Beautiful guys, beautiful...

Scott

Hi, Okay majorproblem! Very, very nice. I see what you're talking about on the gas tanks in the rear. Excellent. Also like the way you just added the orange to some of the pieces on the driver's hatch and left the two big hatch locks in another color. Looks much better without all of that 'orange' that tends to make this piece 'stand out' more than on reflection it ought to. Will remember these things on the /85 kit.

Do you know if all of these 4 internal tanks were connected to one another and just had the one 'fuel' line coming out of the one you have modeled here, or did they have 4 seperate lines? I'm thinking they were most likely all connected together. Just wondering.

Also great weathering techniques as well. I see your dark floor blends in very nicely with the white of the sidewalls.

Removing one of the ammo box tops looks real good too. A good place to add those two extra shells that come with the model.

Do you, or anybody, know for sure just how many rounds those wooded ammo crates held I I've seen on some of the war time photos on the outside of the vehicles held? Two or 3? Sometimes, depending on how the photos seem to be, they look big enough for 3 and then sometimes just 2. Or maybe they were both ways, depending on where they were boxed up at.


Keep up the good work there. Looking forward to seeing more of your ideas and skills at work.

Take care, Sgirty

Hi Sgirty,
Thanks for the comments
This is an excellent link to answer your questions for the fuel lines
http://tanxheaven.com/t34-85/t34-85dux.htm
they have 2 coming out of each of the front ones, I am still in the middle of making all of them in brass, very fiddly with the radiators in place

This pic below shows 3 shells wide in the ammo boxes, yet strangely the model version will only hold 2 wide?!?


Carl
p.s. my engine white sidewalls are actually light grey thought it would look a better contrast against the white in the fighting compartment.
Thanks for the comments once again, first build in 3 or so years and everything is slowly coming back to me!

Carl,
Really nice work. The tanks look sharp. What shade of red did you use?
It's been too humid here to paint till yesterday. Then, while painting an M151 my 4 yr old aztek 470 died.
So I'm stuck on the T-34 till next week. But that's OK, cause I can see what you all are doing and steal your ideas.
I may also open one of the ammo boxes. Great idea!
Keep up the good work...I'll catch up...someday.
Chuck

Hi Chuck, thanks
I don't know which red I used?...either Humbrol 174 or 60, but either way it does not really matter as I mixed it with around 35-40% black.

Carl

Hi, Thanks for that link on the fuel lines there majorproblem. Looks like they go into that round filter(?) there next to the bulkhead and then, I suppose, a line runs into the front of that round piece --part A9 on the model-- where the fuel lines come out on the motor.

I see there is a round piece --part E2-- that fits onto the bulkhead's side next to the motor that has two long pieces of plastic connected to it that fit, or lay, up along the bulkhead. These come out right where there are two molded-on lines that run down the bulkhead piece itself. Wonder if these represent that possible filter/ lines on the earlier models of this vehicle? Interesting.... The next step would be to cut out that little round section on the front of the bulkhead and making a new one, and 'swing' it down to reveal the area on the motor where this line goes into the fuel pump piece. If, indeed, this IS part represents the filter, this would actually be the only way I can see to fit a line from this possible filter into the pump anyway.

The photo of that engine compartment on the real vehicle sure does allow for someone who is a real detail modeler to do a Shep Paine 'gismology' thing in there by adding all those lines and wires etc. Ha, ha! That, of course, won't be me!

Like Cfbush2000 I've been jotting down ideas and other info and pictures I've run across on the real vehicle to use as a reference for things I would like to try doing on the /85 kit later on. I never would have considered filling in those fuel tanks there. Hell of an idea.

Hummm.....now I also see that parts D1 and D2 have a molded on line running down the back of them. Wonder if this would be the fuel line for the rear internal tanks for maybe for the outside tanks on the /43. Probably those on the outside.

I see whole gobs of ideas on these kits for the after-market people to jump on here. And we shall wait, not so patiently, I suppose. Ha, ha!

Take care, Sgirty

Man all of these pics of painted T34's makes me want to get on the ball and get back to work on mine. Like what was done with the big fuel lines...looks good....I did the little ones on the engine, now need to get some brass tube or thick wire to make the big fuel lines. Keep the pics coming guys!!! Back to looking for pics of the radio area in frong

Here's a link to 1/16 accessories.

http://www.afv-model.com


Chuck

Check this out! Someone is "parting out" a Trumpeter T-34/76 on ebay:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=107704_1502020s&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

What a concept.
Chuck

Yes, the ammo storage cans should have three rounds across the top, not just two.
Six of the eight boxes (of which the kit supplies only seven) held nine rounds (3x3) with the other two holding seven(3x2+1). The photo shows one of these seven round cans which were "notched" at the bottom to clear axel stubs.


Mark

Anyone else seen these?

http://www.japanesearmorking.com/jakp2.htm

Scroll to middle of page for the figs.

Steve,
Thanks for the link:

http://www.japanesearmorking.com/jakp2.htm

Outstanding...now we can add a crew.

Chuck

I posted a link to that site on page 5 and in a seperate thread so nobody missed it!!....guess this thread is getting too long! :-)

Just added a couple of quick pics of fuel pipes in place plus engine and rads.





Carl

I was in my LHS yesterday and was showing one of the guys this thread. I have been trying to get him to join this site (he does some amazing models). He took a look at the above pics and summed them up in one word. "Sweet !"
Just wanted to pass on the compliment Carl.
Chuck

Thank you very much Chuck, it means a lot!

I should have completed full interior pics up by the end of weekend.(maybe without radio gear finished)...lets just say my tank has seen some action inside!!
I have also added extra mechanical bars and pipework to the small part of the fighting compartment floor that is still seen....probably a lot of work for nothing, but I got my teeth in this now!
This really is the best model ever!!
A good source for for bars, etc is in the link below
http://www.thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/t34-76_1.asp

I have some extra 85 parts coming to me, cylinder fuel tanks, hand rails, etc from my friend with the test version, (surplus parts) these will be upgrading my 43 model when I get it and I'm making some enquiries about seperate sprue ordering direct from Trumpeter for additional all steel wheels.

I read on some forum that the 85 is now in the shops in the States?

Carl

Hi, Majorproblem: thinaks for the info. about the /85s getting closer and closer. Am kind of anxious to 'sink my teeth' into another of these wonderful kits and try to put on some of the improvements that I've seen you folks make to your models. They all look really, really great! I've been trying to convince myself to hold off on ordering a /42 because I don't want to get burned out on building them in anticipation of the upcoming /85s. I wonder just how much difference there will be between the two /85 kits? I know they're of different factories, but I wonder if there's enough of a difference to make two seperate kits of this particular series of 1944 models. Guess time will tell here.

While waiting for the Mig weathering pigments to come in the mail this week, I've starting doing some fooling around with Dragon's 1/35 scale British Firefly Sherman model. And even thorugh it's a pretty great kit in it's own right, it still just doesn't compare with the big monster, you know? (Also having to get reacquainted with Dragon's less than prefect instruction sheets as well. No joy there.) The parts on this thing are so d----- small! Ha, ha!

The guy at the hobby shop said that when I get this big T-34 weathered to my satisfaction, he wants to put it on display at his store, hoping more folks will see one completed and buy a kit or two. I'm kind of flattered.


Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Good luck and take care, Sgirty

Yeah, I, myself, can't wait for the 85's. Thats the model I like most, becuase I dig the turret shape. I bought the '42 model because of the turret shape. Man I can't wait to add the '85 to my "Need to build" pile!!

My T-34 has been feeling some neglect. I haven't worked on it for almost 2 weeks now. Lack of time and starting the AFV Club Sd.Kfz. 251/1 D has prevented me from working on the monster much.

I hope to get back on it this weekend.

HI We're looking forward to some more of your fine work there seyehmit. Since it's raining her today, I can't get some of the things done outside around the house that I had planned on doing, so I think I will spend some of the day out in the garage with plastic and glue. At least till the daugher calls needing help with the grand-daughters. The older one thought having a baby sister was a big deal. Now it's beginning to wear a little on her. Taking up to much time that used to be reserved for her. So grandpa to the rescue. Ha, ha!

Am about ready to take the plunge into the weathering pigment side of this game. Just gave the monster another coat of Testor's Dullcote in order to give is some good 'tooth' for these powders. So we'll see. Sure have to hand it to those folks at R & J. Placed the order Saturday, they shipped Monday and it arrived here yesterday. Not bad. Good folks up there in Washington State.

Didn't take much for me to put up Dragon's Firefly kit till later. Not that is was bad or anything like that, it's just so d----- small to work with for me personally. After handling this little kit for a couple of days and then going back to the monster...wow! What a difference that scale makes.

Come on after-market boys, let's get hot on this thing! I want to see some goodies----1/16 sized!!!!!!!

Good luck and take care, Sgirty

Hi Okay. Added the Mig pigments this morning and posted some more photos of the result. Looks pretty good I must say. Didn't try any 'mud' on it, as this was my very first try with any kind of 'powder.' So I just kept things simple. Really like that black soot color. Really looks good around the exhausts and, barrels, and turret top to extract the cannon fumes. May have overdone it there a tad. Oh well. Now I think I'll get out some of my already built 1/35 vehicles and see if I can add some of this stuff to them and do some experimenting.

Take care, Sgirty

Wow! Sgirty that looks fantastic....might just have to break down and get me some of those MiG Pigments! Been holding off (but only because my LHS doesn't carry them) Oh well....off to spend more money!

SGIRTY, it looks really really good

Did you also hinge your turret hatches?

What are the powders you used,(stupid question but are they actually a dust / powder) and how do you use them?...i.e brushed on dry, etc?
Think I'm gonna have to try these if I can get some.

Carl

HI. Thanks for the comments guys. This is the first time I've ever tried 'powders' of any kind, so I can't say what or which kind is better than another.

I used MIG's European Dust, Lt. Rust, and Black Smoke here. I tried to mix some in water, but it just didn't look 'right' so just stayed with putting them on dry. Had some cheap brushes I picked up at the local craft shop and they worked real well for this. Just dipped the very ends of the brush into the powder and began brushing and grinding then into the surface and then brushing them out. I also got a jar of the Russian Dirt as well, but it's kind of dark and didn't seem to show up very well on that green surface, so I didn't use it.

Once they are on there it's pretty hard to get them off. I didn't try to wash them off or anything, but just blowing or wiping across the surface with a finger didn't seem to affect them too much. Have not taken off the upper body since I've put them on, so I don't know exactly how much handling they will take, but they seem to be stuck fairly well.

Did notice last night that I had forgot to do the wheels, so I had to go back and add the powder to them. And while doing the wheels, this powder was also blended into the tracks too, so it all seems to 'fit' together better now.

I'll have to say that I'm pretty pleased with the results here. This sure adds a dimension of 'realism' to the model. But I'll have to do some more experimenting with them.

One important point to mention is to beware of any possible loose parts. As with any scubbing action, it's quite possible that a small part can come off. I broke two small pieces off on this model yesterday, but luckily they fell right beside the model and I was able to use a spot of CA and put them back on. So be watchful here.

Yes majorproblem, I did drill out the hatch covers and pinned them so they would be movable. Also drilled out the two little hatch latches too and pinned them. Wish I had thought about doing that on the engine hatch before adding those 2 pieces that fit on each side of it. Oh well. Live and learn I guess.

If I were to do it over again I think I would blend the European Dust and Lt. Rust together and give that a try, just to see what a difference that would make.

There's more than enough powder in one of these little jars to do several of these big models and still have some left over, as a little bit tends to go a fairly long ways.

Take care, Sgirty

When I spoke to him 3 weeks ago he was going out to buy the model. Later he wrote that he was going to create a driver for the kit. If that happens I bet we also see some new arms for the existing figures that make them more "tank friendly ".

BTW. Hello I am a lurker who has stuck his head out . I have yet to start my "42" yet. I am finishing up a "40" dragon kit in 1/35 scale.

Later
John

Sgirty,

Beautiful work, you have to love natural sunlight.

Scott
:-)