Hello,

Which is the best T34/85 kit out there? I have a Tamiya one.

In addition, I'm going to be doing start doing a couple of Russian WWII armor kits. Any suggestions on which ones to get?

Thanks,
Andy

Hi there,the DML/Dragon T34-85 is supposed to be the best one around,I have the Zvezda kit looks ok in the box.I have built a few of the Tamiya kits in the past they are an easy build and I enjoyed them.The Dragon kit is hard to find in some parts of the world but it is recommended by the folks over at missing-lynx armor site.
Hope this helps a bit

I've got a Tamiya T-34/76 ChTZ, from what I've read, the kit has its problems. I haven't cracked mine open yet. I did build an old T-34/76 a while back. I would imagine that the DML T-34 would be a much better kit. I have seen T-34s in Italeri boxings, but do not recall if it was an 85 or 76 mm armed tank.

I built the Tamiya T-34/76 not long ago, and it was a pretty good kit. Like a lot of the older Tamiya kits, it didn't have all that many parts, but it went together really well and it seems to be a good representation of the vehicle. The DML kits have been kind of hit and miss for me, so I'd probably veer toward the Tamiya. I haven't tried an Italeri kit yet.

It depends on how "accurate" you want your T-34 to be

T-34/85- Definitely buy the Dragon kit! there are three versions I believe, WWII, Chinese volunteer (Korean War Series), and NVA. All the kits built into accurate WWII T-34/85s. The DML T-34/85 is probably one of the finest kits DML has ever done it is flawless and accurate and easy to build. You won't be dissapointed.

T-34/76 The Tamiya kits look nice but if you're a rivet counter and have studied the shape of the T-34 enough it might bother you that the angle of the armour plate is out by 5 degrees or so IIRC. This makes the top of the hull too narrow and affects the turret shape. I have 4 Zvezda T-34/76s waiting to be built and have already built one. It builds really nicely and if you sink $10 into a set of maquette plastic indie link tracks it does make a pretty nice looking T-34/76 (if you put a set of eduard P.E. on it will really shine). The Italeri T-34/76 is a rebox of the Zvezda and its a model 1943.

CONCLUSION: If you're building a T-34/85 get yourself a DML, don't even bother with the Tamiya, the DML kit really shines. if you look a the molds you cansee where they scraped the '76 off when they decided not to do a T-34/76 along with the T-34/85.
If you want to do a T-34/76 it's pretty well up to you.

I hope my rambling has helped.

The Italeri T34 kits are reboxed Zvezda kits.I just finished a T34-76/1943 from Tamiya in fact it was my second Armor kit since defecting from Aircraft kits in Dec 2001.Not a bad build but needed a bit of extra stuff to get it to where I wanted it.

My last kit builtted was the Tamiya T34/76, I did it without adding PE stes or individuals track links, it went ok, but after finished I think I would have used at least a set of individual track links, but the overall appearance it´s ok. Like someone said, if didn´t bother about a minor errors in shape the overall stuff is good.
If you´d like to check some photos of my model go to:
http://www.armouredsprue.hpg.com.br
and check the gallery or the News and Updates sections
HTH

Hello Porsche, if you're interested in learning more about the T34, I found a very good page of the history of the T34:

http://www.skalman.nu/soviet/ww2-equipment-tank-t34.htm

Guys, thanks VERY much for all the help. I have heard that the DML T34/85 is a real good one. I have begun a Tamiya one for now- just practicing. Maybe, I'll do that one next.

Thanks for all the help and sites.

Andrew :-)

Hey, actually one last thing. The side vents on the upper hull... they don't seem to fit correctly.. lots of space on the sides. This is the tamiya T34/85 kit.

Andy

Thanks Kencelot for the link!

That was meant for me!!

Tamiya's IS-III Stalin is WOW - right out of the box! Might wanna consider that one...

Gunnie