The WWII German Panzer III was a sturdy, well liked, reliable vehicle. The Germans made them in many configurations. While the Panzer IV and later the Panther were supposed to replace them, they were never withdrawn from service and were in the fight until the last day.
Roco makes both the tank and assault gun version of the Panzer III. When you inspect the vehicle carefully the models are not exact replicas, but I still think they are servicalbe wargame kits. Besides, I have too many in my collection to ever replace them with a newer more accurate kit. Often when tanks were hit they were sent back to factories to be remanufactured. Sometimes they were remanufactured as something other than a tank. The one pictured above is a recovery version. Tools, spare parts, cable, fuel are all needed to get damaged or broken down tanks back on the road.
This is the Roco Panzer III assault gun. I have added a machine gun to the gun shield and a bit of extra track armor to the side of the superstructure, as well as a few gas cans. Tanks are thirsty and supply is often uncertain.
Some Panzer IV were rebuilt as Assault Guns using the same upper as the Panzer III version. A quick switch of the track assembly on the Roco and you have this version. A quick and easy upgrade, perfect for wargaming.
2 comments:
Some very nice photos, Mike. The Stug III was one of the first Rocos I managed to buy off of Ebay, and I keep ending up adding them as part of small lots I've bought.
So far, I have a total of 7 of the long 75 version, and 2 of the short 75 howitzer version, as well as 1 Jagdpanzer IV and one Jagdpanther. At least two of my Stug IIIs are actually knock-offs, Eko for one and I'm not sure what the other is.
There was a Stug III made by some Japanese company and it came with polyethelene plastic track to slip over the road wheels. It was just like the Roco otherwise. It was packaged as a model kit.
Both versions were in use until the end of the war, both long and short guns.
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