14 Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome all the way from China, some of the most exciting injection moulded kits you could hope to see. There is no ge...
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Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome all
to engineer a complete interior. These are
have taken the trouble to replicate surface
the way from China, some of the most
elements that are by no means
textures where appropriate and everything
exciting injection moulded kits you could
commonplace in the average 1:35th kit
fits together well which is quite an
hope to see. There is no getting away from
and when you compare these with the
achievement given the complexity of the
the sheer schoolboy excitement induced
likes of the Tamiya 1:16th scale Tank kits
kits. The inclusion of things like the etched
by the arrival of these two kits on my desk.
you have to turn to the aftermarket
brass very much means that these can be
I had already seen the test shot pictures
companies for these parts.
build straight from the box into some very
and the T34/85 display models but these
Tamiya have designed their kits primarily
complete kits.
really didn’t prepare me for the real thing.
for the RC market and this shows in the
They are in my opinion the most
lack of finesse in some components, but
Trumpeter have released 4 versions of the
spectacular injection moulded kits to have
Trumpeter have approached these kits as
T34 - the 1942 T34/76, the 1943
been released and they mark out
purely static models and they are all the
hardedged ‘Mickey Mouse’ T34/76 and 2
Trumpeter as a new key player.
better for it. Perhaps the best example of
versions of the T34/85. It appears that
this is the highly detailed turret ring which
Trumpeter have used the 85 as the basis
What you have here are complete
is of course completely hidden when you
for all the kits which, given their prevalence
packages including etched brass, sprung
install the turret but they have taken the
is understandable, but in their efforts to
suspension with rubber tires, individual
trouble to reproduce it - always handy if
keep as much commonality between
track links and even braided metal tow
you want to blow the turret off! The quality
sprues they have introduced some
ropes and to top it all they have managed
of the moulding is good and Trumpeter
inaccuracies into the earlier 76 versions.
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Come on in! It’s Trumpeter’s 1:16th T34 with full interior by David Parker
The turret ring is the bigger version for the
which go to form the inside hull walls. The
under the seat - unfortunately they are
85 making the earlier turrets necessarily
side walls for the fighting compartment
rather more complicated and this will be
inaccurate and likewise the kit supplies the
have the distinctive cut out scoops to
visible. I began by making the 2 springs
85 firewall and 85 engine oil filters. Both 76
accommodate the bigger turret ring of the
which run from the steering levers to the
kits lack the power transfer for the turret
T34/85 so these must be filled and I
floor along with small heel rest which sits in
and are short of the correct amount of
thought the easiest method was to plate
front of the right hand lever. The steering
ready ammunition and also short one of
them over using 10 thou card. The
controls feed back to a crossbar under the
the floor ammo bins.
locations for most of the fixtures and
drivers seat which I made from plastic rod
Given this, the 85 is most certainly the
fittings on the side walls is incorrect for the
along with the control rods which run back
easy option but to my mind also the least
earlier versions and is best ignored. Before
along the floor to the firewall. Most of this
exciting. It seemed the ‘42 with its big
installing the inner walls it is best to fill the
area will be covered when the ammunition
turret hatch would offer the best
large release pin marks on the hull floor.
stowage boxes are installed.
decided to build a complete fighting
Trumpeter have done a good job in
The compressed air cylinders must be
compartment in this and build the ‘43
providing a convincing representation of
plumbed in along with the hand pump for
buttoned up.
the fighting compartment and especially
the fuel system which is positioned
the drivers controls but there is still plenty
between the drivers pedals and this was
Construction begins with the assembly of
of room for improvement. Trumpeter have
done using differing gauges of wire. The
the sprung suspension inside the towers
run the rods from the drivers controls
driver and co drivers seats are very flat
opportunity to show off the interior so I
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‘42 hull interior
Bottle is relocated and detailed
The power transfer for the turret is not included in the kit so this was scratchbuilt.
The radio equipment was detailed with cabling and a scratchbuilt stowage bag.
New ammunition trays were built using the kit tray and copies made. The excellent HUSSAR Ammunition was used to fill the trays.
The crew seats needed to be ‘reupholstered’ with MAGIC SCULPT for a more realistic padded look.
The Driver’s controls were improved with additional control rods and springs.
Moulded straps on the ammunition bins were removed and replaced with new ones made from pewter strip. The centrally positioned MG ammunition stowage is taken from the ‘43 kit and modified to fit.
The controls for the engine louvres are repositioned next to the driver.
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Head padding and weld beads are made from MAGIC SCULPT
MR SURFACER 500 was applied to give an appropiate texture to the armour plate.
The pivot control for the antenna is scratchbuilt
The dashboard is missing the small light fitting.
A scratchbuilt radio mic is added under the intercom box.
The engine bay was built straight from the box because it would be hidden on the completed model. The only exception was adding cabling to the engine. The front fuel cells are missing from the kit.
A completely new firewall was built from plastic card using the kit part as a template. GRANDT LINE wingnuts were used to replace the overscale kit parts.
The scoops on the hull side wall were blanked off.
Cabling for the compressed air system was added using different guage wire.
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‘42 turret interior
The vision port opening is narrowed and the sides are built up to the correct shape.
The cut back turret edge is filled and a new casting seam is added.
Turret interior is textured using MR SURFACER 500 and then lightly sanded.
Weld beads are added using MAGIC SCULPT.
The rough cast texture at the front of the breech is created with MR SURFACER. The breechblock assembly is carefully filled, sanded and polished and small details are added.
The kit has no stowage bags included so you must make your own. I also added the cable connections for the intercom The kit MG stowage rack is not the correct design so a new one is built around the etched brass kit part.
Chains are added to the pistol ports along with the one dangling from the periscope.
The completed gun minus barrel ready for installation into the turret. Note the shell bag under the recoil guard which was made from GREEN STUFF
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The machine gun ammunition drums have been detailed with canvas straps and brass rod pull rings.
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and lack the padding of the the real seats
the racks but fortunately Hussar
so I sculpted new seat backs using Magic
Productions released an excellent set of
Sculpt and I also added the supporting rod
ammunition so I thinned down the tray until
Because most of it would be hidden I built
that holds the seat back in place using
the new Hussar rounds would sit
the engine straight from the box. Once
brass rod.
comfortably in the tray. I then cut away the
again Trumpeter have done a good job
slots on the side of the tray before making
here with the fan and gearbox being
Moving back down the hull the kit is
a new base plate from sheet pewter. The
especially well done, but it is more
missing the power transfer connection
cushioning strips were also made from
appropriate to the ‘85 and I think I am
which takes the electrical power to the
pewter and a master for the clip
correct in saying that the air filters are the
turret via a pivoting conduit. This turns out
mechanism was made from brass rod and
wrong pattern for the earlier vehicles. The
to be one of those frustrating bits that is
pewter with lead sheet for the padding
most obvious addition necessary is to add
cropped out of pictures or simply not
strips. The masters were then sent away
the wiring to the engine as this would be
recorded but I was eventually able to work
for casting.
visible through the engine deck hatch. I did
the required number of boxes.
make a start on this when I still intended to
out what it looked like thanks to Alexandr Mosin’s excellent pictures. Once I had
The kit firewall is for the latter pattern
detail and finish the engine but time got
worked out the centre point of the turret on
T34/85 so I used it as a template to make
the better of me and I did no further work
the hull floor the power transfer was built
a new one from plastic card. The hinges
to the engine.
from plastic card and rod.
on the access panels were made using brass rod and pewter strip and diagonally
The turret for the ‘42 is extremely well
Running down the sides of the hull are 9
cut plastic rod was used to make the lips
detailed internally requiring only minor
trays of ready ammunition, 6 on the right
on the panels. Grandt Line wing nuts were
additions and modifications. I added a cast
side and three on the left. Trumpeter only
used to secure the panels and I was able
texture to the internal turret walls using Mr
provide 5 and they have a cap on the tray
to use the first aid box from the kit. I
Surfacer and fitted chains to the pistol port
which is incorrect. I was left with little
decided to detail the ammunition boxes by
plugs. The MG ammunition racks in the
choice but to built my own tray. I began by
removing the moulded straps and
turret bustle needed some work with a
hollowing out the rear half of the kit tray
replacing them with new ones made from
new case being built around the kit part
using a burr. I had originally planned to use
pewter strip and I also pinched an
and spring clips added on top of the rack.
the spare rounds supplied in the kit to fill
additional box from the ‘43 kit to give me
These modifications meant that the whole
‘43 turret texture The kit provides a very clean, even texture.
To give it a more realistic cast texture the turret a layer of CAST A COAT is applied.
Once dry, this is lightly sanded to remove any high spots.
A base coat of MR SURFACER 500 is then applied.
Quickly followed by another coat which is stippled to enhance the texture and then lightly sanded when dry.
The finished cast effect with its irregular finish.
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‘42 ’43 Exterior
FINEMOULDS turned aluminium gun barrel replaces the kit part.
Cables are added to the headlamp and horn.
Etched engine deck mesh is included in the kit.
The exhausts are comendably delicate but require careful filling to hide the joints.
Weld beads are applied to hull joints and fittings using MAGIC SCULPT
installation became quite tight for space
otherwise unmodified but the foot pedal
technique as described in Issue 13 but I
and many dry runs were needed to ensure
trigger controls were reworked with
struggled to use the Miliput he
that it would all still fit once the turret
additional springs and detailed pedals.
recommended and switched to using Magic Sculpt instead which I found worked
halves were joined. The drums themselves
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which are very visible in the finished turret
The Exterior
were detailed with straps and pull rings.
Trumpeter have given all the external
The elevation hand wheel is the wrong
armour surfaces a textured finish which I
The kits supply separate rubber tires for
design so I built my own and also modified
felt was too pronounced certainly on the
the roadwheels which I found did not fit the
the turret traverse motor with a sheet
hull. I therefore gave all the hull panels a
rims terribly well once they had been
pewter cover for the drive and cabling. The
couple of coats of Mr Surfacer 500 which
stretched over the substantial location rib
gun required some minor additions with
was slightly stippled and then sanded back
on each rim. These would have been
some rebated bolt heads but the biggest
to a fairly smooth finish more in keeping
better moulded as part of the wheel in
job was getting a good finish on the
with the finish seen in the photos. On the
1:35th style but to make the best of the
breech block which is assembled from 5
‘43 turret I wanted to create a far more
situation I cut off the majority of the rib on
parts and has some inevitable gaps. I
pronounced cast texture which I achieved
each wheel so that the tires would be
Spent some time filling and sanding to get
using a combination of Cast A Coat and
stretched as little as possible - a time
a good finish and finally added a coat of
Mr Surfacer - see the picture sequence. I
consuming procedure.
Mr Surfacer 1000 which was polished to a
began the laborious job of adding weld
The remainder of the assembly proceeded
high gloss finish.
beads to all the hull joints and fittings,
without any problems. My only other
The crew seats were given new upholstery
some of which like the tow hooks used
additions were the electrical wiring for the
made using Magic Sculpt but were
multiple welds. I used Lee Lloyd’s weld
headlamp and horn and the improvements
far better.
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‘42 hull interior
Painting the radio installation inside the hull proved to be very demanding.
The fuse box wiring diagram and dials were drawn on computer and printed onto clear plasric.
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I made to the latch on the turret hatch of the ‘43 version. The kit tracks are snap together and the downside is that on the inner face you can see the open slots into which the track pin clicks, not a big problem in my opinion especially when you can assemble a complete length of track in about ten minutes.
Painting With kits this size you really do have your work cut out and I began by giving them both a coat of Humbrol Olive Drab closely followed by a coat of Vallejo Air Tank Green. I find getting a convincing shade of green can be far from easy but I am happy with this combination. It took me an incredible four hours to mask off the camouflage pattern on the ‘43 kit and the brown pattern was applied using enamels mixed to match Don Greer’s excellent artwork in the Squadron/Signal book. This dried matt against the slight sheen of the Vallejo acrylic so I oversprayed both kits with a coat of 50-50 matt and satin Vallejo varnish. Following this the lower hull and running gear were oversprayed with Humbrol No.72 before being given a wash of the same colour. Once this wash had dried, I painted the scuffs, scratches and finger prints into the dusty areas using tones of the Vallejo Tank Green and an appropriate brown. Some dusting with pastels was applied into recesses and crevices like around the turret ring and on the engine decks. The tracks were airbrushed in brown enamels before getting an application of Humbrol Metalcote on the teeth and treads. This was polished when dry and then coated with diluted pastels.
The final piece to be fixed in place was the delicate foot pedal assembly
The interior was of course painted prior to the final assembly using a mix of Humbrol enamels and Vallejo Acrylics. I took the time to pre-shade all the white areas with a coat of grey to stop the inside looking too pristine. Study of the photos of the interior showed that the paint finishes were satin rather than matt and I replicated this. This gives a convincing finish especially when you have the matt finish canvas stowage bags against the satin walls. The black floor ammunition bins presented a painting challenge to obtain a convincing worn finish. I tried a new approach using tones of brown and grey to pick out old scuffs and
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All turret markings were hand painted - this one took a while.
Hand prints in the dust add to the realism.
Metalcote to highlight areas of heavy wear and I was pleased with the result. A similar approached was used on the seats and I also brushed pastels into the crevices of both the seats and ammunition bins.
At the end of this project I feel as if I have been living inside a T34 for the past few months and it is good to come blinking into the daylight and the manageability of 1:35th again. Despite that I love these kits unreservedly. They have incredible presence and delightful detail and offer unbelievable value for money. Well done Trumpeter for giving us something different, something not WWII German and generally breaking the rules - lets have some more please!
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