I've begun work on my ICM T-35 and within the first couple of steps I have questions (this doesn't bode well :-) ). I really hope that someone can give me a couple of quick tidbits to help me out. What would be the correct interior color(s) of the driver's compartment? Would the floor be the same color as the vertical surfaces? Also, what would be the proper base color for the interior of the engine compartment? Answers to either question (though especially the engine compartment querry) would be gratefully received.


Dave

I'm building the same kit and have the Barbarossa book "Land Battleship, T-35".

Although I don't think it states the colour, photos suggest that the interior, floors and walls are light, probably white. I have yet to track pictures of the engine compartment, so I was going to paint it white.

Incidentally, the engine supplied in the kit is almost certainly the V2 diesel engine fitted to T-34s and many other russian AFVs and not the petrol M-17-M. However I have not been able to find a picture of the correct engine to confirm.

Ross

I found this picture of the aeroengine version of the M-17, which is not that different in appearance from the V2

M-17

IIRC the interior photos in Land Battleship are of the sole survivor at Kubinka, which may have been repainted. Even so, Soviet tanks were usually white inside, with odd components in green, black or even unpainted.

I know that this is the definitive reference out there. However, given limited funds and other priorities and purchases, I'm going to give it a go without any supplemental reference (other than a few exterior photos located via the web).




If I were a betting man, I would have put my money on a white interior. I had no idea about the floor color (here I'm thinking of the German practice of leaving the interior floors in red primer) . Thank you for taking a gander "Land Battleships" and giving me some guidance on this.




The engine compartment is where I feel on the least solid ground. I guess that I would be surprised if it were painted in anything other than the vehicle primer (though I have no earthly idea what color this would be). However, these T35 really were parade queens before the war, so maybe a white engine compartment (with suitable grime) is the correct answer.




I am not planning to feature the engine compartment. However, I will be replacing the louvres on the engine cover with the Eduard PE, so the interior color and general shape of the engine will be visible. As long as the engine is even approximately corect (and this seems to be the case given the reply of "Drader"), that ought to be good enough.

Anyway, thanks Ross for all the help. I feel much better about these questions, thanks to you. I hope that your T35 project goes well.


Dave