Just entered the seeing red campaign and want to do a WW-2 era t-34/85. Checked Ebay and found 4 different kits . aTamiya, 2 different Dragon and an Italerie. So the Italerie is cheapest, there is one expensive version and one moderate version of the Dragon, and ...well the Tamiya is gone now So is the Italerie junk as it is selling fairly cheap, the 1944 version of the Dragon looks real good and seems to be moderately priced and lastly the "UTZ" seems to run near $25 bucks so that's a no go

Man, I just sold mu UTZ for $25 including the Gum Ka PE and JR barrel. Very nice kit. I recommend it or the NVA version. There's also a Korean War version out by DML as well.

I'd avoid the Tamiya one. It has motorization issues. I hear the Italeri one is not bad.

Actually the italeri or Zvezda option ..considering their price .. are not that bad. I guess to have the best, go for the dragon.
Also worth noting maybe, is the maquette version, or one of them anyway,has a full interior including engine.These can be bought as seperates also. If you choose the Italeri version the maquette indy tracks are good enough and will keep the price down. Italeri kits mean track transplant. They are rubbish.

Didiumus has a trumpeter one for sale for a good price.

My vote, especially for a WW 2 version, is the Dragon UTZ kit. Not too familiar with the different details, but I believe it has the proper cupola and front fender profiles (as compared to the other Dragon kits). I have it in the stash somewhere, have to take a closer look between them.

Cheers,
Jim

Avoid the Tamiya -85, it has turret issues far worse than the motorisation problems mentioned by Sabot.

Italeri/Zvezda has some build problems and issues with the turret, though not as bad as Tamiya's

Which leaves you with Dragon, any Dragon issue is lightyears ahead of the others. Careful which one you buy as the NVA version has post-WW2 modifications and T-55 type wheels.

I cant recommend on which one is better but if you want DMLs T-35/85 UTZ shipped to your door at 26$ in 7-11 days check this out:

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=DR%206203

I agree, I have all BUT the dragons, and I want that one! LOTS of work can just about fix any of them, but that then depends on your time for the project and you skill and anger management training! Even my daughter got mad at the Tamiya 34!!! Choose your box, and choose your fate!

Good luck and good hunting!

I built the T-34/85 UTZ version. A small fit problem at the left rear upper hull to lower hull, otherwise a good kit. You may wish to replace the plastic grills with PE, but if not, it will still look good. I recommend it.

Cheers,

Ken Lawrence