Яusso-Soviэt Forum
Russian or Soviet vehicles/armor modeling forum.
Russian or Soviet vehicles/armor modeling forum.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Jacques Duquette
T34-85 in Afghanistan (picture heavy)

rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:48 PM UTC
Spent most of yesterday photographing a T-34-85 that made it into Kabul sometime during the early part of the Russian invasion. First thing that stood out was the T-55 road wheels on such an old vehicle which drew me to her. There are many T34-85’s here in the Kabul area, but only two with T-55 road wheels and she is the only complete one. There is another T-34 that I will show pictures of in this thread that has a T-55 road wheel on one side and a T-34 on the other. I try to get out there are much as possible as the Chinese are dragging all the hulls and piling them up to be turned into scrap, so it has turned into a race against the shredder. For the rivet counters that like to PM me, i am sure this too has had some type of arsenal refit in its life time, hence the two types of interior colors, road wheels, etc. Anyways, the pictures are for your personal use only as a reference, if you need hi-res pictures just shoot me an email and I will get them to you asap, but they are all big pictures 4-5mb each and internet in Afghanistan is crap.

rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:48 PM UTC
This is the main T-34

Drivers Side Rear Sprocket

Drivers Side rear road wheels

Drivers side Rear final drive housing


Drivers Side Rear Sprocket

Drivers Side rear road wheels

Drivers side Rear final drive housing


rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:49 PM UTC
Turret

Crude cuts on back of turret




Crude cuts on back of turret




rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:50 PM UTC
Various Turret Pictures





rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:51 PM UTC
Turret Hatches









rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:52 PM UTC
Back deck
Standing on turret looking down.

Back deck looking left rear towards the front

Standing on turret looking down.

Back deck looking left rear towards the front


rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:54 PM UTC
Fuel Cells

Data Plate on external fuel cell





Data Plate on external fuel cell





rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:55 PM UTC
Under carriage, back hull and related areas

Exhaust Cut out on rear hull





Exhaust Cut out on rear hull





rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:56 PM UTC
More rear hull
Some ugly welds

Rear hull area


Some ugly welds

Rear hull area



rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:57 PM UTC
Engine compartment Interior
left rear

Right rear

left rear

Right rear


rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:58 PM UTC
Bow Machinegun Port

Underside

Inside


Underside

Inside


rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:59 PM UTC
Various Interior Shots











rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 05:01 PM UTC
Main Gun Data plate, which is currently in my shop back home.



Spiderfrommars

Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
Armorama: 3,543 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 05:34 PM UTC
I really thought that the oddest T-35-85 which I've seen were those used by the Croats during the war in former Yugoslavia...
Well, I was wrong....
Those pics are outstanding and incredibly interesting Mike
Thanks a million to share that reference photographs despite your quite uncomfortable circumstances
Well, I was wrong....

Those pics are outstanding and incredibly interesting Mike
Thanks a million to share that reference photographs despite your quite uncomfortable circumstances

rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 06:04 PM UTC
oops forgot these, notice how crudely these fenders are welded to the hull.




4-BO-Green

Joined: March 30, 2011
KitMaker: 270 posts
Armorama: 230 posts

Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 06:17 PM UTC
Nice photoshoot!!
Big thanks for sharing
Remco
Big thanks for sharing

Remco


MCR

Joined: July 15, 2004
KitMaker: 464 posts
Armorama: 407 posts

Posted: Friday, August 26, 2011 - 11:18 AM UTC
Those, sir, are some fantastic photographs! Thank you very much for posting them.
Looks like a "fairly" early production tank from factory 174. Definitely built during WWII.
The wheels BTW aren't T-54/55 as such but purpose built for the T-34. Slightly different diameter and pattern.
Again, thanks for posting these and stay safe!
Mark
Looks like a "fairly" early production tank from factory 174. Definitely built during WWII.
The wheels BTW aren't T-54/55 as such but purpose built for the T-34. Slightly different diameter and pattern.
Again, thanks for posting these and stay safe!
Mark

exer

Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts

Posted: Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:09 PM UTC
Terrific photos Mike. Thanks for sharing them

rcnpthfndr

Joined: February 15, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 264 posts

Posted: Friday, August 26, 2011 - 06:18 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Looks like a "fairly" early production tank from factory 174. Definitely built during WWII.
The wheels BTW aren't T-54/55 as such but purpose built for the T-34. Slightly different diameter and pattern.
Again, thanks for posting these and stay safe!
Mark
i did not know that about the roadwheels. another question since i dont know, what makes you think its from factory 174? i took some pictures of numerical markings that i can post if you want to see them.

Spiderfrommars

Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
Armorama: 3,543 posts

Posted: Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 04:21 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Those, sir, are some fantastic photographs! Thank you very much for posting them.
Looks like a "fairly" early production tank from factory 174. Definitely built during WWII.
The wheels BTW aren't T-54/55 as such but purpose built for the T-34. Slightly different diameter and pattern.
Again, thanks for posting these and stay safe!
Mark
Interesting.
Do you have any references about that kind of wheels?
It seem to me most likely that the T-34 wheels were substituted with T54/55 wheels, which were easy available in that zone and which are compatible with T-34 tank.
The same think did Croats and Serbian with their t-34--85 tanks



Just my opinion anyway
Cheers

MCR

Joined: July 15, 2004
KitMaker: 464 posts
Armorama: 407 posts

Posted: Sunday, August 28, 2011 - 09:18 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextLooks like a "fairly" early production tank from factory 174. Definitely built during WWII.
The wheels BTW aren't T-54/55 as such but purpose built for the T-34. Slightly different diameter and pattern.
Again, thanks for posting these and stay safe!
Mark
i did not know that about the roadwheels. another question since i dont know, what makes you think its from factory 174? i took some pictures of numerical markings that i can post if you want to see them.
It's a little iffy since so many of these tanks were completely rebuilt post war. BUT, the turret with the rolled plate cupola (as opposed to cast), the pattern of the bottom plate, and, most importantly, the large rear hinges are all 174.
The type of turret, some details of the hull construction, and the glacis MG shield with the smaller diameter sight aperture are all pre-1945 (I "think").
As for the roadwheels, I can't post a picture at the moment but from all my references mounting the T-54/55 wheels on a T-34 suspension is not as straight forward as most folks think. It isn't a simple swap.
The easiest was to recognize the purpose built T-34 wheel is to look at the perforation in the raised portion of the "star". It's way larger than those for the later tanks. Easy to spot when you have them side by side.
Mark

MCR

Joined: July 15, 2004
KitMaker: 464 posts
Armorama: 407 posts

Posted: Sunday, August 28, 2011 - 09:22 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I took some pictures of numerical markings that i can post if you want to see them.
Oh, and hells ya I'd like to see the markings!

Mark

Spiderfrommars

Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
Armorama: 3,543 posts

Posted: Sunday, August 28, 2011 - 09:43 AM UTC
Hey Mark, I' ve found references about the wheels
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/t3485bg_2.html
T-34 Wheel

T-55 wheel

You're right, thanks a million for information
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/t3485bg_2.html

T-34 Wheel

T-55 wheel

You're right, thanks a million for information

zapper

Joined: October 18, 2005
KitMaker: 745 posts
Armorama: 734 posts

Posted: Sunday, August 28, 2011 - 10:33 AM UTC
@ Mike: Great pictures. Many thanks for taking the an posting them!
Regarding the T-34 starfish weels: the Dragon T-34/85M NVA (no. 3318?) comes with them.
Cheers,
/E
Regarding the T-34 starfish weels: the Dragon T-34/85M NVA (no. 3318?) comes with them.
Cheers,
/E

Spiderfrommars

Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
Armorama: 3,543 posts

Posted: Sunday, August 28, 2011 - 11:13 AM UTC
Quoted Text
As for the roadwheels, I can't post a picture at the moment but from all my references mounting the T-54/55 wheels on a T-34 suspension is not as straight forward as most folks think. It isn't a simple swap.
The easiest was to recognize the purpose built T-34 wheel is to look at the perforation in the raised portion of the "star". It's way larger than those for the later tanks. Easy to spot when you have them side by side.
Mark
...so the same must be true for Su-100 Self propelled gun...

Thanks again
![]() |