Hi, Posted some photos of the Trumpeter T-34/42 that seemingly has become a never-ending project over the last several months. I think I have a few too many irons in the fire here the last few months, but I shall continue to struggle on to the bitter end.

The kit is basically all together, but now comes the hardest part of the project, trying to give it a scruffy winter whitewash, some mud here and there, and all the other heavy weathering effects of warfare in winter on the Russian Front.

Take care, Sgirty

Hi,, Decided to take advantage of what Mother Nature had to offer and put the T-34 into it's setting out on the side walk.

Still have quite a ways to go on the mud and weathering, not to mention adding tools, boxes, and unditching beam, etc. But it's coming along, slowly but surely.

Take care, Larry

Hiya Guys

Having seen the pics of the T34 build on Tanxheaven I got an urge and purchased the 76/43 model and am just waiting for the postman to bring it round. Cost was GB£65 which I think is fair for what is promised.

I haven't built anything for 12 years and need a new hobby which is cheaper than photography in the impulse purchase department. Hopefully this will give me something to do when there's no light to photograph in.

There are some absolutely terrific builds going on in this forum so I hope I don't give up in despair comparing my own work to you guys.

Trawling through several million postings I haven't seen mention of many accessory sets for the big one. Is there much out there apart from the barrels? Plus, anyone know a UK supplier of the rifled barrel?

Looking forward to happy modelling.

Hi Ross Welcome to the site and welcome back to modeling.

I haven't seen a big push in accesories for these kits that I thought would be out by now. Huzzar, out of the Air Connection site, makes individual resin ammunition for both the 76 and 85 guns which are really nice. There are some 1/16 scale Russian tanker figures out as well; can't remember who makes these at the moment.

I was kind of hoping that somebody would bring out some 1/16 scale resin tools, hand weapons, tank-borne infantry, and the like to go with them, but so far nothing as of yet. But we can always hope.

Good luck and take care, Sgirty

The snow pictures are great sgirty! How much did you get? The snow missed us in St. Louis.

Nice Pics Larry, and nice whitewash - next time get down on your belly taking those pics.

Hi guys, Thanks for the comments. I'm just shooting in the dark here and have no idea what I doing, really. So I can't say just how it's going to turn out.

Been spending the day, between shoveling all the beautiful snow, toning down the white color somewhat with the base and a dark oil wash in all the nooks and crannies. Man there is no doubt this thing is going to look like it fought in every major battle on the Eastern Front. Ha, ha!

Have also been working on the other extras that I'm going to add to the outside. Painted the big saw and have jammed it down through one of the grab handles on the side. Also jammed a couple of spent rounds here and there too.

Now I'm using some of the FIMO modeling clay to mold a couple of tarps for the sides. And tomorrow I'm going to literally wade out to the nearlest tree to get a piece for the un-ditching beam.

Tim you lucky dog, we have 20 inches out in the front yard and this is on the level. We have shoveled drifts along the drive 5 to 7 feet tall as well. And even though we have the driveway clearned the snow plows still haven't be through yet to clear out the road. It's been so bad that the postman didn't even make it through. Ha, ha! Maybe tomorrow. And if this isn't enough in Christmas morning we are supposed to have -25 with the wind chill. Lovely!

Jan, after shoveling all this crap all day I just didn't really care to get down into it anymore that I was. Ha, ha! But maybe tomorrow, if Mother Nature co-operates, I may place the tank up on a snow pile and take another photo or two, although it will look like the war has come to the Alps. Ha!

Happy holidays and take care, Larry

Hi again guys, hope you are all sated over the merry season.

Am still waiting for the kit to arrive, but I'm making plans on how to deal with it when it does. It looks like this forum might be winding down, but if anyone is still looking in, I've a couple of questions.

Looking at this site and some photos on the web, I would like to scratch build the fuel tanks and maybe alter the fire-walls. Plus put as much cabling in as possible to go for super-detail. Anyone know of good reference books currently in print? Plus web sites. Also, any good reference books on modelling technique, particularly making hinges and the like with brass sheet. The mad dutchman's build on tanxheaven is quite an inspitation in this department, plus all the good work I've seen here.

Happy new year guys.

Ross

There is alot more to be found here, its "part 1" of this topic.

The first one got closed down due to the amount of stress it put on the server ...

There is a lot of goddies in pics and links.

Enjoy !

Hi ya chaps! I finally got this beast last Friday. I took the T-34-85 1944 Factory 174. (I don't know the diff between the two). Man it was huge! Got it for about 40 USD. Any accuracy issues with this kit?

HI, Glad you got one of the beasts. Isn't it something? I think that one of the main differences between the two /85 kits is that the #174 has a little bulge, so to speak, in the side of the turret. At the moment I can't remember what exactly this is for, radio or turret transverse box, or some such thing. Too bad that Trumpeter didn't use one of these two /85 kits to produce one of SU models for this tank. But I guess we can't have everything.

I have the #174 out in the garage sitting patiently in the box, gathering a fair amount of primer dust and other assorted items. After having done both the '43 and trying to finish up the '42, I'm kind of 'burned out' on them at the moment. Besides since I do my work in an unheated garage, good old Mother Nature has stopped any kind of work out there on anything big for the time being, other than a quick rush out with the primer to paint something. Have been regulated to a small TV tray in the corner of my bedroom till spring rolls around. I'm also watching the build going on over on tanxheaven and taking notes off of it on the instructions of the #174. I think that the /85 kit is going to be one of the best of the lot, mainly because of those little differences here and there compared to the other two earlier models of this vehicle, which are basically the same except for the turrets.

As far as 'accuracies' goes I think that this just depends on the modeler more than the kit, as all kits do have their flaws about them and it's up to the modeler to either correct them, or to live with them, as they so choose. Probably the models of the earlier vehicles would have the most 'flaws' to them, as I heard that this kit is designed off of an /85, so there are some things that didn't exist on the earlier vehicles that show up in all these kits. (As an example, the two side panels in the fighting compartment are 'dented in' for the additional size of the /85's turret, and they were straight across for the earlier /76's. But unfortunately all 4 kits have this indentation in them. I didn't know this when I built the /43, but corrected it as I built the /42.)

Personally I think all the kits are really great! And with all the new information coming out all the time about this vehicle there are all kinds of changes or modifications you can do if you wish to make things just a tad better here and there as you go along.

Personally I'm planning to replace the mg's position in the hull of the /85 with the flame thrower tank and gun unit to add something 'new' to this particular kit.

Good luck and take care, Sgirty

Thanks for the info! I got my copy Friday. What a great resource. The info on the power transfer to the turret is worth the price of the magazine, at least to me.
Also, those referrence pictures are outstanding !
I'm still working on my T-34/76 1943, slow but sure, so I have been lurking in this thread, following your builds.
Keep up the good work and thanks again for the tip on the magizine.
Chuck

Hi Thought I would post a couple photos of the T-34/42 as it stands now. I'm not quite sure it's turning out exactly the way I had thought it would. I'm trying to do a vehicle as it would appear moving around during the 'mud season' on the Eastern Front and it's a whole heck of a lot more complcated than I thought it would be. I see that I need to weather the tow cable and also add an unditching beam and a couple more small items, plus 'mudding' up the other track as well.. Maybe use some MIG European Dirt to 'dust' the upper surfaces a bit.

Too tell the truth I'm not really satisfied with it. And I don't know why exactly, maybe because I'v reached the stage where I'm somewhat burnt out on it, having spent way to much time trying to finish it up, due to other commitments which couldn't be helped. I don't know.

Anyway, for what it's worth this is how it stands at the moment.

Take care, Larry

... I like it. I like the tanks of the Red Army ... like those of the Wehrmacht ... as everyone in general. ...
But if the Red Army are women. ..... much better. ...................... ........ Jorge. ....... Spain.