Tamiya's T34, former shelf queen WIP

Thanks, Eric.  It was fun.

RF, it's a decent kit, good fit for its age.

I did get a better pic or two:

I actually opened the box of figs yesterday.....

i just started this same kit a couple weeks ago. almost all oob. havent built a kit in 5 years and i started on this bad boy. lol

Sag or not, it turned out very well.

PANZERWAFFE

Thats looks great!  Like how you have the dirt caked up with different colors of dirt.  Well done

Thank you, sir. It was a bunch of fun, especially since I rarely dirty them up that much. Still looking at the box of figs....and remembering how to type......

Thats looks great!  Like how you have the dirt caked up with different colors of dirt.  Well done

Thanks, Tojo. Still trying to gut up to do the figs......did get them off the shelf, big step.

Wow,I have not checked in for awhile,thats looking real good.

Mikey, the Tamiya kit doesn't actually use idler brackets, it's a metal axle that runs inside the front of the hull, so I've got a little less to work with. Two links out with the idler all the way back is too tight, and the opposite, as you see, is tracks a bit looser than I like. I have a Maquette kit with more correct idler mounts that I may try on the next one......

The next T34 is another Tamiya kit. I have a stash of them, some for just parts, two in progress. The one furthest along uses the Tamiya turret Model 1943, and the one to be worked on after that I have a resin Uralmesh stamped turret for.

The problem you have isn't the tracks they are supposed to be tight when the idlers are full foreward. But with the idler axel retaining bracket the way it is designed you will need to add either shims or a metal washer to the bottom of the bracket to keep it from tipping back and keeping you from keeping the axel sitting where you set it.

Now as for your Friul tracks best thing to do with those would be prior to assembly set your idle to full foreward and keep it there till assembly of the tracks is finished and then change the idler bracket to whatever setting you wanted. 

So RBaer if your going to do another Tamiya T34 are you going to pick up the Tank Workshop interior (with resin turret included) for the Tamiya kit?

RBaer

RESlusher:

RBaer:

 

 

Russ,

I might be wrong here; but take a look at this track.  It looks to me like there's a bit too much sag before the track meets up with the road wheel.  You might need to take out a link or two?  I'm not 100% though.  See what the experts say.

 

 

I have pulled two links (minimum I can pull due to to different type links) and the track is way too tight, even with the idler moved all the way back, this pic is with the idler all the way forward. I have another T34 in progress, exact same issue. Believe me, I have worked this one. Also, the track appears loose at the front, tight at the rear, because of how I turned the model to get another pic. If I "pose" the tracks with the same slack at the front and rear, it looks a little better. All said and done, I would like them a tad tighter, but with the way the Tamiya idlers are mounted (super simplified, since this was originally a motorized model) this is what I'm stuck with. Tracks this loose are sometimes seen in pics, seems the Russians weren't too picky about it, or had the same issue with the real thing that I did with the model.....yeah, that's it.....

wing_nut

That really looks nice.

I used Friuls on a T-34 and had the same problem.  Take outthose 2 links and too tight. I ended up increasing the sag on the top a tiny bit to take up some of the that front slack.  Aslo, pushing it forward on the table to have that extra bit of sag come off the back looks a bit better too.  Sorry, no pic of that.

That's it exactly! Nice T34, btw.

That really looks nice.

I used Friuls on a T-34 and had the same problem.  Take outthose 2 links and too tight. I ended up increasing the sag on the top a tiny bit to take up some of the that front slack.  Aslo, pushing it forward on the table to have that extra bit of sag come off the back looks a bit better too.  Sorry, no pic of that.

RBaer

I have pulled two links (minimum I can pull due to to different type links) and the track is way too tight, even with the idler moved all the way back, this pic is with the idler all the way forward. I have another T34 in progress, exact same issue. Believe me, I have worked this one. Also, the track appears loose at the front, tight at the rear, because of how I turned the model to get another pic. If I "pose" the tracks with the same slack at the front and rear, it looks a little better. All said and done, I would like them a tad tighter, but with the way the Tamiya idlers are mounted (super simplified, since this was originally a motorized model) this is what I'm stuck with. Tracks this loose are sometimes seen in pics, seems the Russians weren't too picky about it, or had the same issue with the real thing that I did with the model.....yeah, that's it.....

It still looks great though!  That's what's important!

RBaer

p38jl:

wow.. thats looking knarly dirty...! nice

 

ps.. dumb question.. is the item just behind the headlight a horn ?? is it on backwards ??.. hard to tell from the pic.. but??....

 

No dumb questions here.....it's a horn, and from what I can tell, it's supposed to be on that way. Makes no sense to me, either.

p38jl

wow.. thats looking knarly dirty...! nice

 

ps.. dumb question.. is the item just behind the headlight a horn ?? is it on backwards ??.. hard to tell from the pic.. but??....

No dumb questions here.....it's a horn, and from what I can tell, it's supposed to be on that way. Makes no sense to me, either.

RESlusher

RBaer:

 

 

Russ,

I might be wrong here; but take a look at this track.  It looks to me like there's a bit too much sag before the track meets up with the road wheel.  You might need to take out a link or two?  I'm not 100% though.  See what the experts say.

 

I have pulled two links (minimum I can pull due to to different type links) and the track is way too tight, even with the idler moved all the way back, this pic is with the idler all the way forward. I have another T34 in progress, exact same issue. Believe me, I have worked this one. Also, the track appears loose at the front, tight at the rear, because of how I turned the model to get another pic. If I "pose" the tracks with the same slack at the front and rear, it looks a little better. All said and done, I would like them a tad tighter, but with the way the Tamiya idlers are mounted (super simplified, since this was originally a motorized model) this is what I'm stuck with. Tracks this loose are sometimes seen in pics, seems the Russians weren't too picky about it, or had the same issue with the real thing that I did with the model.....yeah, that's it.....

Dusty! I like it.

RBaer

 

Russ,

I might be wrong here; but take a look at this track.  It looks to me like there's a bit too much sag before the track meets up with the road wheel.  You might need to take out a link or two?  I'm not 100% though.  See what the experts say.

wow.. thats looking knarly dirty...! nice

ps.. dumb question.. is the item just behind the headlight a horn ?? is it on backwards ??.. hard to tell from the pic.. but??....

Richard, Andy, Londo; thanks! I'm having too much fun here.

OK, pics with the dust, fuel and oil stains, and tracks. I also added a teenie bit of rust on the spare tracks, not much. Lots of runny soot around the exhausts as well. There's a pic floating around somewhere of a T34 running at the Bovington Tank Fest, shows lots of gaak on the rear plate. Apparently these engines were pretty loose, pumped some oil as well as lots of smoke.

 Next is the bunch of crazies hitchin' a ride.

I also need to see if I can get a latch on the inside of the loader's hatch, just noticed that......

Edit: and a headlight lens. Oops.

Yeah. This particular kit was my first presentable model.  I'm not much into aftermarket, though. I'm more the weathering type guy. None of my models are half this good! Really!

Your T34 is looking real good!  Looking forward to see the riders on it next...

Wow Russ!  That's a right purty tank ya got there! 

Back in town, New England was a hoot, visited the Hobby Bunker and Minuteman Hobbies in the Boston area, and managed to get some modeling time in to boot. so here it is so far: mud and dust is white glue, used tea, craft paint and pigments. Over that a gloss coat, and simple turret numbers. Next will be dust only, then a flat coat. I did manage to pick up the Dragon tank riders at Minuteman that this thing is crying out for.

Tahnks for looking! Oh, and D-master, there's always a Sherman in the background......

One with the flash, to show the amount of grunge:

And without:

And a frontal shot:

And the hind-quarters, sort of:

Correct on the tracks, easy to use and build.

Thanks, doog. I'm having a blast. It's all mudded up now, glossed up with decals on. Next is the dust, tracks and some stowage (ammo boxes mainly) but I'm on the way to the airport, gonna get some Nova Scotian lobster or something in Boston for a few days, then probably down to the gulf for a few more, so I'm outta touch for the next couple of weeks. Hasta luego!

WOW, Cool!

I've been wondering what those Macquette turrets look like built up--I've got on myself, but haven't used it yet.

I can tell you're having fun with this one! I like what you're doing with it!

I have the exact same kit myself I even picked up the Tank workshop interior for the Tamiya kit Legend detail set and Friul tracks.

BTW for those that don't know the Friul tracks are not left or right handed for the T34 they are what are called "Ambidextrous" tracks which means it doesn't matter if they are installed forewards or backwards they will look the same no matter what. And when weathering the tracks after using the Blacken It solution put the tracks on and take note of the location of the drive wheels and idler wheels along with the road wheels as these will show you where to use the Rust All weathering compound.

No hairspray, the Vallejo comes off really easily.  One reason I like it, and the fact that it brushes on very smoothly, no streaks or brush marks.

I may get a little time in over the next couple of days, going to the IPMS show in Arlington on the 10th and would like to have this one ready, but that's doubtful now. Then vacation for a couple of weeks so I'll be seriously away from the bench......

That's some serious looking green on that green machine....

   Did you hairspray it before the Vallejo wash?

Hmmmm, I see a sherman lurking off to the side.

Looking great so far