One of the more interesting exhibits in the new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa is this "destroyed" Sturmgeschutz IIIG.  This vehicle was originally captured by Canadian forces in Italy in 1943/44, then shipped back to Canada.  For many years, the vehicle was a gunnery target on a range in western Canada before its historical value was recognized and it was recovered.  As can be seen, this Stug was rather the worse for wear, having been shot at by many a Sherman, Centurion and Leopard (how's that for irony?) over the years.  After sitting unrestored in the War Museum's Vimy House storage facility, the curators decided to make the best of a bad thing and paint the Stug in something resembling its original colours (along with dramatic effects to enhance the damage), then work it into a diorama of the fighting on the Italian front.  This is the result.

This Stug is fitted with the earlier welded gun mantlet and applique armour on the hull front.  The effects of different types of antitank rounds can be clearly seen on this vehicle (enhanced by the weathering - talk about 1:1 model-building!).

The right side of the vehicle obviously took the brunt of the damage.  Part of the upper hull plate has bent up perpendicular to the rest of the plate, while one of the transmission access doors has collapsed down into the hull.  The entire right side of the superstructure front is missing.

The applique armour on the upper hull is still in place, although several of the bolts securing it have been sheared off.  The lower hull applique armour plate has fallen off, however, although some of the bolt heads remain.

The rear of the superstructure is surprisingly intact.  One of the antenna mounts is still present, along with the ventilator on the rear and both of the loader's hatches.  Even the screens over the engine air intakes are still in place.  

This shot of the front right side of the vehicle shows details of the sprocket and final drive housing very clearly, thanks to the lack of a fender and tracks.

None of the return rollers are still on the right side of the vehicle, and the centre mount is also missing.  The rear shock absorber has come apart, giving an interesting view of its construction.  Note the casting marks on the shock absorber mount.  The fenders have obviously seen better days.

More suspension details can be seen here, including the idler and road wheels.  The tracks on this vehicle have solid guide teeth but no cleats.  With the fender pulled up, details of the attachment between the upper and lower hulls can be seen.

A nice clear view of the muzzle brake - perfect for anybody with one of the ABEr barrels who is looking for a detail shot!  The painting brings out some of the subtle casting patterns on the muzzle brake itself.

A look right down the muzzle of the StuG's 7.5 cm L/48 gun.  Barely visible down there is the rifling of the barrel.

Here is the StuG before its makeover, back at Vimy House in 2001.  Aside from repainting, only minor changes were done to the vehicle (the fender mount just inboard of the sprocket was removed, for instance, and the block of wood is holding the gun higher).  Kudos to the staff at the Canadian War Museum for doing all it could to make this battered veteran presentable.