schwPzAbt 503 Tiger I & Support Pz IIIs Don Sector

decal-sheet Schw.Pz.Abt. 503 Tiger Is & Support Pz IIIs Don Sector 1943

• scale 1:35

This 503 set is an all-out effort to make sure each digit and style is captured faithfully so that they will look consistent on both Tiger Is and Panzer IIIs. Kits that provide such decal option are most likely done in isolation and will very likely not match well against each other (Tiger I vs Pz III). There are basically two styles for the white with black outline numbers.

The set covers the initial style of numbers used when the unit was first formed arround mid 1942. It started with only two companies, with support Panzer IIIs (started with all Ausf. Ns) into the mix. Third company was added sometime later, very likely after action in Don sector. The style of the digits transitioned to a narrower and smaller stencil, as in the case of "314", "323" and "324". Replacement tanks were probably painted with this style, as in the case of "132". When the unit started to change over to black with white-outlined numbers, a few retained the original numbers with only the insides filled with black, leaving only a thin white around each digit unpainted. This resulted in "312" & "323" showing up as complicated thin black outline, with additional inner thin white outline and then solid black. Both numbers can be found on AXT351065. A short cut to new black tactical numbers, although not carried out across the board. Maybe it was found to be easiler to completely repaint the numbers instead?

While the unit's support panzers were generally in the form of Pz III Ausf Ns (some with fording/wading bracket on the turret front), there was also an Ausf. M seen. It did received Tigers and Ns from sAbt 502, so maybe the M also came from that pool?