_GOTOBOTTOM
Яusso-Soviэt Forum
Russian or Soviet vehicles/armor modeling forum.
REVIEW
T-34/85 1944 Factory 183 w/Interior
firstcircle
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 12:34 AM UTC
Matthew Lenton has a look at what’s new in AFV Club’s latest entry in their clear bodied with full interior T-34 series. This one is a late 1944 T-34-85 from Factory 183.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Thudius
Visit this Community
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 02:43 AM UTC
Nice to see Finnish markings included. For anyone wanting to do that version, have a peek here for some details of the real deal.

http://www.andreaslarka.net/ps245002/ps245002.html

You probably won't get a true Finnish version out of the box though (I'd be happy to be proven wrong ) as every captured tank went through some basic mods so a bit of research will be needed if absolute accuracy is your thing.

Kimmo
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 02:44 AM UTC
Very thorough and informative review.
jwest21
Visit this Community
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Monday, June 15, 2015 - 08:09 PM UTC
If only they would have done a regular, non-clear version with the proper texture. Still I may get this one and a bottle of Mr. Surfacer 500
firstcircle
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 12:26 AM UTC
Bill, thanks, I did make an effort to cover everything I thought might be of interest. I should say that I received this kit for review with a little trepidation, not having much detailed knowledge of these tanks, and that trepidation was somewhat increased when I read one or two of the threads that followed earlier reviews of kits in this series... Hopefully I didn't fall into traps.


Quoted Text

If only they would have done a regular, non-clear version with the proper texture. Still I may get this one and a bottle of Mr. Surfacer 500



Jason, note what I said about AFV Club ultimately following up the clear kit with the opaque version of each of the kits previously released in this series - that's why this is the seventh kit, as there's been three previous versions covered, in both clear and opaque body parts.

My little analysis chart that I put together while researching the previous kits is now adapted to illustrate this:

1.AF35S51 / 2009: T-34/76 1942 Factory 112 CLEAR
2.AF35S56 / 2009: T-34/85 Model 1944, 1945 production, Factory No.174 CLEAR
3.AF35143 / 2010: T-34/76 1942 Factory 112 OPAQUE
4.AF35S57 / 2010: T34/76 Model 1942/43 Factory Nr.183 CLEAR
5.AF35144 /2012: T-34/76 1942/43 Factory 183 OPAQUE
6.AF35145 / 2013: T-34/85 Model 1944 Factory No.174 OPAQUE
7.AF35S55 (AF35146) / 2014: T-34/85 1944 Factory 183 CLEAR

So I guess you could wait, though note that they haven't always followed up that quickly with the opaque version. As to whether the opaque versions have the casting texture and welds, I'm not entirely sure, though if you look at photo 10 of the review of AF35143 (link at the end of this review) it seems that that kit does have that detail.
jwest21
Visit this Community
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 09:55 AM UTC
Matthew- I guess I need to find out if the opaque ones have the textured turret or are they from the same molds as the clear. It's not so much that the clear parts bother me as that they are smooth and Russian turrets are really anything but smooth.
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
Visit this Community
Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2015 - 07:29 AM UTC
I'll take one!
Jacques
Visit this Community
Minnesota, United States
Joined: March 04, 2003
KitMaker: 4,630 posts
Armorama: 4,498 posts
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2015 - 07:57 AM UTC
Good job covering the kit. Considering that the doing reviews on any T-34 (or M4 sherman) can be a minefield, I think you did just fine.
 _GOTOTOP