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Panzer III Ausf J. Das Werks, 1/16 scale.

Pzr III looking excellent. great work on the soft beat -up. Those rear mud guards were 2 part - the top folded over a shorter flap that was angled inward on both sides and shorter in length. If you wanted to go a bit further here are some examples.
mudguard 1.jpgmudguard 2.jpg7986ed55cc8ca523c5d22596fce8686b.jpg
 
View attachment 186539

I got nothing but did send a message to Hilary Doyle as I don't know which hull penetration was used.


I received a message from Hilary.

"Hi Saul, Sorry to take this long to answer. It has been a bit hectic here and on top I had to have some eye surgery so a bit slow. For the Ausf.J they had a penetration through the front plate directly under the headlight - then cables heading from there to the items on the trackguards. You can see it on the attached photo of a wreck."

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I received a message from Hilary.

"Hi Saul, Sorry to take this long to answer. It has been a bit hectic here and on top I had to have some eye surgery so a bit slow. For the Ausf.J they had a penetration through the front plate directly under the headlight - then cables heading from there to the items on the trackguards. You can see it on the attached photo of a wreck."

View attachment 186777
Thanks Saul!! We are dang lucky to have a resident expert in this group, who has connections to experts 👍
 
Got the turret construction done. Surprisingly the vorpanzer plating fit very well on the mantlet. I had to go ahead and paint up the cupola interior as it would be impossible to do after it was put together. The hatch doors work, I'll close them for exterior painting. I chose not to spend anytime painting up the interior of the turret. The commander figure will block any view of the inside, so I just blacked out everything in there.
5633.jpg
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Still much to do...
 
Nice! However, the screws for attaching the internal gear, seen on the roof, should face forward/aft when properly installed!

Kidding, looks awesome!
 
I think Saul is talking about the screw head alignment going fore and aft.
You know like how some electricians get anal about.
1766285415182.png


BTW, looks great and I think Saul is joking.
 
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I'm probably late to the party again, but"
During WWII, Soviet anti-tank rifles like the
PTRD-41 and PTRS-41, along with guns from tanks like the T-34 (e.g., 76mm), could penetrate the Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J, especially at closer ranges or against weaker spots, though the Ausf. J's upgraded frontal armor (up to 50mm) offered better protection than earlier Pz III models, particularly against British 2-pounders, but remained vulnerable to the more powerful Soviet 45mm anti-tank guns and larger caliber tank guns, forcing reliance on flanking and mobility over direct confrontation.

Soviet Weaponry vs. Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J

  • Anti-Tank Rifles (AT Rifles): The ubiquitous Soviet 14.5mm PTRD-41 and PTRS-41 were a significant threat, capable of penetrating the Pz III's hull and turret at combat ranges, causing serious damage and crew casualties.
  • 45mm Guns: The 45mm M-42 anti-tank gun, common on Soviet light tanks (like the T-70) and early T-34s, could also penetrate the Pz III's frontal armor, especially at longer distances or on hull sides and rear.
  • 76mm Guns: Early T-34s armed with the 76mm F-34 gun posed a serious threat, easily punching through the Pz III's armor, making direct engagements unfavorable for the German tank.
Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J's Strengths & Weaknesses

  • Upgraded Armor: The Ausf. J featured thicker frontal hull armor (up to 50mm), offering good protection against earlier Allied guns, but it wasn't enough for the better-armed Soviets.
  • Long 5cm Gun (5 cm KwK 39 L/60): This was a capable gun, but its penetration struggled against the sloping frontal armor of the T-34, making flanking tactics essential.
Combat Effectiveness

  • While the Ausf. J was an improvement, its performance against Soviet armor quickly became challenging, especially after the introduction of sloped armor on the T-34. German crews often relied on superior tactics, optics, and mobility to outmaneuver opponents rather than slugging it out frontally. "
 
The screw orientation would only work if there were nuts on the inside so that it could be adjusted. If they were threaded into a hole tapped in a solid part the orientation would be however it ended up when tightened down.
 
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