Hi guys,

Building my Cyber-Hobby kit without any references (I'm on holidays) and having read a few reviews on the Internet, I still have a few questions about the "white 85" tank of the marking options.

I understand it would have steel wheels, shorter front mudguards and possibly no external fuel cells (the box top artwork shows two on the side and the instructions just one, very confusing...).

If there are no fuel cells on this tank should I remove the fittings moulded on the upper hull?

I also wonder on which turret options to choose for that tank?

Markingwise I just have to paint a large chite band on the turret top, right?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

Christophe

Hi Chris,

steel wheels are ok at #85. The mudguards seemed to be field applied replacements, very thin sheet of metal and bend.
The available pic (Militaria pg. 34) shows the fuel cells missing at least on the left side, but the attachment hooks still present.
Turret seems to have only the left periscop and yes a wide white band on top.
I can't comment on the turret variants, as I haven't got the CH-kit (and probably won't by it, to few "stz-like" features, like the interlocking hull or the different recuperator housing...)

HTH

Volker

Thanks Volker!

Cheers,

Christophe

Hello Christophe,
Volker is right about the fenders and fuel cell brackets.

You will want to use the new kit turret with wide back plate, the new idler, probably the new drives ("probably" because they can't be seen in the photos I have), and the part #R10 hatch..

In fact the Cyber Hobby kit is almost exactly the same STZ version as white 85 it seems.

There is an additional photo of the same three tank unit (White 85, 73, and 77 or 71 - I can't really be sure from the images) that shows the white band extends from the very top of the gun mantlet to at very least the top edge of the hatch and probably the whole length of the turret.

As an aside, white 85 may have been fitted for five fuel cells, on the driver's side hull at least, rather than just two. The extra brackets would be of a different sort than provided in the kit though.

Hope this helps.

Mark

Thank you Mark!

I'm progressing well, I'm leaving those pesky fuel cell mounts for last though...

Cheers,

Christophe

I've started building that one again, a couple more questions :

1- Should I use the early or late engine vents (sides and top of engine compartment) for white 85, the instructions seem to show the early ones but I'm not 100% sure?

2- Any tips for scratchbuilding the fuel cell supports? The longer ones seem to be included in the kit, possibly not enought though, and none of the shorter ones.

Thanks for your help!

Christophe

Hello again Christophe,
White 85 should have the later style intake covers.
As for the fuel cell brackets; thin brass strip around 1mm wide would probably be the easiest solution. I'm not really sure if anyone makes a PE version of these.

Mark

Thank you Mark!:)

Cheers,

Christophe