Nothing wrong with all the Tigers and such that CH has released, but it is good to finally see an Allied vehicle. I will order one when available and keep hoping for something totally cool.....Sherman Crab. Rick Cooper

Who's been saying it'll cost that? There is NO way it's going to be that price...[/quote] Have you seen this only ones that are cheap are The Panther rest $85.00 and $95.00 http://www.dragonusaonline.com/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=81[/quote] Those prices weren't the original release prices ( I know cause I bought them). I think they bump up the prices once sold-out so that any items on the "waiting list" become much more expensive.

SWEET ! Cant wait for this one to go on pre-order This kit has been announced for awhile now, so its great to see that it will actually be out soon. Good to see Cyber-Hobby take on an Allied subject too. I will also echo the point made on the Spring 1942 production turrert style that made the T-34/76 STZ so famous. Still looks great, and I'm sure we will be dazzled by this model none the less Thanks for posting the good news, Jim ! Cheers !! Robert

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After doing a little research with the T-34 bible (T-34 Mythical Weapon) and other written material, it appears to me that Cyber Hobby has simplified the construction on this kit. The STZ factory constructed the hulls with interlocking front, back and top (sides of turret ring) armor plates. Some will claim that this trait was not until 1942 series production batches, however, that claim is not true at all. The 1942 hulls has simplified hull top interlocking plates, but still retained the original front and back interlock. It appears to me that Cyber Hobby has used the standard 1940 / 1941 T-34 hull from their previous releases without any modification. It is a BIG let down!!! The interlocking plates (along with other small hull details), turret and the steel wheels are what make the T-34 STZ so different than the rest of the production series T-34's. The lower hull is also not-reworked with the correct details, (the standard DML T-34 lowe hull tubs are slightly inaccurate). The forward idler wheel should have one bump stop instead of 2 ( as on the DML T-34 hulls, and strangley, the Trumpeter 1/16scale T-34's as well), the side suspension ports are also a little oversise as they should be shorter than the side bump stops ( as again, DML T-34's and Trumpeter 1/16 T-34's have the exact same problem) Please understand, I am no authority of the T-34, just a fellow modeller who was really expecting a great T-34 STZ. ~Martin

If anyone is interested, we just starting accepting pre-orders today. Our pre-order price is US$39.99. Sprue Brothers Models

Hi Martin, First off, as far as I'm concerned (..and many others) the Mythical Weapon book isn’t the best book on the T-34’s…..ESPECIALLY, info focusing on T-34/76’S built at the Stalingrad Factory! There were THREE different types of STZ turrets and different configurations of turret and lower hull notches for the mid and late versions.as well as two types of steel wheels and small detail items This particular Cyber Hobby kit will indeed be the early transitional STZ . “It appears to me that Cyber Hobby has used the standard 1940 / 1941 T-34 hull from their previous releases without any modification.” This kit has an all new tooled turret, proper early idlers and drive sprockets.. All new 550 tracks, new front and back glacis plates..new tow hooks /w etch retainer, New etch fret amongst many items… DML is at least trying to do there best at giving the attention to detail and as many options and new items to these Russian kits as they do to some of there German line of kits..at least we should be thankfull of that! As for the lower hull details…wait and see what comes up in the near future! Nick

Nick, you big tease! Hope they do this right (I am not a big T-34 buff, but if I know there is a mistake...)...I would love to do a dio of a T-34 STZ fresh off the assembly line going to battle the german invaders!

“The STZ factory constructed the hulls with interlocking front, back and top (sides of turret ring) armor plates. Some will claim that this trait was not until 1942 series production batches, however, that claim is not true at all. The 1942 hulls has simplified hull top interlocking plates, but still retained the original front and back interlock. It appears to me that Cyber Hobby has used the standard 1940 / 1941 T-34 hull from their previous releases without any modification. It is a BIG let down!!! The interlocking plates (along with other small hull details), turret and the steel wheels are what make the T-34 STZ so different than the rest of the production series T-34's.” Not entirely correct. The earlier production STZ hulls and turrets were in most respects indistinguishable from those made by Factory 183 Model 1941’s. I believe the interlocking plates were introduced by Factory 264 when they were ordered to produce hulls and turrets for STZ. You ARE correct in that there was some variation between earlier and later batches made by 264. “The lower hull is also not-reworked with the correct details, (the standard DML T-34 lowe hull tubs are slightly inaccurate). The forward idler wheel should have one bump stop instead of 2 ( as on the DML T-34 hulls, and strangley, the Trumpeter 1/16scale T-34's as well), the side suspension ports are also a little oversise as they should be shorter than the side bump stops ( as again, DML T-34's and Trumpeter 1/16 T-34's have the exact same problem) Please understand, I am no authority of the T-34, just a fellow modeller who was really expecting a great T-34 STZ.” You may be correct to some extent here. Certainly having two bump stops on station 5 (the front road wheel) is incorrect for an early T-34 these having been added to later production T-34 batches (sometime in mid to late 1942? I know I have that written down somewhere but can’t find it!). The drawings in “T-34 MW” fail to reflect this change. Unless DML have also removed the “torque plates” (the small plates in front of each suspension arm) this detail will also be incorrect for STZ made tanks. Though they MAY have shown up in the final batches they wouldn’t be present on earlier tanks. (A change not reflected in MW) These problems are nothing that an Xacto knife and sandpaper can’t fix. I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you mention “side suspension ports” being oversized though. Could you describe this a little further? One item DML HAVE corrected on the lower hull is the front suspension arm which now appears to have correct shape, something we didn’t get with either the Model ’40 or ’41. (Yet again the drawings in MW miss this change in the detail from earlier to later batches of the tank) Maybe if we ask nicely they’ll make this part available as a separate item to correct those older kits? Though perhaps not the version of the STZ T-34 I would have chosen it looks to me as though we’ll be getting a very nice kit. Mark

Hi Mark, Thanks for the info, Some might not know this, in my books; Mark is one of THE foremost authorities on anything related to the T-34..His knowledge of this particular vehicle is only matched to his relentless research. As I metioned to you; many of the details you both brought up were tweaked… will keep you posted! Nick