I'm new to model Armor/AFV. Most of my work is large scale scratch building what I want (mainly Sci Fi), but I found that having a great 3D model to look at while scratch building helps big time. Some detail is lost in just having picture to look at.

Anyway my questions are: Who makes the best most accurate 1/36 or larger scale model kit of a Russian T-34/85 and US M5A1 Stuart? If there is more than one, please give me your take on them (pros and cons). Other points of interest would be interior and engine detail. Does the kit have any to speak of. If not, are there conversion kits for that detail available? Also do the kits have flexibility to them? Could I make another version if I wanted to (earlier or later)? Thank you for any help you can offer.
RC

hey, and welcome to the site!!!
as far as the M5A1 Stuart,ive built the one from Tamiya,the model has been around for quite awhile,but does build nicely,thier are afew aftermarket upgrades for it,but if you dont want to go that route,at least replace the .30 cal machine guns,and make grab handles out of brass rod.
you'll get a better response from this,the T34's are very popular,as far as the T34/85's.DML , Tamiya , Italeri , Maquette have the T34/85. DML is by far the best,and can be built quite nicely straight from the box,but you'll have to deal with thier individual track links.Tamiya's will build nicely and the have the rubber tracks,which aren't to bad,and with a small amout of super glue,you'll get them to sag across the top of the road wheels,however youll get responses about the Tamiya's T34,being abit inaccurate,we've built Tamiya's T34/76's ,and there shelfed with the rest of the T34's,and the difference between the manuf. is not noticable ,we haven't built Italeri's so i cant comment on this,but we've built Maquette,we built the version that came with the mineroller,and thats the only reason we bought this one,we've built other models by Maquette,and were not a big fan of thiers.plastic abit soft,lots!! of flashing,requiring alot of cleaning up,parts dont line up and gaps.and you'll have to deal with individual track links.Thier's a hugh amount of aftermarket detail and upgrade options for the T34's including decal sheets,wet and dry transfer,and are better than whats offered by the manuf.,it a depends how much you're willing,to spend,or feel comfortable tackling,overall DML's is the best,even striaght out of the box,just take you're time,when working with the tracks!!
once you decide on what you're going to build,here's a good referance start.

http://www.battlefield.ru/

Joe

Thank you for the detailed report. That should help narrow down my search for this subject.
RC

Good news and bad news - good news Tamiya makes an M5A1 that is generally available at a reasonable price. The bad news? It sucks! Tamiya "cheaped out" back in the 70's and made the tank fit their M3 Stuart parts. Result, the hull is too short, the tracks are wrong (the connecting pins are molded ON the blocks - they need to be between them) and there is a host of detail problems resulting from making one kit fit another's parts.

If you want to just build an M5A1 for fun then the Tamiya is for you. If you want a better model of this common tank then get Formations Models resin upgrade that converts an AFV Club M3A3 into an M5A1. Expensive and more complex, but the end result is well worth it!

Gary

I note you want larger than 1/36. So, a normal 1/35 kit is larger than a 1/36 kit (a scale that really doesn't exist). Is that what you are looking for or did you really want to end up with a model that was larger than the standard 1/35 kit? If so there is a new 1/15 kit of the T34/76 from Trumpeter that is pretty darned nice plus an older 1/15 or 1/25 scale kit from Tamiya that I think has shape problems, but I'm not sure. The only large scale kist of Stuarts I know of are a 1/25 scale resin kit from Verlinden (I think) and a 1/6 (GI JOE) scale model available built and painted. Neither got good reveiws and I think the 1/6 model is a close copy of the Tamiya kit, with all it's faults magnified plus a few new ones due to it's scale and the compromises needed to make it "playable".

HTH

Paul

I'm not really interested in the size so much. It's the 1/35th scale items are about the smallest I want to go for reference use. Most of my modeling is done in 1/18th scale. I'm going to build these kits and use them as build reference for scratch building 1/18th scale versions. I don't know if i want to fork out the cost on 1/15th or 1/16th items, if I don't have to. And many of the 1/6th items are to toyish for me that don't cost an arm and leg.

I might check out that 1/15th Trumpeter kit, as I do like their plane kits.

I have done coversions of large scale armor models, but this will be my first totally scratch build armor endeavor. All of my other work like this as been Sci Fi pieces. I do thank all you guys for the help.
RC

Ahhh, I see.

Well in that case there are really good 1/35 T34's that will do a good job.

On the other hand, there isn't a 1/35 plastic M5A1 that is worth spit. You would need to get representative parts from the likes of Formations coupled with the AFV Club M3A3 (as was suggested) to get a resultant model that would be worth patterning a scratchbuilt 1/18 model from. As it stands, the Tamiya kit is an accuracy abortion and you should avoid it like the plague. Also, do not purchase the Tamiya M3 or any of the Academy M3/M3A1 kits as they have exactly the same accuracy problems (Academy pantographed the main parts) as the Tamiya kit.

HTH

Paul

That is what I have been reading while doing research on the Stuart. I just needed the starting point. Thank you guys for all the help.
RC

I understand the desire to have an actual 1/35 model in front of you as you scratch your 1/18 kit but nothing beats a good set of Ordnance Dept drawings. Have you obtained a set of these yet for your Stuart? Making a larger version of the Tamiya kit will only get you the GI Joe toy, but smaller. Certainly not accurate.

BTW, you won't be disappointed at the 1/16 Trumpeter T-34. It's remarkable!!!

What are these Ordnance Dept drawings, and where can they be bought or seen? They sound like blueprints or something like that. I normally make blueprints when making Sci Fi models and enlarging them to you as templates to the scale I’m building in also. If that is what these drawings could be used for I would be very interested in them.

I'm not going to use the Tamiya Stuart as there are too many inaccuracy of the kit. I’m thinking the AFV Club M3 with the Formations Models M5 conversion is the best way to go. Thanks for the help.
RC

That's funny, I was just at the LHS looking for a T34/85. The shop owner was searching stevens to order one and DML wasn't showing any T34/85's are they OOP? How recently tooled is the kit?

I just tried to look it up. Missing off the available list at stevenshobby, just like the initial production Tiger kit. That makes sense. Make great kits but don't make enough to stock shelves...

EDIT: Redfroghobbies.com to the rescue AGAIN! DML 6066 on order for $31 shipped!! WOOT!