I think I was one of the first to receive this kit in the US and probably one of the first to state flat out that it is not a particularly impressive effort despite its steep price tag.
My first post (which was not on this site unfortunately) concerned the very poor quality of detail in the upper hull. The engine access hatch does not fit and is even worse than some of their previous efforts, the entire engine deck is poor, the suspension tower covers are poor, the bolt detail is poor, even the new turret hatch is poor, this despite CH/DML having the benefit of some very high quality research on this particular tank.
For me this was cause for deep disappointment all in its self but when Dmitry posted his issues with problems in mating the upper and lower hulls I had to check it out too.
The fact is that if you attach the rear plate (R29?) correctly to the upper hull and the lower rear plate (R5?) correctly to the lower hull the upper and lower hull will not mate without a large gap.
As Dmitry demonstrated a better fit can be had if R29 and R5 are pushed out of place and bent slightly but this can hardly be considered a "fix".
We're not speaking of preferences here but of quality (or lack thereof).
The upper hull of the CH STZ T-34 Model '42 is a painfully poor effort from a company of whom we expect, and should demand, much better.
Doug, your photos are intriguing but badly out of focus and a bit dark. I do not doubt that you were able to get the pieces to fit together but the question is "how"?
I’m afraid that I even have to disagree with Dmitry on one point; the fact that the upper hull is poor DOES make this a poor kit. The upper hull is what makes it a “Model ’42 STZ T-34” without it you have, well, a lower suspension and turret. It’s kind of like saying about a sandwich, “I really like the bread, but everything in between was a let down.”
Mark
