I'm new to the Russo-Soviet forum, having built predominantly Vietnam dios up to this point.. As a starting point, I bought the Russian tank crew figures from Alpine last weekend from the UK IPMS nationals, then a cut price Tamiya T34/76 (1943) with Jordi 76mm aluminium barrel...
So, when I got back online, I quickly ordered Fruilmodel tracks, Mig Cylindrical fuel tanks, Eduard exterior photoetch and 4 Tank figures walking with weapons (and looking weary with it)
Apart from now having no money for family christmas presents, I'm excited at the prospect of a little (30 x 30cm) diorama with the tank on the side of a dirt track, nestled up against a hedge, with the crew watching the 4 soldiers walking past... set in late summer 1943, where? not sure yet...
The advice I need is - does this sound plausible, are there any pitfalls with the kit/figures/aftermarket bits, and without me having to spend any more money on books, is there a website with a pic of typical russian/geraman countryside and dirt tracks so I can get the groundwork right?

Hoping also to post a mini buildlog, but bear with me as it might take some time between the stages... busy at work, christmas, that sort of thing...

Richard

This might help a little.
http://www.wf.weltkrieg.ru/main/

Hard to say where things were and what happened and did not happen I guess.
As such a large place and a much different world then now.

That's a great link. Thanks for posting it, Jeff.

-YL

Yes thanks - it has as much as I need for the dio/types of ground and scenery...

Couldn't agree more!

Thanks for sharing.

James

Ok, so the Fruil tracks arrived - they are the non-waffle type (early - 1940ish) - anybody know when the waffle types started being used? The tamiya rubber band tracks with the kit seem to be waffle, and it's the 1943 model... I guess I need to know if the early tracks would still be in use in 1943...?

No problems on the Link Folks great to share when we can.

With the tracks ,well if I remember they were a bear to adjust and change so I think as the War went on what fit would be good.

No matter what type

I don't think the Russians really were to by the book people.

Could be wrong .
Here are some more pics of the styles.

http://www.gjames.com.au/chris/t34/misc.html

Better hide the kit until after Christmas.

Hi Richard.

T34/76's from 1943 only used the waffer patterned tracks and not the early ones.
The only tanks that used the non waffer patterned tracks were 1940/1941 T34/76's
These tanks were still in use, late in the war on the leningrad front.
( Because of the isolation of Leningrad during the war. )
The chance they changed late tracks on early T34's was much greater than the other way around.

Frank.

As far as the Tamiya kit goes, watch the position of the axle for the idlers. The kit was originally designed to be motorised and allows for adjustment of track tension by providing the ability to slide the mounting forwards/backwards by means of a set screw. Make sure that it is set forward far enough to provide sufficient clearance between the idlers and the first pair of road wheels BEFORE you seal up the hull.

Also, the towing lugs on the front edge of the hull shouldn't be there (they were added to the full-size display vehicle upon which the kit was based) so omit the parts and fill the slots.

Thanks! My guess was that the Russians (probably in every theatre) used what was available to them. In fact, probably every side did... this may annoy the rivet counters...
As for the heads up on the tamiya idlers - thanks - I dry fitted the wheels last night and noticed exactly this - plus I need to trim about 3mm from the metal axle to stop lateral travel. The lifting hooks will now come off - I did them last night!
Does anyone have any advice on how to trim out the rear left and right vent grills - the horizontal ones - for the Eduard replacements? Usually I would use a hot blade but in this case, there's not much room for comfort. There's also the option of a drill-hole at each end then a burr in the MiniTool... what do you think?

Richard

I did as you said on my Home done one not to bad but that plastic will break if you are not careful.
If you want to spend some more money
These will work for you.
http://www.tankworkshop.com/Shop/agora.cgi?cart_id=%%cart_id%%&product=Tank%20Maker&xm=on $5.00 but then again their is the shipping charge.
Wish you the best on the build it is quite an easy kit that with some improvements turns into a pretty decent build,but not for the Rivet counters and such .

Look midway down the page on the link for engine cover.

Nearly done getting rid of excess plastic to take grilles etc, and both sets of Fruil tracks are made - my god that took some patience - there are 9 links on one part and 8 on the other to get the wire through - but plenty of spare links just to cope with the few with bad mouldings... which means thay can be stowed on the tank later.
I'm aiming to get pictures of the job so far tonight, as well as the wip on the figures... two alpine tank crew (plus the spare head on a tamiya body for the driver) and 4 Tank soldiers walking...