Zvezda 1/35 T-34/85 & others.................

[adt70hk]

Nice find Dave. Looks like there's more than for several more T34s.

ATB

ANDREW

[Dave Ward]

Andrew,
oddly enough, I have a ICM late T-34/76, and a AFV Club early T-34/76 in the stash, but at the moment only one set of tracks ( ignoring the nasty vinyl bits supplied ). I am in the process of getting some new ones, but they seem to be coming from Siberia by mule-cart!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

After a really lazy weekend, I've added the details & decals to the T-34 ( Death To Fascism)- this is now pristine, so now, I'm going to start the process of dirtying it up.............................


There is a large box, with a pipe out the side, which Zvezda direct you to fit on the rear plate, between the exhaust pipes:

I've looked at a fair few pictures of the T-34/85, enough to say that this wasn't a common fitting, so, I'm going to leave it off! Anyone know what it is? Smokescreen generator? Improvised oven?...........................
Dave

[adt70hk]

Dave

Looking very nice indeed. You're not doing me any favours though on the temptation (or marriage) front.

Keep up the good work.

Andrew

[Guest]

Anyone know what it is? Smokescreen generator? Improvised oven?...........................

Not sure … I always thought the two small barrels on the rear plate were smoke generators. Not a clue what this box-type thing is

Leaving it off is, of course, the safe option.

[Dave Ward]

Jakko,
the two small drums are oil drums, as opposed to the 3 diesel drums. That box really baffles me - It must be a field modification, not official, as it would prevent the service hatch to the transmission from being opened.............
Dave
.

[langy71]

There is a large box, with a pipe out the side, which Zvezda direct you to fit on the rear plate, between the exhaust pipes:
[ATTACH]399077[/ATTACH]
I've looked at a fair few pictures of the T-34/85, enough to say that this wasn't a common fitting, so, I'm going to leave it off! Anyone know what it is? Smokescreen generator? Improvised oven?...........................
Dave

I'm sure I've read somewhere that it's an 'oven' of some sort..
I'd have thought the crew would have enough to deal with fighting German forces let alone knocking up a few loaves of Mother Russia's finest granary..

[langy71]

just found this, still none the wiser

[Tim Marlow]

Are we sure it isn’t a vodka box?

[Guest]

the two small drums are oil drums, as opposed to the 3 diesel drums.

I thought they used one of the three drums for oil, the other two being for diesel. But it’s proving frustratingly hard to come up with a source for any of this. Maybe I should stop asking Google and try looking in books instead …

[Dave Ward]

I've just flipped through the Zaloga 'T-34 In Action', and I can't find one picture with the box!
However from Henk of Holland website:

" This vehicle is a PostWar T34/85 from East Germany. On the back of the vehicle is an oven for pre-heating the engine. The T34 is a post war and Polish made. The East German army adapted on some T-34's this oven. The oven was used with coal and wood. "
Well, that's some info, but was it relevant to WWII? I'm certainly leaving it off!
Dave

[langy71]

I've just flipped through the Zaloga 'T-34 In Action', and I can't find one picture with the box!
However from Henk of Holland website:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1133593[/ATTACH]
" This vehicle is a PostWar T34/85 from East Germany. On the back of the vehicle is an oven for pre-heating the engine. The T34 is a post war and Polish made. The East German army adapted on some T-34's this oven. The oven was used with coal and wood. "
Well, that's some info, but was it relevant to WWII? I'm certainly leaving it off!
Dave

Good call Dave, I'll remember that when I start throwing glue at mine.. :thumb2:

[Gern]

The Zvezda model comes in the usual box-in-a-box, to resist transit damage. Sprue shots & a few detail shots.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132907[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132906[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132905[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132903[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132904[/ATTACH]
It's a simple model, but then again the externals of the T-34 were simple
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132910[/ATTACH]
Casting texture on the turret sides
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132908[/ATTACH]
Road wheels - hubs OK, the rubber tyres will need a bit of beating up.......................
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132909[/ATTACH]
Tracks, link & length - the sprues join together to make a track jig for the top run..............
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1132911[/ATTACH]

Why don't more companies do stuff like this? That's a great use of outside-of-the-box thinking!

[spanner570]

Excellent Sleuthing Mr. Ward!

Your Servant.

Shirley Combs

[Dave Ward]

If I hadn't tracked that box down, it would have niggled me - like a stone in your shoe.......................
I have been working on the T-34, sealed all with a coat of gloss varnish, then started on washes to wheels & hull - nothing worth taking a piccy of, though!

Dave