Hi all,

One for the WWII soviet armour experts...

Preparing to start soon with a SU-85M in 1/16 scale. Although found quite some info and pics already still got some questions. So, here we go:

1. Is the SU-85M hull exactly the same as the SU-100 hull, exept for the gun used? (so if I would take a SU-100 and install a 85mm gun i/o the 100mm gun, I would have an accurate SU-85M?)
Asking this because I can find no walkarounds of the SU-85M, however there are some available of the SU-100.

2. There are several kits on the market, i.e. the Dragon SU-85M and the SU-100. Is the Dragon SU-85M an accurate kit? Any major faults on these kits, especially post-war features etc which I have to take into account when using them as reference material?

3. In general little info on differences between early and late production batches (if produced in early/late versions). If anyone has any info or good reference on differences in production batches, same would be very usefull. Just for good order sake wish to build a wartime SU-85M, in service early 1945.

4. Are there any preserved SU-85Ms or SU-100s in war-time layout? Walkarounds would of course be even better..

5. Of course if anyone knows a good book on the subject or good sites, always welcome

Well that's about it. In short mainly looking for differences in the SU-100 and SU-85M and differences in early/late production batches, if any.

Thanks for helping me to prepare!
Martin

Lot's of replies so far....

Anyway found out 1 thing: the WSN T-34/85 which I use as base has a late-style cupola with 1 large hatch whilst I need the '4-piece cupola' with 2 smaller hatches.

Also read something about early and late-style fuel drums on the engine deck, however could not find too many details. Does anyone know the differences?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Martin

Maybe these 1/35th scale drawings would help (although I can't vouch for their accuracy...) :
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KezhQ6waZT0/SdXUeACf19I/AAAAAAAAOfc/694gAptqCb0/s1600/su85p2.jpg

HTH
Frenchy

Thanks Frenchy!

Martin

The biggest differences between the 85 and 100 is that the 100 has a bigger "tower" cupola that protrudes on the right side of the hull and it has a different bigger mount for the bigger gun....im surprised that there is no walkaround on primeportal..

YUP.

The SU-85M was a stop gap vehicle used while the 100MM gun was fully developed.


- Jeff

The SU-85M was roughly a under-gunned SU-100. When the D10S was held up, production of the SU-100 was reverted to using 85mm main guns until the 100mm guns were available in numbers. This, along with the addition of the T-34/85 commanders coupola, became the SU-85M.

The SU-85M also had the double-doored rear casement hatch, as did early SU-100's. Late SU-100's only had the 1 verticle door on the back casement.

Thanks for the info all!




Been looking at various SU-85M and SU-100 pictures/models/drawings but do not really see the difference in the rear hatch. They all have a small hatch on the rear of the casemate and a larger hatch on the casemate roof, together forming a large hatch/entrance. Do you have example pics?

I did notice this SU-100 does not have a door on the back of the casemate at all, but only in the casemate roof. Is this the difference you mean or is this some restauration mistake?

http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/dmitry_kiyatkin/su-100/index.php?Page=2

http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/dmitry_kiyatkin/su-100/images/su-100_034_of_136.jpg

Thanks,
Martin

Came across this pic which I think is a very nice one, especially since they are so few pics of this vehilce available.



What do you think about the roadwheels - they look like spider wheels?
Got no other pics so far showing this type roadwheel on a SU-85M / wartime SU-100.

Cheers,
Martin

Great photo!
They look like six-spoke wheels to me, at least the first three do. I doubt they are original & must be replacements. Most of the fender is missing too, so maybe this one hit a mine.

Just based on the photos I've seen, I would guess they were all built with the plain dish-type wheels but replacement wheels were fitted from whatever was available.

I think the SU-85M should be the same externally as the SU-100. The vertical hatch on the casemate rear was dropped at some point. I have never seen a two-piece vertical hatch on any T-34 based SU.

Hope this helps a little; it's too bad the SU-85M seems to be such a poorly-documented vehicle, but if you look carefully at photos labeled 'SU-100' you will find a few more

Here are two other pics (maybe the same unit as the one in the previous post...)
Berlin 1945 :




Frenchy