Tinkering with.... T34 ARV

Something for the weekend....

This is another Frankenstein build. I had a spare warlord T34 hull, without tracks ( will explain why  in a later post!) and as I’m not a fan, was going to spare box it!

Anyways, have always hankered to do  an improvised recovery version, an expediency deployed when the tide starting turning for the Russians.  Various configurations, with no standard build  these were old hulls with the turret ring enclosed and either makeshift or repurposed access hatches added. I had a Rubicon kit sitting ready for the build when it occurred to me I could actually make use of the Warlord hull.

The Warlord hull, for me, is generally poor, cast on towing cables, incorrect rear hatch and engine cover and poor handle representations, adding up to more trouble than its worth, just buy the Rubicon   Kits!  However the arv version would enable me to obscure some of these shortcomings...

The hull, as usual, was relieved of most of the poor details.  The track set is Rubicon, with wheel sets swapped out to represent an ad hoc salvage vehicle. Various bits and bobs from the spares were added, and woodwork etched out. The drivers hatch detailing was removed and a new recess cut out and spare box hatch added. The hull, as now standard for me, is weighted with polyfilla to add some “heft”. The grey surfacing is modelling putty used to simulate the rough rolled plate. Some panel lines have been scribes but a few to add, along with fuel points etc. This is about 50% complete, will add tarps, tie downs, handles, crew, armour welds and obviously towing points and cables.....

Am on a bit of a Russian theme at the moment; with loads of new ( and expensive) reference material I now have no excuse for incorrect detailing, in fact just off to remove some late ‘42 wheels from an early ‘42 T-34 (earmarked for tyre tread camo scheme)

Thought I’d post up now, as no more modelling/painting this weekend

Tinkering with... Rubicon and Warlord's T34's

 

 

 

 

Above, a tinkered and fettled Warlord T34/85, combined with a Rubicon T34/76 below......

 

First the Rubicon, by far the superior kit, but sadly lacking in the track detail department.

 

The hull below has been weighted and assembled. Some extensive modifications, including:

 

a) drilled out and filled the drivers hatch ( green material)

b) replaced all rails with brass rod

c) added spare fuel canister attachments and removed the smoke canister attachments to reflect research for this variant.

d) scratched some tow cables

 

 

Nice view of the rear hull, to show the fabricated fuel canister attachments and tow cable.

Below, yes it looks a mess! The white is from the polyfilla added for weight. The front hull has been carved out to receive a driver figure. I think he maybe from the warlord KV, either way he's not detailed enough to be on external show, but will work fine for inside. You can see the poor track rendition. I'm not worried about the hacked out drivers compartment as its not on show when the top is glued on.

Here's the hull with its turret, late version with "mickey mouse hatches", figures will feature later.

same hull but with alternative turret. Rubicon don't give you enough bits for multiple turrets but I had a spare turret base from their SU122 kit ( go figure!).

Now the Warlord T34/85. Kit is ok, not as good as the Rubicon T34/85 ( will come up later), nice tracks though. Not much spare on the sprues, so added a road wheel from the Rubicon spare set, it is marginally larger than its fellows, but I think it'll settle in fine.

As you can see, I have added mud mixture, both between the wheels and under the track guards, small details that all add up.

You can just make out the fuel and smoke canister straps refashioned from metal tubes, and the associated brass attachment points.

Replacing handles isn't for the faint hearted, there are between nine and eleven handles to do on each vehicle, that's removal, filling, sanding, drilling and bending!

For the handles, I made a jig to make uniform 0.5mm brass handles, a long old job!

also I removed the two cable wires, this is cast on detail with the Warlord hull, and is fine for one vehicle but a bit samey for several, another painful process of removal, but worth it in the end.

 

Some track guards removed to show off Warlords redeeming feature, the tracks! I think he will be fine!

Crew will be the subject of another post. The only real place for 1/56 Soviet tankers is Warlord, unfortunately their current offering is quite poor (out the packet), some ridiculous poses with cartoon features and outsized hands. Two poses are usable a chap just leaning forward ( above loader)  and a chap with a map ( used elsewhere). The commander pose is ok but I have binned all his supplied right arm options and am in the process of reconstituting one that looks reasonable at least!

15mm "1946" American Heavies and Super Heavies - Khurasan & Heer46 [SALE]

More wonderfull "what-if" 1946+, this time a little more grounded in realism. This little lot is the T34 (conjectural M34 "Taylor") for Khurasan and the super heavy T28 from Heer 46. I've used primarily Peter Pig crew figs, although there's a converted skytrex 30 cal gunner with a headswap in there somewhere. I've also added odd stowage and tarps ect to add some character.

I'm superly impressed with this bunch, the allied green has came out just as envisaged, with a level of weathering appropriate and in context. These ( along with some super detailed Pershings) are FOR SALE, I've had my fun, and i'm really pleased with the result. 

So POA -

 neil"at"troop-of-shewe.co.uk ( you'll need to change the "at")

  I've mod'd the gunner on the T28 and added so super fine aerial tie-downs ( from ship rigging material)

Two M34/T34's and one T28, both M34/T34's all three have crew.

I've rendered the images "full fat" here, to show the detail, remember these are 15mm so at this level the odd bit of sprurious fluff and cat fur can creep in !

I think this shot (above) is my favourite, all the techniques have came together and it just "works"

 Subtle stowage can add character but still be unobtrusive.

Last shot of all three. As always there are more pictures in my flickr portfolio, best get a cup of coffee and set to slideshow......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/troop-of-shewe/albums/

Subscribe to the link to the right and get fairly unobtrusive painting eye candy in your morning email.

neil

On to Berlin

Late War Russians, T34/85s and ISU152. I believe these little beauties are SHQ, they are all metal, nice and robust gaming pieces. I have added crew, one Milicast and one AB. As always, more "full fat" pictures in my flickr galleries.

Now Sold

T34/85 & 76 Section

Last in the Russian batch for a while ( although two IS 2's planned down the line). These are the best (IMO) T34's available, 1/56 from Jeff at JTFM ( no bases hurrah!). I bought additional turrets so in fact there are only three hulls and six turrets. Crew figures are BAM/Warlord which fit nicely in the turret cupolas. Two of these are up for Sale.

As always, click for full size pictures or for more detailed pics and general eye candy peruse my gallery, link to the right  >>>>>

Early series T34's - Tri Tone Camo

These are Army Group North Early War T34 with, yes, legit three tone camo.

Ref: T-34/76 Camouflage and Markings, Skulski & Filipiuk.

Multi-colour patterns were developed in 1939, including olive green, dark brown & sand. These are based on an illustration of an early series T-34, depicted South West front, summer 1941.

Not much mod'd on these although next time I'd prefer to get my belt sander to the bases.

As always more pics in my flickr, or click on the pictures to examine the details.

Battered and Bruised T-34's

Army Group North, Early Version T34's. Painted to represent an amalgamated troop, there is subtle changes in shade, wear and tear and markings between the vehicles to betray their original units, although not too sure the pics show that off too well. click on the images for bigger pictures, as always more pics in my flickr galleries