mainly for rear-echelon Stab protection). July 1944, Soviet Great Summer Offensive (Bagration) almost wiped out brigade, survivors consolidated with survivors of Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 245. Transferred to Westfront and engaged Anglo-American forces in Netherlands Sept-Oct 1944. Dec 1944, brigade assigned to 7th Army - Army Group B and ended the war in western Germany 1945.
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Inset 2 : Finnish Stug III with Hakaristi national insignia on front armor, painted in 3-tone sharp-edged camouflage of medium tan - light grey - light green. Stug supplied by Germans during their 1941-1944 alliance against the Soviets. Finns joined the Axis to reclaim territories lost during 1939-1940 Winter War. Winter War - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War
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Finns called this era The Continuation War, since it continued the Soviet conflict. Continuation War - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_war
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As fortunes of war changed by Sept 1944 with massive Soviet victories, Finns compelled to signed Soviet armistice and declare war against Germany. German forces trapped in Finland fought a slow escape into northern Norway via Finland's Lapland region, hence this was called The Lapland War. Lapland War - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War
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With dense forests, these Finns mounted lumber as defacto applique armor onto Stug side hull to detonate shaped-charged warheads. Sturmgeschutz III in Finnish Service - www.andreaslarka.net/sturmi.html
