StuG III, Sd.Kfz. 142
ROCO 1:87 Scale Vehicle Review
The ROCO 1:87 scale (H0) Sturmgeschütz III is advertised as an Sd.Kfz. 142 with 7.5 cm StuK 37 L/24 gun. However, this is actually an Sd.Kfz. 142/1, which has only been cosmetically downgraded to a StuG. III Ausf. E by the addition of a 7.5 cm Sturmkanone 37 L/24. The armoured side stowage bins of the StuG. III Ausf. A to E are missing; instead, this StuG III features the shot deflector in front of the commander‘s hatch, and the machine gun shield in front of the loader‘s hatch, both introduced in October 1943.
Contents
- StuG III, Sd.Kfz. 142
Evaluation
The StuG III has only 15 parts and is sold fully assembled, ready to play.
The 62.5 × 32.5 × 28.3 mm model is longer, only slightly narrower, and somewhat taller than the real StuG III.
The cast-on detail is very accurate and paints well.
The carpet rollers under the hull should be removed along with the bracket, and the holes in the hull floor closed with free 0.25 mm polystyrene sheet from an old yogurt cup, so that the tracks actually touch ground.
The model comes with side skirts, which, however, were only introduced in 1943. It cannot be ruled out that a surviving StuG Ausf. A to E may have been retrofitted with side skirts, but we have not yet found any corresponding photographic evidence.
Compatible with HO scale model railway equipment and miniatures by Faller, Märklin, Noch, Pola, Preiser, and ROCO.
Historical Employment
- n.a
Possible Conversions
- Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G with 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/43, Sd.Kfz. 142/1
- Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G with 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48, Sd.Kfz. 142/1
- Sturmhaubitze 42 with 10.5 cm StuH 42, Sd.Kfz. 142/2
The ROCO model of the StuG III is not an Sd.Kfz. 142, but an Sd.Kfz. 142/1 with the obsolete 7.5 cm StuK 37 L/24 gun. There‘s certainly nothing wrong with using this fictional hybrid as an Sd.Kfz. 142 in wargames, but it probably won‘t win any prestigious scale modelling awards.