Hi all

I'd like to ask you all to cast a critical eye across my T34/85 which is work in progress. It's the first WW2 model I've ever done, and this is my first weathering also. I have missed a few things on the build etc, as I rushed the kit to experiment with techniques....but could you just give me your opinions on the painting/weathering.

The tank is for a dio, it is meant to look like it was disabled by a fire rather than a hit from a Panzerfaust etc. and has been sitting for a few days, not weeks, in the midst of some streetfighting in Berlin.

As it's my first model, I'm expecting a blasting - so don't hold back folks....

http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/3898/t34a0rl.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8519/t34b4wx.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3075/t34c0kd.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7447/t34d5jn.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3984/t34e8fs.jpg

not sure whether I overdid the "hand painted" look on the turret band. I was not too fussy with markings and accuracy of unit/placement etc. I just enjoyed the build and wanted to play with weathering techniques.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3373/t34f3zd.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5049/t34g5qh.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2630/t34h4bh.jpg

criticisms ahoy

Well this is actually a very good build considering its your first!

just few pointers,

You did a bit overdo the markings "handpainting" and they show a bit of "tearing" in places where you pulled off pieces of decal.

secondly, you didint weather lower hull

thirdly, the rust is a bit too bright, but thats nothing that a bit of darkbrown wash cant fix!

the rest i like a lot except i cant see from the pics if you drilled the barrel of lower hull MG.

keep up the good work

Mirko

Thanks mirko. The lower hull is waiting until I weather the base. I haven't decided on colours for groundwork yet and obviously these affect the weathering.

hehe, there are no decals the tearing you see is paint chipped away!

The bright rust like you suggest needs toning down in places. I just added some fresh rust from Mig to the newest chips. The problem is, realistically that is probably the colour freshly bared metal would be, as some fool demonstrated to me by reversing into my car and driving off. The resultant damage was bright orange in a week

I intend to tone them down though like you say thanks for your kind words on the build. I did rush it to get to painting, as I am more of an axis armour fan

Jon:

The T34 looks great. I like the weathering on it. Cant see many faults.

Keep us posted

Jon, I think the hand painted markings look great. They didn't use many stencils at that point in the war if I'm not mistaken and the drips, and chipping just adds a little charcater to it.(IMHO) As to the vehicle being disabled be a fire, is it a large fire and a small fire becasue at this point I can't tell I can see some dark areas on it caused from smoke maybe?? The rust is a little bright, but that was already covered. Overall I'd say it looks pretty good. Good luck with the rest of the build/diorama. "Q"

Here are the images

















Here are some suggestions of mine:

1) Replace the "handle bars" of the tank (the ones on the turret and the side of the hull) with wire.

2) The rust is a little bit overdone in terms of colors. You can tone it down. However, don't change the quantity of rust.

3) The spare track should be rusted up more.

4) Hmm....you are trying to bend the fenders, right? It looks melted rather than bent. I'm not sure if you can still do this but try to thin the fenders from the inside. This is best done using a motor tool. You will know it's thin enough when a light source shines through the thinned plastic. When it is, bend the fender.

5) Do not pust rust stains on the fuel caps of the external fuel tanks. Instead, simulate runs from diesel oil as a result of sloppy refueling. You can do this by drybrushing a burnt umber/black oil paint.

6) The tank's monotonous color could be "livened" up. I'm not sure if you can still do this but it would be good to airbrush/drybrush a lighter version of the color on the flat surfaces of the tank. This would break up the montony.

7) For the wheels, put chips on the rubber parts.

Other than those, I like this model. In fact, I'm making a 1/35th T34/85 from Dragon right now.

Angela



Angela

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, they're all going into the big memory bank. The model really was just a practise piece- I'd never done weathering before, and I have no airbrush at the minute I did give the tank a drybrush with some lighter shades of green, it was trickier than I remember :-) The pastels killed most of my drybrushing though

Expect an update soon

thanks a lot for your great words guys it's about time I put something back into Armorama so when I finally get my techniques down I'll get to work properly

I had only 2 things, the first being the rust which I think has been well critiqued by others. The second is what I call logic / realism. If there was a vehicle fire, the primary concern for the crew would be to "un-ass" the tank. All the hatches would be open. Trust me (having been in a tank and having a panic situation) you aren't going to hang around and close the hatches. So, I guess the bad news is you ae going to want to add some interior detail and there is absolutely nothing to work with inside the kit. Me, I would take some gun breech out of a kit that I planned to seal up put it in and blacken it up (you did have a fire) You can fabricate a seat quite easily, and you could have some piece of debris covering up a hatch or two.

you over-estimate my skills and resources at this time Steve I would not be too confident modelling an open hatched vehicle just yet, that's to come once I get more experienced and more well equipped. I lack some tools at the moment debt is a killer when you want to re-start an old hobby. Games Workshop scenery and modelling was so straightforward compared to this... :-)

Actually, the tank is already beautiful and excellent. I just gave suggestions that I think can make it even better.

Angela

IMHO, it looks A-OK to me except for what the others already mentioned. BTW, I think you made a mismatch for the fuel drum on the rear right side...look at the strap...Oh, I'm sure it could still be fixed. Either unglue it or just put a foil over it to simulate straps.



BTW, I'm also doing the same kit (UTZ) and its also my first Russian AFV.

Overall, its well made.

Cheers

Your T34 looks good, Jon. The white markings painted on the turrent reflects those I have seen in photos quite nicely. To supplement others constructive comments, I would suggest the following:

1. adding tie-backs to secure those ice cleats (not sure if this is the correct description) on the right fender. There are some provided in the box although I found them very difficult to handle. I used the Aber's PE items at the end but you can always scratchbuild yours.

2. ice cleats and the spare track in front are too shiny. A little more local weathering will help.

3. I could be wrong but I think the kit provides spare tracks with mounting bolts moulded on where small holes are. Have you used the wrong parts there?

4. if you are not prepared to put the lens on the headlight, you can try fixing a couple of thin wires in the housing to depict a broken one.

Looking forward to see more photos of this handsome T34.

thanks again guys - you've picked all the things up which make it still work in progress !!! The lens for the headlight - I admit, you caught me out :-) d'oh ! I'd missed the sprue in the box because it's transparent !

as for the other things, tie downs I am scratchbuilding as the kit items are dire. You're meant to bend them, but I found them so loaded with flash that after trimming them from the sprue they became brittle after cleanup maybe I was doing it wrong. Ice cleats...hmm...thanks, I'd been wondering what they were! :-) confusing little things.

As for the fuel drum error - yep. It's a plain error. I tried undoing the mistake but sadly I'd glued them too well I intend to make some straps with the correct securing loop on the top, but it's all a bit much for my skill at the moment I just wanted to play with the pastels a bit :-)