Kit Review: AFV Club 1/48 scale Kit No. AF48006; Sturmtiger - First Edition with Special Parts; 217 parts (187 in olive drab styrene, 20 screws, 4 etched brass, 4 etched stainless steel, 2 black vinyl); price unknown but estimated at US$30
Advantages: nicely done kit in this scale, simple assembly, well- designed parts
Disadvantages: modeler must add zimmerit to all but the stern plate
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Tiger fans
With Tamiya=92s reentry into the =93quarter inch=94 scale armor market, so far only Hobby Boss (Trumpeter) and AFV Club have given them a run for their money. Here is a new kit from AFV Club of the popular Sturmtiger assault mortar to send up a challenge.
AFV Club=92s kit is based on their previous 1/48 Tiger 1 and has some interesting methods used to assemble the kit. The inner wheels attach with screws to the lower hull, and then the outer wheels or hubcabs cement over them to hide the screws. This is a sensible option, and anyone who ever put together one of the early Trumpeter kits that didn=92t provide that method can appreciate it. With the very flexible black vinyl tracks, if the modeler did not mind the =93rubber band=94 look the tracks will then easily work. If not they will need to be fastened down either by ACC cement or thread.
As with most AFV Club kits there are a wealth of details for the upper hull and all are very petite. But while the stern plate came from a Tiger I with zimmerit molded in place, the Sturmtiger does not, and the modeler will have to add his own. One of the features of this kit appears to be the inclusion of a set of four etched stainless steel zimmerit rakes to apply it; while pre-molded would be better, AFV Club deserves a compliment for providing 1/48 scale rakes with the kit. The directions provide some information on what to zimmerit.
There is no interior provided and only the crew hatches offer optional positions. Etched brass grilles are provided for the engine deck, which is a good idea and not =93overkill=94 in this scale. A choice of muzzle rings is also included.
The model comes with two finishing schemes, one for Pz.Stu.Mr.Kp
1001, 1945 in tricolor and one in an =93ambush=94 scheme.Overall this is a nice little kit and should provide popular with =93Quarter-Inchers.=94
Thanks to Miin Herng Tsueng for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell