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This week Battlefront released their new StuG IV and M4A3 (105mm) Sherman model, as well as the new 76mm M4A1 Sherman boxed set.

The Shermans both use the new plastic tank tread and parts sprue, but the body and turrent are both resin.  The new StuG IV has Zimmerit and the old metal Schürzen (not the new plastic Schürzen that the Panzer IV H's will have).


That all look pretty good I think, and I don't mind the plastic treads on the Shermans, although I prefer metal tracks.  They should have less problem with paint chipping though, not that I had much problem with that before.

Well anyway, here's the links:

StuG IV
http://www.battlefront.co.nz/hobby.aspx?art_id=382

76mm Shermans
http://www.battlefront.co.nz/hobby.aspx?art_id=381

105mm Shermans
http://www.battlefront.co.nz/hobby.aspx?art_id=380


Enjoy!

Those Shermans are nice, but the Zimmerit on the Stug is pants.

Yeah, I know a lot of people don't  care for the Zimmerit on their models in general.  Do you not like Zimmerit in general, or do you just like the execution on the StuG?  I don't mind it, but I guess I don't really know how much better you can make it on a 15mm model.  Is it just too big?  Are there some better examples out there?

I guess the biggest problem is probably that it's something that wouldn't be too hard to add, but it seems like it'd be a real pain to remove.

What's a zimmerit?

It's not that I don't like Zimmerit, I just don't like the execution. Like you said, it would be hard to reproduce faithfully on a 15mm model. It isn't totally intolerable. I once ruined a King Tiger model with my imbecilic Zimmeriting. It must have been a quarter inch thick in some spots!

(@Malfred) - Zimmerit is the anti magnetic paste that was sometimes spread on the surfaces of German armoured vehicles during WWII, Felix. It helped protect against shaped charges and the like.

If scaled down to a 15mm model, zimmerit would probably be impossible to see. The stuff was only like 5mm-10mm or so thick in real life.

Posted By malfred on 08/26/2007 6:05 PM
What's a zimmerit?

A species of gnome, usually benign and often helpful. Some are known to wear hats.

As my boy would say...meh.

Plastics good for quick gluing. the guys hanging out the top look absolutely craptacular. The rest of the various tanks look ok though.

If there were a crew playing this during the weekdays I'd probably be in like Flyn.

 

 

Yeah, I don't particularly care for the (new?) tank commanders on the new Shermans, although I do like the German ones.  All of the US tank commanders that my brother and friends have are just fine though.  Not sure if it's a new cast or just a crappy sculpt, but they have several different tank commander minis for all the nations.

Ah, so that's why the tank looks like it's made of wood.

That said, overall I do like the new StuG IV....at gaming distance you'll barely be able to see the Zimmerit anyway.

Also, the StuG III G model is totally sweet and doesn't have Zimmerit.  Plus you can play it in both MW and LW, so that's probably what I would get if I were to buy some StuGs anyway.

Posted By jfrazell on 08/27/2007 4:49 AM

 

If there were a crew playing this during the weekdays I'd probably be in like Flyn.

 

 

There is, Houston 77th plays FOW games (and a lot of others) nearly every Wed. and Fri. 

 

LMK if you would like to come some time and I can "guest" you to the clubhouse.

 

On Thurs., there is also a lot of the A.I. gang @ Little Wars.