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Thanks everyone! This is really interesting. Linguistically, and mechanically.
Now, all the answers have brought up more questions. Are these 2 different vehicles? Are there multiple pictures of Mariya's T-34 somewhere? And was it a Factory 174, or 183? Does that matter?
- Steve
The tailplate will tell you which factory built it, but it isn't visible in the photos shown. Factory 183 tanks had the upper tailplate fit inside the lower tailplate, with two small hinges. Factory 174 had the upper tailplate overlap the lower tailplate, with two small hinges, and Factory 112 had the same arrangement, but with two wide hinges. Factory 112 also used interlocking front armor plate for a while, and had two handrails welded to the glacis plate on the top left and right sides, and angle irons welded to the upper edges of the glacis and side plates to protect the turret ring. And as mentioned, Factory 183 usually used the perforated wheels.
Not entirely correct, Gerald. Factory 183/174/ChKZ/UZTM had rear plates that were nearly identical in construction. Only Factory 112 had the upper plate overlapping the lower.
Early on in the production of the "Model '42" Factory 183/UTZ had three small hinges on the rear plate and two fewer bolts holding it in place. Later in production they would change to two hinges and add the two bolts back in.
UZTM (who produced T-34 for only a short time before switching to producing self propelled guns) shared UTZ's arrangement of the rear plate.
Okay, not to repeat everyone here but this particular T-34-76 is generally what is referred to as a “Model ‘42”.
Gerald gets you most of the way there in terms of which factory produced it and the full set of pressed dish wheels is probably the biggest clue. Only two of the factories seem never to have adopted the “internally dampened” tireless wheels; Krasnoye Sormovo a.k.a Factory 112, and UZTM. This is not a Factory 112 made T-34.
Another small clue that this is “probably” a UZTM made tank is the type of hand rails on the hull and engine deck. The pattern is said to be more or less unique to that factory (Other makers used the same type of hand rail just not in the same configuration on the hull, turret, and engine deck). Factory 174 and 112 tended to prefer using bent rod hand rails, at least on the hull.
Unfortunately there is no kit that will give you this exact variation of the T-34 out of the box though your best bet is Dragon’s kit #6424, “T-34/76 Hexagonal Turret Soft Edge Type”. You’ll need the pressed type wheels which can be had from a couple of after market sources or taken from DML kits #6479 or 6614.
The AFV Club kit is a poor choice to represent this one primarily because it has the wrong variation of the turret but also, and I apologize if I’m stepping on anyone’s toes here, because other than having a full interior, it’s just not a particularly accurate representation of the T-34.
Good luck with your project and hope this helps~
Mark
