Braille Scale' models

1/35th Scale

T-34 References

1/25th and larger

The Ultimate T-34 model...?

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Just a small selection of my 1/72nd and 1/76th T-34 kits -

Together with a couple of accessory parts I've collected. Jadar, Part and ExtraTech are just some of the manufacturers who are starting to provide high quality add-ons for these smaller kits.

Note particularly the front packet which is etched brass tracks for the Model 1943 - a suberb quality replacement for the older rubber band tracks, and may even win out over the link and length tracks in the newer releases...

Smaller 'Braille Scale'models

In the smaller scale there is the good old standard Airfix, a veteran as old as I am, and which still has all its old bad habits too. It's sold as 1/72^nd scale but is in my option nearer to 1/76^th. It does have a choice of two turrets in the kit so that you can model either the 76mm or the 85mm versions. Its also pretty cheap at £3.99 GBP but you will need to do a bit of work to turn out a good model.

Also a good old stager is the Fujimi 1/76^th scale model. This has the later 1945 turret with the two 'mushroom' vents at the top back of the turret, and a choice of two types of road wheel - the plain dish, and the half web - both common types seen on late war T-34s. Curiously the Fujimi's 1/76^th wheels are the same diameter as the Airfix 1/72^nd ones.

The Fujimi version has also appeared re-boxed (or copied...) as Science Treasury, and I believe Hasegawa Mini box was a licenced copy, but I've not been able to confirm this.

Any of the versions are still good buys however, my Science Treasury one cost the princely sum of £1GPB.

Cooperativa from Russia make a good 1/72^nd version - again a 1945 model, but the wheels are the steel rimmed and holed examples more often seen on the 76mm Model 1943. The detailing is a little over done, and my kit was produced without decals, but that may have changed in later issues. It does have good link and length tracks that are fiddly but will make-up into a fine model.

Eastern Express make a number of T-34s - they are all limited editions cast in an aluminium powdered resin mould, so get 'em if you can.

The T-34 Model 1943 which I have before me is rather nice, and would benefit from the steel wheels in the Cooperativa model. The decals have a number of Russian slogans and again it has the link and length tracks of the later waffle type.

My Revell T-34 awaiting a coat of paint and some weathering.

I've given it a quick review so far here.

The next one that I have in my collection the Revell T-34/85 Model 1945. This was released July 2002 and I was keen to get my hands on one (or two or three.)

I must admit I was a little disappointed at first glance at this eagerly awaited kit. Why? Well, I got the strange feeling that I'd seen it before. In fact I thought 'Fujimi' when I opened the box and gazed on the mid green plastic sprues.

The good news is its not the old Fujimi re-boxed. In fact it's a rather nice spread of parts with link and length tracks and at the least re-engraved parts from the old mould Revell inherited. (Don't quote me on that, I've not got one to hand to prove it, but it looks the same.)

So its good for any period from later 1944 onwards, say Seelow Heights, through Battle for Berlin, Prague Spring, Korea, even at a pinch up to Six Day War in 1967.

Of course colour scheme and decal changes will be needed, but in general this is the T-34 you see in Berlin with the white turret stripes and the 'bed frames' welded to it. It's the tank used by Major Malikowsky in the Prague fighting, and it's the one the Russians took into Korea. With a little work it will do for the Chinese one as well.

Two 1/72nd scale kits missing from the photo above.

These are some of my plastic presents from Christmas 2002. The T-34/85 is the same model as the recent Revell issue. The Revell does have the edge in my opinion.

The D-5T turret isn't kitted by anyone else in injection plastic - put it on the Revell hull for a killer 1/72nd scale model...

The spread of kit parts.

One problem looks to be the wheel hubs - On the T-34/76 they protruded further than the kit shows. Not a major problem, certainly not enough to put me off this kit...

1/35th Scale models

Italeri/Zvezda make a good range of T-34 models starting with a Model 1942 and going onto a Model 1943 and a Model 1944 with the 85 mm gun.

The Italeri/Zvezda T-34 kits are generally accurate, widely available and cheap at around £13 GBP. If teamed with the Airwaves PE sheet and possibly Model Kasten replacement tracks they would make an excellent model.

The other big advantage is that they come with the Guards badge as a tiny decal so saving frustration with the paint brush.

The spread of 1/35th scale T-34s from my collection.

Missing still are a Dragon/DML or two and some of the earlier out of production models - I'm a builder not a collector.

You can see immediately that there are many more accessories in my 1/35th heap. This is partly because I've simply got more of everything in 1/35th and partly because there are just more accessories in the larger scale. But keep looking as the smaller scale is catching up rapidly.

Tamiya have also made a few stabs at the T-34/76, all 1942 to 1943 versions, one with the Chelyabynsk turret which is not available otherwise - except as an expensive resin. There are some dimension problems with the engine decks on these, but the two man turret is quite accurate and has a good rough cast effect. There's also an SU122 built on the same T-34 hull. Tamiya also produce one T-34/85 which has the same hull with a reasonable turret.

These all suffer from the same problem - they were originally built for motorisation so the rear engine cover has the wrong dimensions. Not a major problem, but it gets noticed if the Tamiya is put with another kit. However overall it looks like a T-34, and with a little work makes a reasonable display model.

Tamiya's T-34/76 Model 1942.

The turret is quite accurate as it goes, but will need more detailing inside if you want to have the top hatch open.

Czech Master's engine bay

This is just one of CMK's extensive range, which is the answer to a detailer's prayer. Reasonably priced at £12.50 in the UK theres a full kit to fit a range of T-34 models with a little carefull filing and cutting. As the good old V-2 Otto 500hp diesel was in use right upto the seventies this kit will be appropriate for any T-34 version. CMK are also worth a look for their interior kits for hull and turret.

The Tank Workshop also makes an interior kit for the T-34/76 based on the Tamiya. Pricey at £25.00 this kit contains resin parts and some white metal for driver's position and also a complete replacement turret with gun breach and Ppsh drum magazines.

Dragon have made a series of T-34s and variations on them, I've seen their NVA version, a good Viet Cong version for the Tet Offensive - It has a good selection of late production features like the 1946 turret with the seperate ventilators on the turret roof, starfish wheels, electric fuel pump and 200 litre fuel tanks. It's also due for a re-release soon - so I'm told...

Dragon have also waded in with a Model 1940 - a superb kit of the early T-34 that should be in every kit pile in my opinion :-)

The main problem with Dragon until this kit was released (if you can call it a problem) is that it was difficult to back-date it to the early or mid war versions. Eduard do an expensive steel photo-etch that was intended to upgrade (back-grade?) it with some scale thickness curved fenders included in its comprehensive selection. It was not for the faint hearted, as the edges are sharp, and require a bit of experience to curve the fenders convincingly, and glue them solidly in place. However they do make superb dented mudguards using the old adage that 'Nothing looks like metal like metal' It's still worth looking out for as it has the most accurate two piece grill for the engine deck of any manufacturer.

The one that got away - The NVA Model 1969.

After WWII the T-34s career was far from over. There were three major refits and an export program that saw T-34s everywhere from Angola to Zimbabwe.

I'm looking for one as I want to do a Croatian version still in use in 1998.

T-34 References

My favourite references in English at least - are the Osprey/New Vanguard series. If your Polish is up to it you should also get the Seria Pod Lupa n107 and n108 which go into great detail and have pics of a sectioned T-34/85 in I think its Parola in Finland. The captions are in English, and the photos really are worth investing in.

The Osprey Modelling Manual shows step by step how to create a superb early model T-34 by some involved cutting of Dragon and Tamiya kits. Expect to pay about £12.00 per copy - well recommended, but do shop around as there are many more references out there.

Three of the Osprey manuals on the T-34.

Osprey have done us proud with a manual on each of the /76 and /85, and a model building manual that covers both. Mine are seldom off the model bench..!

The Osprey Modelling Manual has step by step instructions for conversions and super detailing for several of the T-34 kits currently available. It's recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in T-34s.

1/24th and larger scale models

The Tamiya T-34/85 has also been re-released in 1/25^th scale at the princely sum of £42 - Hold out for the re-release by Toystar - same kit, £20. Nuff said. The same errors apply with the 1/25th scale offering as the 1/35th scale - the kits were pantographed from the same master. But there's not much competition if you want 1/25th. It does have individual links for the tracks and the motorisation pack is provided in the kit. I can't comment on any of the other 1/24 or 1/25th scale kits as I haven't examined them closely. I'm hoping to update this article soon.

There was a resin 120mm beast, available to special order from one company, now I understand no longer available but I've only seen it in photos so I can't comment on the fit or accuracy. I do know the price was quite severe..!

The Toystar 1/25th T-34/85

Toystar's offering is a re-box of the original Tamiya kit - imported by Amerang and available at around £20 GBP.

Trumpeter have been teasing us with three promised versions in both -76 and -85 versions, in 1/16th - well - they are in the shops now and life just doesn't get much better than this... Big, bold and beautiful - this is how it should be - with full interior, indi tracks and engine, this isn't a kit it's a career in itself.

It's official price is £89.99 but look around, bid on eBay if you feel up to it - I got one at a bargain price.

As a teaser take a look at the Perth MMS for some preview pics.

The Ultimate T-34 kit..?

 Is there such a thing as the ultimate T-34..? Difficult one this - for BIG go for one of the Trumpeter kits. Can't be beat if size is what's wanted.

In smaller scales, you'd need to make two I think - one 76mm and one 85mm. The 76 would be based on Italeri for preference. The late model 85 would belong to Dragon - superb kits, but not without problems like all plastic model kits. For my choice the Airwaves brass kit from ED Models as it's realistcally priced and contains items that you'd be likely to use. Tracks would be replaced by Fruil Model for choice, but many people would plump for Model Kasten. I'd swap some wheels on the 76 between the Tamiya hubbed and holed early wheels and the Italeri Steel wheels for a Model 1942 - Oh and I always replace my gun barrels - usually with Jordi Rubio, as the kit barrels never seem to end up straight and perfectly round.

In 1/72nd scale Revell for 85 and probably the new Italeri release which is a re box of the Esci for the 76. I've not had the chance to do any more than look at the sprues, but it's a winner for my money. You'd possibly want to try Part's etched tracks and Eduard's etched detail set for both.

Whichever one you choose, in any scale - enjoy it. I don't get hung up on scale accuracy - if it looks good it is good.

© Howard Freeman 2004