StuG III G and StuH 42 105mm Question

[Gwydion]

Okay, pretty sure this is different from the thing I've got!
Yours has the round fighting compartment ventillator on the rear of the casemate - mine don't.
I have four engine compartment covers on the rear deck - the left three obviously raised the right one flat, yours too I think, but to the rear of these between the spare wheels you have raised box like construction (sorry don't know what it is) but mine doesn't have that.
To the left of the left spare wheel you have a tubular object, more or less aligned front to back but with the front slightly canted out. On mine there is a similar tubular object but running broadly sid to side and the left canted slightly back.
The front track guards don't seem quite as defined on yours.
Thanks Ithoriel. Much appreciated.
(There may be a couple of other differences but I am starting to see things that aren't there and missing things that are! - I suppose the camo is working at any rate!)

Steve - Talking of not seeing things - I can't for the life of me see an axe anywhere! Sorry. I can see the hatch differences, but an axe? No (and I really want to see it!)
Thanks chaps.

[Steve J]

So if you look at the left hand image,on the right hand side mudguard towards the rear, just behind the main superstructure, you can see the axe. It is not modelled on the right hand image though.

[Gwydion]

Thanks Steve!
Weird isn't it? Now I've seen it I can't unsee it.
It's obvious!
I think I thought it was part of a grille or something - no can't explain it! It's an axe innit?!
Definitely NOT on mine though!

[Ithoriel]

Yes, indeed the StuGIII on the left of my picture has an axe, right rear.

The other one, being the StuH42 doesn't. Neither, Gwydion, does yours.

Cant see the StuGIII well enough in your image to see if it has one or not. It is fairly low relief on mine, so easy to miss.

None of this is helped any by my StuG having Schürzen fitted.

[Leon]

I've just checked this with Dave and the top hatch is a separate piece so needs to be glued into the model.  It's a really small square of metal though, so may have been lost/fallen off somewhere?  The written 'Stug III' under the hull is the same as our model here.

[Gwydion]

Leon, thanks so much for putting up with my maunderings on this!
Happy now!
I don't know what happened to the mantlets. I did wonder if they were separate but looking on the info on the pictures, they list '1 hull, 1 barrel, 2 tracks' so I discounted that idea. Definitely never stuck them on and don't remember seeing them at all, but as they were a Christmas present from my daughter I don't think I would remember whether they were in the packets or not.  Don't care though! I'm very happy with how they look and now I know there is a simple answer I am a very happy bunny.
Thanks.

Quick rewrite!
It occurred to me I rarely throw away the little plastic bags figures come in as I find uses for them (sometimes). So I spent the last twenty minutes ferreting in my bits boxes down to the archaeological layer of a year ago - Sorry Leon! Two bags with two tiny mantlets! To you and everyone else involved in this saga - my apologies and if I ever start rambling again just say 'mantlets' and I will get straight back in my box!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

As long as the mantlet holds, there will be no breach in this relationship.

[Leon]

Quick rewrite!
It occurred to me I rarely throw away the little plastic bags figures come in as I find uses for them (sometimes). So I spent the last twenty minutes ferreting in my bits boxes down to the archaeological layer of a year ago - Sorry Leon! Two bags with two tiny mantlets! To you and everyone else involved in this saga - my apologies and if I ever start rambling again just say 'mantlets' and I will get straight back in my box!

Excellent, good to hear that you've got them!

[Ithoriel]

To you and everyone else involved in this saga - my apologies and if I ever start rambling again just say 'mantlets' and I will get straight back in my box!

To be fair I looked at the list of parts and thought the mantlets must be cast on.

However ....

Enquiring minds want to know!

And

No stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Glad we got there in the end.

[Raider4]

... To you and everyone else involved in this saga - my apologies... 

No need, it's been gripping stuff. "The Mystery of the Missing Mantlets"! Two weeks of high quality entertainment. 

[Gwydion]

Thing was, I didn't even know they were missing until today!
Last reel plot twist!

[Gwydion]

One good thing came of it however, it made me respray them with Windsor and Newton Matt varnish:


(with the missing mantlets safely in their bags!)

Okay - appear to now be unable to post pics of non-shiny afvs- I should have quit while I was ahead.
Finally!