Hi Colo_artist: Yes, I used smaller wire this time for the lines on this motor. Can't say what size it is, but I think I picked a spool of it up at one of the home improvement centers. I think it's just a general purpose small guage wire and nothing special. Also, when I wired the other engine I had it already built--always a bad idea--and broke off some of those little tips on top of piece A3/A4 trying to drill down in there, so I just ended up cutting all top off of that piece and adding a flat sheet of plastic to that area and drilled through it. Plus those 'lines' are wiring from a phone line on the other motor, which are too big. Every model, I hope is an impovement over the previous, again, I hope! Ha, ha!

Now the wiring in the turret is from an old phone line and I think it looks better in there rather than on the motor. Live and learn.

I'm getting a lot of my inspiration on this kit from majorprblem's build of his /42. And if it comes out half as good as his did, then I'll be satisfied.

By the way I see they are getting ready to do a group build on this particular series of vehicles over on Fine Scale Modeler. I think it is starting sometime in Sept. and goes through May. And I would imagine there will be some photos added from those folks who are going to particpate in this build as time goes along, plus more research. Now I just have to talk the boss into letting me get an /85 before that time and I may join in. That won't be so easy. She is saying I already have two of the very same model and can't understand why I need three. Yes, they are all different, but one AFV is the same as another to her. I guess I'm rather lucky I can at least build them out in the garage. Ha, ha!

Take care, Sgirty

Thanks for the tips on the fuel lines and wiring in general. Thanks too for the tip on the group build over at Fine Scale. It might be the type of thing which would get me to actually finish this beast. May 1st might be a good deadline for me.

Somebody is working weekends at Archer Fine Transfers. They already answered my inquiry...yes they will be doing transfers for the /85's and will be selling them within 45 days.

I went back to AirConnections to look for the "mythical" T-34 book, but I guess they want to keep it mythical since I couldn't find it in their books section. However, a google search yielded this page...
http://www.airconnection.on.ca/T-34%20the%20book.htm

Ah-oh..$75, now we're getting serious. If I get it, I guess I'll have to build all of the versions (grin). For reference, other than the web, I bought Tamiya's T-34 CD (SprueBrothers.com) had it for $24, and I've ordered the two New Vanguard T-34 books. Oh yeah, I noticed someone on the FineScale forum was inspired by Adam Wilder's awesome T-34/85 build which was in AFV Modeller recently. I "tracked" it down and found it was in issue 11, which I just bought a copy on eBay.

I agree majorproblem's T-34 is great. If mine is half as good as yours (a quarter-major I guess), I'll be happy. That reminds me, I'd like to build it so the top of the hull comes off, and if I do, closing the backs of the fuel tanks sounds like a good idea. On the excellent T-34 Reference site...
http://www.gjames.com.au/chris/t34/index.html

...in the service manual section, I found a diagram of the fuel storage system and its plumbing:
http://www.gjames.com.au/chris/t34/img/service-plate10-l.gif

Majorproblems: is this the source you used for detailing the fuel tanks?

While thinking of the engine area, I remembered seeing a message in these forums about the compartments were normally left unpainted. Let's see, I hope this works...
forum message

The suggestion being metalic gray with grime washes would be accurate. I read the T-34's leaked oil like a sieve, so lots of oil stains would be good. I also read the crankcase and cylinder blocks are aluminium alloy. Here's a link to the great pics at TankMasters...
http://www.thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/V-2-34_01.asp

I think I'll go for an alloy look with lots of grease. Those red twin-camshaft covers and yellow injector tubes are tempting too.

For the crew compartment, I read the T-34's were as bad at keeping water out of there as they were keeping oil in the engine, so I'm thinking white with rust washes on the bottom fading up into black grime washes at the top.

Take care.

Hi, Thanks colo_artist for those web sites, esp. the one on the service manual. Some great pictures there. I was kind of wondering how those foot controls were connected to the rear of the vehicle. Plus those fuel lines layouts were very interesting too. Most defintely some good information if a person was doing a model with the rear section opened up and the engine out.

I imagine somebody sooner or later is going to take one of these kits and go literally nuts with it and add all the detail to it that the real one had. And that will be something to see. But that won't be me. Ha, ha!

Will be looking forward to seeing what Archer will be coming up with for the /85s. This could be interesting. I may have to make a trip up to the Hobby Land store in Columbus one of these days this fall to see what they have in this line when these sets come out. They also carry the MIG line of weathering powders, so it may be a good time to expand those as well.

Yes, am looking forward to the big T-34 book from Air Connetion, but sort of got the impression that it wouldn't be any time too soon that it will be coming out. They didn't say so, but I kind of got that feeling. I would like to have this book and give it a good going over before I do an /85 kit. Of course I have to get through the /42 kit first, and in 2 wks. my baby-sitting duties kick back in with the grand-children when my daughter goes back to work from maternity leave. Of course part of my 'pay' is that she is buying most of my models for me. Couldn't swing 3 of these T-34s on my retirement. Ha, ha!

Take care. Sgirty

Dear Chuck
Regarding T34 hatch interior colour, I have wartime pics of 42 model with hatch open and inside of hatch is most definately white (and thats a large expance of white against dark green- nice aiming point).
PS . This site is great and I love this forum.
All the best to you with future ventures
Bob Tucker

Ah-oh, it looks like Majorproblem's tanker is out test driving a factory-fresh /85...


Don't ask me how I got there, but I ended up on a Russian site with lots of Russian armor. I managed to find two pages with some interesting T-34/76 and T-34/85 images (that was one of them), and text (in Russian)...
T-34 stuff
T-35-85 stuff

Here's one of the pics from there...a view you wouldn't really want to see...


Another image which stood out is a line drawing of the profiles of the /76 and /85, side by side...
T-34 profiles

FYI, one of the links to an image enlargement on the /76 page is broken. It bugged me because it looked to be a rather beat-up T on a transporter. Anyway, I figured out the correct link, here it is...


Take care.

Dear Jason
Regarding T34/42 headlight position.Zavod 112(factory) put headlight on glacis also infantary handrails on turret and hullsides also over rear engine grill you will also find they used diamond shaped hinges.Trumpeters kit is a Zavod 183 model if you want to model a 112 tank-ie with light on glacis and with handholds, the turret rear will have to be faired in as all 112 pics i have show this ,pistol port stays though ( just eliminate bolt heads and fair in with filler and also add roughcast texture to plate.
Hope this helps.
Take care and good luck
Bob

Sgirty your new engine is an absoloute work of art! such a shame most of it will be hidden when in place

There is a fantastic new link http://tanxheaven.com/ludob/t34-85/t34-85.htm for anyone modelling the 85 version, infact also very usefull for the gas tanks etc for any of the versions.

I have just undertaken a huge project for a collector, building a 1/15 Verlinden M113 A2....boy what a kit....very detailed but difficult to work with being all resin...i.e. drilling each track link to make everything work, but its a real challenge.
Hence my 43 is taking a bit of a back seat for a bit, which I dont mind as the rest from it will be rewarding when I get back to it from time to time.

I will of course be posting pics of the new project in a new thread....this will be my first attempt at more modern armour!

Carl

Majorproblem: Thanks for the link...great pictures.

I see what you mean about the engine being mostly hidden after everything's done. A couple of those pictures show the large panel on the firewall gone. There's lots of goodies behind it on the model and it makes me wonder if it would be worthwhile to make it removable. We'll see. Here's another recent (to me) picture showing the view minus the plates ...
http://tancs.unas.cz/t80/47.jpg

Here's a link to the main page in case these are new for folks...
http://tancs.unas.cz/galerie/t80.htm

I especially like the pics of the open floor hatch and the ones showing what the wear on the hull bottom looks like. Here are some exterior shots of another T in much better shape at the same web site...
http://tancs.unas.cz/galerie/t34.htm

Right now I'm trying to sort out the interior colors. I like the red fuel tanks you did, but after seeing the pics on your link, I'm thinking yellow is the way to go. I've seen some pics where the high pressure fuel lines are yellow, so maybe they painted fuel-related items yellow.

I've also seen blue used on the engine's air injection lines. That would also go with the blue air tanks by the driver.

Pictures in the link I mentioned show a very worn T with lots of items long gone, but what got me was that what paint remains looks to be original. There's red on the levers and blue and yellow on various lines and such. Green was also used. Plus, one thing I'm very curious about...light blue used on the inner hull and turret. Here's a link to another T with some very original-looking blue paint used for the inner hull...
http://www.tersys.ru/dish/afv-t-34-si.htm

...could be cool. Blue hull and white turret. It might be an advantage to be able to show some white parts standing out from a blue hull.

Looking around, I found some great pics of a T-55, which although on display, is said to have never been repainted...
http://ipmslondon.tripod.com/t54t55special/id18.html

I'm thinking the colors and color scheme might be traditional for building T's. It would certainly make it easier for me to figure out a what and where for the colors. Humm...the T-55 has a blue engine compartment, and one of the pics from your link shows a green radiator...now that's a thought.

I'm still debating the amount of wear to show on my -85. My current thinking is to do the -85 as factory fresh and do a second model the early -76 as war-weary. Like a fresh recruit meeting a battle-worn vet on the front lines. Hey, maybe vs. a captured -76...that would certainly make it easier to add a crew to one of them.

And finally, here's a link for fun (please excuse me if it's been posted over and over here...give me a break, I'm the new guy). It shows a restored and running T-34. I really enjoyed the test drive report and the maintenance headaches. Oh, it also shows fuel tanks sporting some new yellow paint...
http://guns.connect.fi/gow/T34tank1.html

Take care.

Karl

Hi, majorproblem: thanks for the comment. much appreciated. Can't wait to see what you do on this big M113. Sounds like quite a project. Good luck there.

colo_artist: Man you keep me busy just looking through all the stuff you come up with. Ha, ha! Too bad I can't read Russian as I imagine some of those things are pretty interesting. Thanks.

Take care, Sgirty

Hi Folks.
Have started on the exterior.

Had a nightmare with the roadwheels - all shiny and looking camouflaged rather than plain used and dirty. Still, have improved them somewhat, though in these photos it looks like I have green mud stuck to them It's not green but maybe some more worked needed on it before I abandon the whole idea of mud and chip it all out. Ho hum, it's all a learning process eh?

Anyway, added a bit of battle damage as the exterior's got to sort of correlate with the well beaten up interior! There's more damage to come and I might lose a fender or two if they turn out looking terribly artificial. The remaining damage will be copied from photographs, so at least it should look vaguely realistic.

Another lesson learnt though - don't get carried away weathering the interior, you've got to carry it through to the outside!

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/album?.dir=/8b07&.src=ph

Hi, Mahoon: Great job there. Looks really nice. Like the way you've torn into that screen on the rear deck to give it that much-used appearance. This is something I'm going to have to remember next time around. Looks good.

How did you paint those tracks? They look really life-like. Just the right shading in my opinion to make them look quite real on the model.

Also the weathering on the inside of the rear inspection hatch looks very nice and 'real.'

Can't comment on the 'mud' as this is something that I have yet to try myself. But mud gets jammed and packed into all kinds of shapes and forms on any type of machinery. Might try some dry-brushes of very light brown or something of that nature just to highlight the very tops and edges of it to give it more of a 3-dimensional effect before you decide to take it off.

I'v heard that a bit of static grass or some like product helps give mud a more life-like appearance as well. May want to try some of this. Or not.

Keep up the good work.

Take care, Sgirty

Mahoon: The fenders and mud look like keepers to me. The rear hatch is great. Could everyone do me a favor and not build such astounding models? The bar is set rather high.

Sgirty: Maybe I can help you with the Russian. I followed a lead over to a forum thread where someone was translating Russian tank slogans...
http://www.fpscentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73624&page=1&pp=15

Unfortunately the thread rapidly declines into jabs about the political correctness of using a swastika or not. Anyway the originator mentioned he was using a web page for translations...
http://translation2.paralink.com/

I tried it out and it really has helped me sort out some of those Russian languaged pages. Oh yeah, he didn't really translate all of the slogans, but here they are with the translations I got using Paralink (the first one and last one lost a bit in translation apparently...



Unfortunately the translator didn't help me with an ebook I bought. It's the "Tank T-34. The practical instructions on field repair. Moscow 1942, 66 pages. 9,0 Mb (300 dpi)." I found it on ArmyBook.com...it's about 3/4 of the way down on this page...
http://www.armybook.com/show.html?code=0103020

It's in Russian, and the translator won't work because it is all scanned images, so I can't cut and paste the text. However, it does have 51 drawings (including a wiring schematic). Well the price was right...$1.95.

Oh yeah, it has a couple of drawings depicting a way someone could display all of the lovely work they've done on the model's engine. Here's the official way to pull a T-34's engine...


Here's a link to a bit bigger image showing the hoist better...
http://www.colorado-artist.com/t34/images/T-34_engine_removal_01.gif

I found a page with some very clean images (11 of them) of a T-34. What got my attention are the four interior shots, one of which shows the backside of the 7.62 mm machine gun, including the cloth bag used to catch spent shells...
http://www.mishalov.net/military-vehicles/military-vehicles.html#img_1947

Whew...that's it for now.

Karl

Mahoon
Wonderful job! I lopok forward to more. Good stuff.
Chuck

Hi, colo-artist, man you're scary. Coming up with all of this stuff. Absolutely fantastic! This is the first time I've seen the 'crane' system mounted on the turret of one of these to help remove the engine and trans. units. Really interesting.

And by the pictures you posted of that museum place out in Calif., esp. of the T-34/85 I can see now what majorproblem was talking about when he mentioned the electrical lines running down to that box in the floor under the turret. Good show there. This T-34 looks to be one of those like the #183 kits that Trumpeter is putting out as it has that little outward bulge on the turret side for the turret rotating motor. Very good.

I see by that one page mentioned that evidently some of the decals provided by some model makers that provide Russian slogans are basically crap. Good to know. I wonder if anybody can translate the slogan on the decal that is provided in the /43 kit and wonder if it really means anything. Now this has also got me to wondering about those Archer decals too. Surely those bad ones must be in the vast minority in today's day and age of model making, at least I'd hope so.

Hummmm, kind of wonder if it may not be a good idea to take these true slogans and start proacticing hand painting them on scrap plastic to see how good a job I can do with them. After all, they don't have to be perfect, and a little roughness around the edges does tend to enhance some of them.

You know, I never thought of a cloth bag to catch the spent casings. I kind of figured that between fights, they just kicked them out the escape hatch on the floor under the gunner's position. Ha, ha! But a few spent casings lying around the floor inside the vehicle might not be a bad idea. I'm thinking of that outfit that makes the brass ammo in.50 cal. This may, or may not work for these spent rounds laying around. Oh well, something to cosider nonetheless.

All this info. you're providing makes me hope that Air Connection's book is just around the corner. I really hoping that this thing is going to be worth all that money.

Thanks and take care, Larry

Thanks. I looked around this and the Russian tank forums first, but there was still the chance I'd be rehashing information people had already discovered long ago. That said, I hope this one is new to people 'cause it's cool...

Want to go for a ride in a 1/1 scale T-34? You can if you have $120 and are in Minnesota. For the price of a kit, you can rumble around in a real T-34.

Check this out...
http://www.tankride.com/minnesotacuriosities.html

Here's the main web page...
http://www.tankride.com/tankride.html

Here's another write-up, with a professionally done Flash Player slide show (including sound)...
http://www.startribune.com/stories/319/4169593.html

Better make your reservations soon...the price has gone up considerably in one year.

Karl

Hi, Thanks for that information on the tank ride. Ha, ha! I could see the day when I would really like to do something like that. But I would imagine that if I mentioned taking a drive up to Minn. just to ride in an AFV that would be a sure sigh for the boss to get me committed. Ha! But it nonetheless would be an enjoyable and most interesting experience to do. Also a little too old for that now too. Might break something loose inside with that kind of riding. Ha!

After looking over all of your information here I'm starting to get the 'fever' and make a trip up to my local hobby store and order one of those /85's, the #183 model.

But I most definitely had a snag as of yesterday when I made a trip to the local Pep Boys auto store and they were out of flat white primer paint! Bummer. I asked if they were going to get any more in and they said "possibly". Oh no! Here I am sitting with half an interior painted white primer and now I'm halted on that part of the model. Hopefully in another week or so they will get some in. Meanwhile I'll check in some other auto stores to see if they carry this brand in stock.

Maybe this will also give me an 'excuse' to shift to some other small projects around the house done that I've ben putting off because of the model. Ha! This will make the boss happy as well.

Take care, Larry

Sgirty: You used up all of the paint at Pep Boys? I know this thing is big, but man, how much paint should I plan on buying? Do they have any light blue-gray? (grin)

Well, I was hopeful, but the translations didn't go so well. Here's what I got...


Of course, my Russian skills depend on the translation tool and my correclty identifyiing the right letters. However, on the second one, I think I found a mistake in the decal. The word for Soviet looks like COBETCKYI-O, with the I-O joined up to form a "U". The decal is missing the joining bar which scrambles the word.

The third one, my model (ahem), is the clearest. No doubting that one. I read soldiers put that on the tanks so Stalin could accompany them to the front. Who knows? I sure don't but it sounds good.

However, I found the last one, and the first Archer transfer the most interesting. I searhced around for Suvorov a bit and found it to be a medal, the Order of Suvorov. Here's a page of Soviet medals, it's near the bottom...
http://showcase.netins.net/web/lubbensite/russawards.htm

It was awarded to divisions. If your tank has that logo, you might try doing something with a picture of the medal. Just a thought.

I also found confirmation about the last one in an excellent review of the T-34-85 #183...
http://cybermodeler.com/hobby/reviews/kit/kit_tru_t-3485.shtml

The mention of the metal is at the bottom. This review is good in that it has large photos of what's in the kit. They also do a review of the 3rd-party ammo...
http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/reviews/amp/detail_hussar_16005.shtml

Anyway, I guess we could do our own slogans. What the heck. Here's some to start with...


Some day I'm going to actually have to start gluing this thing together rather than talking about it. I just moved, and don't have a workspace set up, so the group build at FineScale might be good timing for me.

Karl

Hi No, the model isn't quie that big, ha, ha! When I went up to the store to get some white primer when I started on the /42 they only had 2 cans of the white in stock, so naturally I only got one of them. And now, of course, the other one is gone. There must not be too much of a call for the white primer, but evidently quite a bit for the grey, red and black color. I checked at another car parts store today when picking up and oil filter for the truck and they didn't have any white primer in their brand line either.

So I'm thinking it may be a while before Pep Boys gets in any more of the Varsity brand name line in the white. I really like the Varsity brand as it is very finely ground and also cheap as well! If I hadn't already primered the air filters and their 'wall' I would consider just using the light grey primer on the inside of the whote thing..

But, really, this is no big deal anyway as I quite sure they will be getting more of it in, maybe next couple of weeks or so. One thing you develop when getting older is patience, so this may be just the excuse I need to set this kit back and get that /85 after all, and join the GB over on Fine Scale after. Don't know yet on this one, as I'm still thinking on it. After all, everything does happen for a reason in this world I think.

Hey, I really like what you've come up with on the names on the Russian translator site. If a person can get good enough at the hand-painting the wording on the sides of the turret, there is actually no reason why they couldn't paint on anything they wanted to in this area. This really opens up some possibilites. It may not be historically correct, but hey, it's the builder's kit, so it's their choice, after all.

Have you checked out the GB over on FSM yet? I bet some of the folks over there would really like to have some ofl this information you've come up with for their builds.

thanks and take care, Sgirty

If anyone in the states is looking for a good price on a T-34-85 1944 #173 kit, there's one on eBay with a "buy it now" price of $120, shipping in the US is included. Here's the page:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2588&item=5918746868&rd=1

If that doesn't get you there, just search on "Trumpeter T-35"

The seller's name is Karl, but it ain't me...

Also, I received eight T-34-86 engine photos from Ian Sadler (a fellow forum mate). I made a slideshow with them and posted it at...
http://www.colorado-artist.com/t34/ians/

Karl

Bob, I was thinking of modelling mine as a 112-can you recommend referance photos of these hinges and pistol port? Thanks, Dan

Hi All,
At the risk of boring the socks of everyone – but because I'm pleased with the way they've turned out – here's how my roadwheels are looking now.

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/album?.dir=/8b07&.src=ph

In the end I used real mud - mixed with some wood pva glue, water and acrylic yellow ochre. The splodge was then spatula'd on all over the wheels (and treads on the tyres) and sides of the lower hull and the tracks. I left this to dry for a few hours before rubbing off the majority of the excess. It's a good job I did too, because the stuff has set like concrete!

After my disasterous first attempts at painting a mud effect, I'm of the mind that you just can't beat the real thing

Will have to mix another batch of mud for more weathering on the upper hull, but will be careful not to go too mad - I want the tank to look like it's been through a muddy field or two - not lived in one for a few years

I love it when a plan comes together

Nice job on the road wheels and tracks. Keep the pics coming, you're not boring anyone.

Chuck

Hi, Really good job there on the mud mahoon. I've heard that the real stuff works pretty good. But like you say, depending on how you want the final outcome to look will depend on just how much mud you apply, and exactly where. Have seen photos of the rear fenders torn off of some of these things and the mud is really thrown up all over the rear sections, but this is most likely the result of this vehicle going through some faily heavy terrain. I'm reminded of the 'season of mud' here that occured during the spring thaw on the Eastern Front.

Keep up the good work and take care, Larry.

I finally found the inspiration I needed to do get one of these kits:

Guys, if you need any translations from Russian, I'd be glad to help.