Well guys, as the title suggests, I have finally finished the t-34 after almost 2 months solid to the day!!
Got a bit burnt out with it towards the end, and it probably needs some finishing touches here and there, but I'm happy enough with it for now.
Hope you like it
I do intend on taking pics in natural sunlight, but good old U.K. summer was raining again today!












I also have many more pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/toony30/album?.dir=/8033

Carl

EDIT:...Ooops,...sorry, this should have been posted in the Large Scale section...dont know how to move it there now?

Very impressive. The paint is great and i really like the way the exhaust is done, not over done. The view to the interior from the driver's position and the commanders hatch show theclutter and close quarters these men had to endure. Bravo and three cheers!!! Note: The only thing that I could suggest is to tie the log on.

My My, that is a very beautiful beast you have created I really like the weathering and the damages.

Good job MajorProblem

Wow! This really looks nice. The paint job is wonderful. The chipped paint areas look particularly good and all of the little damaged areas add tons of realism to the model. Keep up the good work!

Wow, that is very impressive. I really like the interior and the driver's figure. The only suggestion would be to use a less crooked log for the unditching beam.

Wow! Excellent. I believe you are the first of us to finish. Did you leave the hull top removable? If so, any tips on getting it to sit properly?

Chuck.

Great job! I know what I'll be looking for the next time I go to expand my model collection.

Hi,, Wow majorproblem I knew it would look good, but it's even better than I had hoped. The figures really set this thing off.

Love the 2-tone camo job on it. That sure does add something different to the usual looking color of Soviet armor of that period. Did you make the cans and shovel I see on the side there or are they from some other kit?

How did you do that tool box on the front side there? Just cut the top loose in certain areas and bend the plastic back, or did you add a new lid to it altogether out of sheet plastic or brass?

As you suggested taking some photos outside would probably be a better deal, but we have no control over Mother Nature.

Can understand the 'burnt out' thing on this model. Towards the end it does feel that you are never going to get it done. Think that's something of the problem I'm facing now with trying to do a /42 right after the /43. Just can't seem to get it in gear like I did on the other one. Just pushing long very slowly.

Congratulations on a job very well done.

Take care, Sgirty

Hi All,
Due to a death in the family at the weekend, I have not felt much like replying, however, life goes on and here I am now

I can only say I feel honoured to receive the feedback that you guys left, especially after seeing the cailbre of your work....A BIG THANK YOU GUYS

I knew I should have found a straighter unditching beam and tied it on!! Although after a lot of deliberation, I went with what you see, as I do have photos of tanks with bent logs, loose on the running boards.

Chuck If your reading this, I did leave the top hull removable and it sits just fine as is, however, I will post a new message in the large scale "amazing model" thread as to what I am currently doing with my 43 version

Sgirty again thank you for your comments.
In answer to your questions, I scratched all the cans, and modified the tools, they were Bandai and Tamiya 1/15 + 1/16 items but had all the fixing clamps on them, so had to cut them off, etc.

The tool boxes were just cut along the mold lines up to the hinges, then heated and bent...simple but effective!
Another note you may find interesting is the rolled up sheet / bedding , this was made with the 2 "thighs" of the commander figure that I had to cut off to seat him!!!! :-)

Carl

LOVE IT! besides tying down the log its great, by the way, is that bedroll (whatever is ontop of the log) secured?? those are the only things i've spotted! simply beautiful, the driver in the tank is a really nice touch! keep em' comin!

Very impressive work, and a joy to behold. Thanks for sharing your build with us, and I am really looking forward to your '43.

Hi. majorproblem: Just a curious question here. I'm working with the 'plugs' that go into both sides of the turret of the /42. I see that the pieces--W21--fits into a little groove in the back of the plug to hold it in. Now I wonder that if this plug is out and dangling on the outside of the tank, if this piece on the inside actually is held onto anything on the turret's inside, or just hangs there, sort of daggling, much as the plug does on the outside. I really can't see how it would hang on to anything in particular in there so I'm thinking it just dangles. Anyway, I want to display these pluts 'out' so I'm kind of interested if you saw anything pertaining to this or not.

Did try to add some miniture R.R . chains to these two ends, but the chain keeps breaking into two pieces when I try to cut one end, Guess I'm going to have to 'make a link' out of wire to attach it at both ends. I think that the turret on the /42 is more difficult to put together than the /43 kit is, just due to the general shape of it and how it's moulded, so it does make some interesting differences in the build. Haven't done too much to the bottom as yet except the motor, as I'm waiting for the 'burn out' to pass before starting on that part of it. Although with tryng to recreate some of the things that you did on yours it won't be quite all the same.

Thanks and take care, Larry

Very impressive. Outstanding paintwork.

Cody

Very nice major problem. Love the weathering and the damage detail you added. Would be great if you could take a photograph of this on your shelf, beside other 1/35 items! Im really curious about the finished size! Photo quality wouldnt be a problem .. I want this kit, but am wondering about storage!

About the chain for the pistol-port plug; the best view I could find is Picture 5 in this link

http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/t34/t34b.html

Which seems to show the chain is attached to one end of the locking-plate for the plug. I would guess that this is the end that the plate pivots at to free the plug, and the T-shaped handle at the other end is the lock.

Hi majorproblem:

Great job you have done. I like it very much, great weathering, not to much & not to little, looks very well done.
What brand is the kit, I guess it´s Dragon ?

Hi, plasticbattle: My /43 measures 7 1/4 inches wide, 7 1/2 inches tall (with the antenna down), and 15 inches long, (with the barrel to the rear). I put mine in a rubber-maid type of platsic 'tub' I picked up at the local K-Mart for around $3. This 'tub' is deep enough and just big enough around that I can make a little wooden stand with some legs on so that I can sit one model on the bottom of the tub and another on top of the first one on this stand and still put the lid on it to seal out cat hair and dust. Then just slide the tub in my closet. Something I think I'm going to have to invest more in as time goes along.

Drader: Yeah, I think that this whole plug/locking plate thingy just hangs on both the outside and inside, when the plug is out of the turret wall, at least that's how I'm going to model this one. Dont' what to make this too complicated as it is Russian AFV after all. And 'complicated' was something that was not done in their vehicles during this period of time.

Take care, Sgirty

Wow! Any fit problems?

Awesome! You have mastered this kit MP! Very clever and well done detailing. Salute!

Cheers,

Garry

what an awsome build,
the paint & camo and the weathing is done,
great just the right way not over done.
keep up the good work,

Back to pistol-port stoppers. The T-34 interior photographs don't shop this too well, but the interior of the Elefant shows the German equivalent a lot better

http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/elefant/elefant3.html

If you look at Picture 2, the locking-plate is attached to the vehicle and pivots at one end, and looks very like the equivalent in the T-34. If you go onto the next page and look at Picture 4, the chain is visible, ending in a big loop. This stops the chain being pulled out and also acts as a handle to pull the plug back in.

I've also looked at the build-up thread on the Large Scale group and seen what Trumpeter provide with the model. It looks like a bit of imagination was used by Trumpeter's designers.

Hope this makes sense.

That is a amazing work you did, I enjoyed how it just jumped out of the picture. Looked so real to me.

All that detail must have been fun and fulfilling to research on how to get the detail just right. Are you going to put it in a dio. If not it just by itself is increditable.

The track links have that touch of realism to it.

The figure adds that used effect. The paint job was the most impreesive part. I enjoy see a well put together model and it inspires me to try to profect my skills.

Thank You

Happy Modeling

Hi Guys,
Again, thank you all for the comments

The Trumpeter pistol port is correct.
This link
http://milit1.0catch.com/t34/PIC12413.jpg
shows a very good view of it in a real 85, from what I can work out, they are the same in the earlier versions.

By the time I had worked out how they work, I had already glued the plug in place, it would be good to have them hanging out.
They all seem to be fixed with wire rather than chain and the main assembly would remain fixed to the turret while the plug is dangling on the wire.

plasticbattle I am afraid I do not own any 1/35 stuff, if you check SGIRTY's photo album, I think he has a pic of a 1/16 T-34 next to a 1/35 T-34?

CSCH The kit is made by Trumpeter and is 1/16 scale.

shonen_red most of the fit is pretty good, some items are a bit sloppy....my main gripe is the fit of the parts on the main gun assembly, I am now working on the 1943 version which uses the same gun and parts, and it has the same poor fit again.
Overall, a fantastic kit which certainly gives good value for money and lends itself to as much scratch building and extra detailing that anyone wishes to undertake.

Carl