T34/85 in Yemen

[SteveH]

Hi

Thank John for guilting me into getting this one blogged, after he finished the SU76 and immediately starting a T-26, then the KV 1
This is the unusual reference photo that has prompted the build.
[ATTACH]363583[/ATTACH]

I'm no expert with T34's and have done some research.
It appears there is a 1960 and 1969 production run for T34's, possibly under license and for the 3rd world revolutionaries?
Cuba sent both crew and tanks to Africa in the 1960's, so we will use some artistic license, to move our T 34 all the way from the Belgian Congo up to the Yemen.
I'll use this as the base kit
[ATTACH]363584[/ATTACH]
Donor for star fish wheels, as I'll need at least 6!
[ATTACH]363585[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363586[/ATTACH]
The Linburg plastic is like cast iron!
The remainder will be a rusted wreak in the desert, one day!

I did want to recreate the diorama with a Morris Marina estate as per the photo, but a 1:35/32 scale kit of the car is either £00's or just no longer available!
So I got another 60's popular car, a Triumph Herald.

[ATTACH]363587[/ATTACH]

This is where I am, tub and wheels with the drivers compartment interior done and primed

[ATTACH]363588[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363589[/ATTACH]

I'm not one for building and painting bits you can't see, but I think I shall have all the hatches and access open and or removed so this will be my first interior build.

As I can't get to the garage, I'll try and do the interior by oil paint render and mapping back the 40 years of faded white, rather than spray and chip.

I have the Toon GB on the go, so I'll update as and when

Regards

Steve H

[Jim R]

Hi Steve
John has a lot to answer for!
I'm in for this. Yemen is a good choice although currently in the news for all the wrong reasons. I imagine that the AFV Club kit has the usual many tiny parts.
You're off to a nice start and I look forward to the rest. The Herald looks fun.
Jim

[Guest]

Great to see such an unusual scenario Steve. I for one have missed your builds, and it looks like this one has got off to a great starts with a nice tidy interior.

Looking forward to following along.

[minitnkr]

That interior looks nothing like a Triumph Herald:smiling:. PaulE

[JR]

If I'm to blame I'd like a front row seat please Steve .:smiling3::smiling3::smiling3:


Nice idea of being set in the Yemen. According to my books the ones in the Yemen numbered about 30 in use in 2015
They originally were built for the Egyptians who used them in the war in North Yemen .
Later the Russians supplied them directly to South Yemen with a batch of 50 in 1969 , followed by another 50 in 1972, then in 1980 they supplied 70 to the north . The wheels by the way you have will suit , this one was taken in North Yemen in the 1960s.
There are a few photos around showing tanks with mismatched road wheels ..
I'll look fwd to this, will be very interesting, you've made a good start . If you interested they had cream/ off white internal paint in the turrett .
John .

[SteveH]

Thanks for popping by chaps

The Herald will be soon, there aren't that many parts in the box!

The interior is assembled and primed, so if I feel the need to paint, I can

There really isn't must to see once its all locked up!

[ATTACH]363590[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363591[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363592[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363593[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363594[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363595[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363596[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363597[/ATTACH]

I shall use these for the outside colour camo palette, there will be several layers with some chipping to try and bring all the colour schemes to the party.
[ATTACH]363598[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]363599[/ATTACH]

Thanks for popping by, off to Toon town now

More in awhile

Steve H

[scottie3158]

Steve,
That's a great looking build so far I will tag along if you don't mind.

[JR]

That's some interior Steve, that detail on the drive train and the engine is suberb. Pity it's going to be covered up !
John .

[Steve Jones]

Terrific work on the internals. Hopefully you can leave the odd hatch a jar some where. Great work :thumb2:

[BigGreg]

WOW... fantastic internals...and it's really nice to see an unusual diorama... keep up the good job....

[SimonT]

Steve - having just seen mention of this build I looked it out as, like John, I do like a T34

A better alternative to those crappy Lindburgh wheels would be this accessory set from Miniart

WHEELS

[Guest]

Steve,
I agree with JR, that is some interior and a pity it is all hidden as you say, looking forward to more...
Cheers,
Mike.

[adt70hk]

Hi Steve

Very interesting idea and just a shame that interior will be hidden.

ATB

Andrew

[Guest]

Come on Steve. Never mind the bird-feeders - let's see some pics!

[SteveH]

Thanks chaps, I think!
The Lindberg will make a super part buried rust bucket test kit for another day
The interior will get a wash and be lost but was fun to build.
The T34 is going to be an exercise in layering & chipping, Russian camo, then green then Chinese Camo all chipped and layered and dusted.
Here is where I am with the base, T34 and 3 really old Airfix cars
[ATTACH]363641[/ATTACH]
The figures for the scenario.
Civilians, trying to drive away but they are parked in!
[ATTACH]363642[/ATTACH]
Tank crew, the heads are Hornet, the African set don't look as good as the Sub Saharan, but are the right size, as the Saharan are much too big?
[ATTACH]363643[/ATTACH]
Peter,
The bird feeder conundrum is still in play.
No one sells fine mesh nylon 150mm wide sieves these days?
Wierd!
Off to E-Bay yet again.
I am hoping to get this and the Pz IV G done by the end of 2019, oh and possibly surgery for a new left knee, though that it seems, is getting less and less likely.
Regards
Steve H