I had a t34 down on my long list of items to pickup if I see one as a bargain anytime.

 However I will enjoy following your endeavours and may well review (as in cross off) any ideas to follow in your footsteps.

You seem to be well in control at moment anyway.

... he says, before scratch-building an interior.  :shock:

Any reason why the bow machine-gunner didn't get a seat?  :wink:

What you've done is nice -- as tank interiors go, the T-34 layout is pretty basic -- but the turret interior seems to me to be particularly ambitious, especially since the Airfix turret parts don't actually give you any space inside the turret to add anything.

(There's no shame in leaving the hatches buttoned up on an early T-34, because the commander had to do all the work of aiming and firing the gun -- so in battle the tank usually had all hatches closed.  Outside of combat, the driver's hatch would likely be open as well as the commander's hatch, so he had a better view of where he was going ....)

_________________
Bruce Probst
Melbourne, Australia
"I want to decide who lives and who dies."
My Model Portfolio

The original Airfix tracks are indescribably awful, unfortunately.  My preferred method of replacement is to steal a set from a Dragon T-34 (you need to cut a few links to shorten them, but the Dragon DS material is so easy to work with that's not problem).  (The Dragon will get after-market resin or PE tracks to replace the stolen set.)



Well, I wouldn't say that the variants outstrip the Sherman, but there are certainly a number of possibilities.  One of the reasons why I like building them ....

Unfortunately, as a "base kit" for conversions the Airfix T-34 is about as bad as you can get.  It is so wrong in so many ways.  About the only thing in its favour is that when Hornby reissue it later this year it will become readily available and very cheap.  (The tracks will perhaps be marginally better to work with too ....)

_________________
Bruce Probst
Melbourne, Australia
"I want to decide who lives and who dies."
My Model Portfolio

I knew the driver had to have a seat but did not think of a bow gunners position, I only have internet images (including larger models) from which to work.

This will not be part of a wargame army or a combat dio. and the hatch will be modelled open with a basic gun breach showing inside the turret through the aperture (again culled from model pics)

David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Here is my last Barbarossa build, the venerable Airfix T-34.
This was not built to win any prizes but to allow me to get the feel of this kit for future builds.  This is the first T-34 I have ever built and despite what people say I would defend it by saying that it is better than the airfix Sherman which does not get berated with such venom as this kit does.  It is a very simple kit and it does have a number of issues with reality. If this were a new tool kit I would scream and shout with the rest as the faults are inexcusable but it is a very old kit and as a product of its age it is a good low price starting point for a tidy model.  All this model needs is a little aftermarket assistance, especially new wheels and tracks, perhaps different turrets?

David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Nice one David. I share your views on this kit - it ain't good but it ain't as bad as some other kits that seem to get away with less criticism.

Hope this is the first of many (you could check out the Fujimi kits for an alternative wheel/track source). I can feel a T-34 group build coming on!!!!

When it does get here count me in.

David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Nice work David.

_________________
Airfix Club member

Thanks for the compliments guys, there will be more of these later when I know what I am doing with this tank.  There are a couple of things I missed from the earlier posts, first the turret, because of the way in which it was moulded I thought that it would lend itself to extra details.  The only pictures I had were of larger models so what little work i did here was based on those.  I don't have any drawings so cannot say how accurate the turret is- this build is only a trial for builds to come (when I should have information to hand)  The tracks do seem to be based on a correct type of track for the T-34, they are just very badly executed and the tracks supplied with my old kit dissolved when I tried to Cyano them together.  The tracks I used were cut down from a Matchbox Char B.1 tank kit, totally wrong but wide enough for the T-34.  



David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Just catching up on what you are upto.  I have t34 on a list of items to look out for when shopping - I was thinking of erring cautiously and waiting the new mould edition.  

I can see you have beefed up your base contents a lot from what you started with to get where you are now.  

Well done indeed.

I think its a re-pop, not a new tool  :(

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983
My Portfolio & Workbench

It sounds like it will be the same kit, Airfix have not announced it as a new tool.  Yes it is bad by modern standards but it is not as bad as it is sometimes painted to be and like the Sherman will scrub up quite well. It won't be expensive and it will be sold everywhere.

David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Hopefully too they'll clean the mould up a bit. The softer grey track material is also easier to work with than some of the older track materials. May also not look as thick as the the old silver tracks (wishful thinking there )

If you want a T-34 it is every bit as bad as it's claimed to be, and I think it's disgraceful -- and kind of stupid -- that Hornby plan to repop it.  There are now dozens of 1/72 T-34 kits around and the worst of them is still significantly better than this kit.  As for 1/76, the Fujimi T-34 kits (both of them) are also much superior (and have been around for nearly as long).  Yet Hornby want to reintroduce this one back into the market?  Madness.

(I will give it this: as bad as this kit is, it still compares favourably to the Matchbox/Revell T-34!  I wonder if Hornby are basing their decisions only on what is in the Revell stable?)

Look at your own comments: all it needs is new wheels, tracks and a turret.  Well, golly, what does that leave?  That's like saying "such-and-such aircraft kit is OK, you only need to replace the fuselage and wings".  Yes the hull is the correct basic shape, but is horribly, horribly simplified and devoid of detail.

If you just want a "tank" then sure, as a kit it's easy to put together.

That being said, you've certainly done a decent job of it.  Good modellers can produce nice output from whatever they're given to work with -- it's a shame that in this kit's case, you need to be a good modeller.

_________________
Bruce Probst
Melbourne, Australia
"I want to decide who lives and who dies."
My Model Portfolio

 Bruce, you and I are not the primary customer anymore and Revell and Airfix are the main pocket money players in Europe.  It is also a very old tool and in this context cannot be judged by current tooling standards and as I said in my last post if this were a new tool that had been screwed up I would scream and shout because that is when I get annoyed. I would also vocally share your sentiments.  Airfix for their part are introducing new tool AFVs and if these prove popular they may re-tool existing vehicles in this range- they are currently doing this with a number of aircraft in the catalogue.   Stay calm Bruce, don't let it get to you and let fortune decide what happens.

David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Best not to ask Bruce what he thinks of the upcoming Airfix re-release of their IS III 'Stalin tank'!!!!!

My one hope is that they have at least cleaned up the moulds on both the T-34 and IS III so that (bad though they are) at least the tracks will be flash-free.  :pray:

realthing,

I wouldn't hold my breath about the new re-releases they will probably be sold as is, the tracks will be in the flexible and glueable current material though and that is something to be pleased about

Bruces' dislike of the Airfix T-34 is his cross to bear I am afraid as is my venomous dislike of the new tool Spitfire mk1.  However he did say (without realising it) that the Airfix kit is the second best 1/76 scale T-34 by virtue of being better than the Revell kit (I have never built this kit so I will say nothing further of that)  Like all things with an history it should also have an associated historiography- which as far as  this hobby is concerned seems to change according to the teller.

David.

_________________
If you forget the past, you may lose the future.

Was just hoping that the tracks would at least be clean and flash free (unlike my recently purchased Churchill). Time will tell - will certainly be building one over the winter.

No matter what accuracy issues the kit has you've done a great job with it and the interior detail was a nice touch.

_________________
If I can build a Spitfire in 2 1/2 hours why can't I finish a Group Build on time?

I actually have no opinion to offer at this stage -- I've heard it's bad, but I don't know it through personal experience, and I only have limited knowledge of the IS range of vehicles.



Every single re-issue Hornby has done so far has had the old tracks in the "new" material complete with sufficient flash to create a separate set of tracks.  I don't expect the T-34 to be any different.

_________________
Bruce Probst
Melbourne, Australia
"I want to decide who lives and who dies."
My Model Portfolio