Hi All,

Been out of model building for awhile, but it's good to be back on the forum.

On a T-34, both gun sizes, and some other tanks such as the SU series, there are those wavy looking tow cleats on the front of the tank on either side. I am not sure their exact name, but it's what you always see the tow cable ends attached to.

I am doing many older Tamiya kits and these are cast in, not so well. They'd work, but I'd like to redo them.

Does anyone make these in resin? Looks like Dragon kits have them as seperate parts, but I am sure I couldn't buy them from Dragon.

Anyone know? How about some nice pictures of one for reference.

Thanks!

Bill B.

Bill, there will be people who know more about this than me, but since no-one else replied . . . ! There are lots of accessories sets for T-34s - an example is here:

jadar

but note that the tow hooks are not included! I managed to find a few sets that look like they might include them, but only in combination with lots of other spares that amounted to an entire conversion kit. and costing quite a lot.

As far as old Tamiya kits go, I have an SU-85 kit, and these parts are separate components and quite well moulded, so for the cost of an aftermarket resin set of accessories, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you could pick up a Tamiya SU-85 on Ebay for less ($10 maybe?).

I think it is possible that what you are interpreting as these hooks moulded in on some kits, is actually the early type of tow hook, which was more like those seen on the front of a Pzkpfwiii or iv, i.e. two little parallel brackets with a hole to accept a pin which retained the tow rope. I think this type was used on the early T-34, the 1940 models and some 1941 types, including one at APG.

Examples:
1940
t34/85
This second photo is very high res, so keep clicking on it, it gives quite a good view of the later type of hook.

Otherwise I recommend just a good old trawl through the internet, there are several Eastern European and Russian model dealers who have huge ranges of bits of T34s, though it's not always clear from the pix and descriptions what is included in the pack!

Matt,

Yeah, thanks! I wondered when SOMEONE would reply! 125 looks and nobody stepping to the plate.

The irony is I will be very near Aberdeen, MD this week anbd cannot make it to the proving ground, where they have one.

Damn!

Thanks for the links, though!

Bill B.

PS-I zoomed in on that T-34 link you sent. Yep, they are a spring-loaded lock for the horn of the cleat. I got a good view of it, I think I can make some.

I MAY be able to get to Aberdeen afterall this week!

you mean like this? Not sure if the hole was bored out after the war. I'd just make some.

Luke,

Thanks for the close-up. What I was interested in is that clip right above the horn. It looks like a spring-loaded clip to lock the tow cable in place. But that is exactly the view I need.

Thanks!

Bill B.

Ironically, if you left the mold seam on the part, you'd be dinged for it even though it appears on the real thing.

If you mean at a model contest, you are probably right....BUT if you attend an AMPS contest, you are encouraged by our point-based system to bring along a photo like that so the judges can see why you did it that way. I've noticed mold seams like this on lots of towing hooks.

Danny Egan
President
AMPS