Stug IV

Manufacturer: Revell Kit#03101, Matchbox Kit #40180, Monogram Kit #2320

By Wojciech Duda

This older kit is one ofthe last released by Matchbox - now it is avaiable from RevellAG. I had a look at an old Matchbox kit, but there are nodifferences in the parts. The kit consists of 4 sprues - upperhull, lower hull, two different track/wheel sprues. Theinstructions are okay - they actually look like Revellinstructions with the logos exchanged.

The lower hull is quitegood, although it cannot stand up to Revell's newly releasedPzkw. IV's. It represents the earlier version of the Stug IVhull, similar to the Pzkw. IV H, having four return rollers andan identical exhaust system, but has absolutely no detail on thebottom. The idler wheel is not entirely correct, but okay, too.The MG shield is too thick and lacks detail on the inner surface,still the worst part on this sprue is the MG - I have seen betterones in old Matchbox kits from the 70's.

The upper hull is alsogood, with nice detail and all three crew hatches open. There isone glitch though: the tools are all moulded on. The engine deckis not as good as in the new Panzer IV's, but not bad either. Theskirts are a bit thick. But the real problem is the gun. Look atthat muzzle break! It would suit a 50 mm PaK in 1:35... It isoverscale, yes.

The tracks arehard-plastic link-and-length, but they lack detail on both sides.The worst thing in the whole kit are the bogey wheels - there aresingle, double wide wheels where there should be two wheels. Theshape resembles the late war steel-wheels, but only the first twostations on each side were equipped with these.

I got the decals from theold Matchbox release, but they were made by Revell and are reallygood quality. I have no material regarding correctness, though.

The kit is okay, but tomake it look really good you'll have to give Revell the chance tomake even more money, get a Revell Panzer IV, and exchange thewhole lower hull, the engine deck and the gun with parts from thenew kit. But if you do, it should look almost perfect.