T-34 Question

WOW! Great info, Thank you all. I'll be in touch, I still have a l o n g way to go with this project.

Jim

There was a programe on Discovery (i think) about the T34 and i rember a vetran talking about how hard is was to see anything in combat with the hatches closed cos they were painted a dark colour inside. So i think gray sounds right, i cant imagine the crews complianing to there comanders!!! (firining squad)

I would go with Leopold.

However, here's another bit of info! The Soviets presented a WWII veteran T-34, fully restored to a US museum back in the '80's. This one had been in service until 1975 with the reserves and was Gray overall in the lower hull and white in the turret. The breech was 'pine' green, the heater was a normal green and the seat pads were black. The air bottles were black and the fuel lines light blue. Radiators were regular old green (Crayola crayon green) This would be a good scheme if somebody wanted to model a post WWII T-34/85.

This is the T-34 that was featured in FSM years back. It is possible some WWII T-34's were also gray inside or that factories painted them differently according to what paint (if any) was on hand.

Ron.

The T-34/85 interior shots I have from Inside the Great Tanks shows them as off-white, very similar in fact to the German elfenbein or ivory. You can tell it is ivory and not white because there is a white first aid box mounted on the right hull which contrasts considerably next to the interior color. The gun breach is dark yellow, much like panzer yellow and most of the small fittings such as handles, levers, brake pedals, various brackets, gearshift and steering levers are black. The radio gear, gunsight, (except the headpad, which is black), compressed air tank and vision blocks are olive green. The floor in the driver's compartment is dark gray, the rest of the floor appears to be black. The seats are brown leather. The compressed air lines for the cold weather starter are in medium blue. The handles which raise and lower the vision blocks are dark red.

The T34's I've seen in U.S. museums have all had white interiors, but I can't swear they were built that way; they may have been incorrectly painted during restoration. The inside of all hatches would be the same color as the outside because they're visible when open.