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Big T34?

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Big T34?
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 5:15 PM
Anyone started working on their Trumpeter T34 yet? Mine's on the way, and it's going to be awfully tempting to start it up once it arrives. Any experiences to relate? How long is it taking to build up?
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, July 12, 2004 5:19 PM
I don't have one, but it sure looked mighty impressive. I saw one at my LHS. Personally, I wouldn't know where to put it.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 7:01 AM
Hi, Larry and T-man!
I've started cleaning up the tracks a bit. There's a pesky bit of unneeded plastic at the tip of each track horn (bell?) that needs to be removed. No trouble, just a lot of 'em!

I almost began to clean up the mold parting lines on the sides of each link, but then thought about how rough WWII Russian armor was...I checked some ref pix, and sure enough, the same mold lines are on the real links! So don't sand 'em off...they belong there!
That extra bit of remaining sprue at the tip of each track horn (bell?) has gotta go, though.
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:55 AM
I've got it and am straining at the bit to start, trying to hold off. So many unfinished builds.
Being that I was such an easy mark to be talked into the purchase, I'm sure a group build would be too much for a sod like me to resist.Wink [;)]
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Upstate NY
Posted by Build22 on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 9:37 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk


................I've started cleaning up the tracks a bit. There's a pesky bit of unneeded plastic at the tip of each track horn (bell?) that needs to be removed. No trouble, just a lot of 'em!.................................That extra bit of remaining sprue at the tip of each track horn (bell?) has gotta go, though..................................



J-Hulk,

How sweet was that little click when you put two links together ! I was just playing around and put six together in about ten seconds.




Larry,
The large scale definetly makes some things a little easier. More detail to see and paint. Might have to look into Tamiya XF-62 in five gallon pails!


Someone had an in progress link from some other site - I couldn't find it



Jim [IMG]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 9:49 AM
Brian, thanks for the advice. You going to write something up for FSM? Tongue [:P] With that in mind, I may actually wait until the build-up review is in FSM, as I find those reviews with all the pitfalls laid out to be hugely helpful.

Ausf, I know what you mean about getting the builds done before starting new ones. So true, yet so difficult.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:32 AM
The tracks snap together? Now that's convenient. Are you doing a group build? Brian are you doing a review for FSM?

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:40 AM
I haven't bought this kit, and somehow I don't think I will. The damn thing is so huge, I really wouldn't know where to display it. But I saw a builtup one (allready) at my LHS. It really is a huge, sweet beast.

QUOTE: I know what you mean about getting the builds done before starting new ones

Larry, I'm still working on the dio for the towed gun GB. I just want to start something new, but I'm so lazy to finish this one [:0]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:54 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman

The tracks snap together? Now that's convenient. Are you doing a group build? Brian are you doing a review for FSM?


Yup, the trax snap together (firmly so), and it is indeed a beautiful sound! Link trax have NEVER been so easy.

No, T-man, I'm not doing a review.

YET!Wink [;)]
~Brian
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: S.C. Beach
Posted by roowalker on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:56 AM
Only gripe so far is that the large green pieces seem to be a
fairly soft plastic that is hard for me to "true up" when sanding /
dry-fitting,etc.Fit of the hull,large panels,hatches,is O.K. but
not up to Tamiya standards...I'm probably spoiled in this
regard, but nothing so far has caused any problems&
hey, the real thing wasn't a precision item anyhow!!!
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:58 AM
What a novel idea of snap tracks. That would be nice if they became standard in other kits as well. Is that the only Trumpeter kit to have those?

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 2:38 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman

What a novel idea of snap tracks. That would be nice if they became standard in other kits as well. Is that the only Trumpeter kit to have those?


WWII Productions treads have been snap together from the start -- and they are 1/35th scale.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Upstate NY
Posted by Build22 on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:52 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman

What a novel idea of snap tracks. That would be nice if they became standard in other kits as well. Is that the only Trumpeter kit to have those?


WWII Productions treads have been snap together from the start -- and they are 1/35th scale.


Dragon's are definetly "snap" together too. ( to some degree)

With the bigger scale -you have much better fit. The little pins that hold them in place are much bigger - better holding.

You definetly get a "snap" not a "smoosh"


You'll see Tongue [:P]Tongue [:P]




Jim [IMG]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 5:02 PM
How is the kit laid out? Since it's got a complete interior, does the upper hull lift clean so you can show off the insides? Or do open hatches and so on have to do a lot of the work for you? What I mean is, is the kit set up so that the upper hull is detachable on purpose for display?

Does the turret ring have Tamiya-esque notches, or is it a clean circle?
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:21 PM
Gonna make my T-34/85 full op. when it comes out. Go against my bro's King Tiger. no chance for me at least. Dead [xx(]

Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:56 PM
Here's a comparison of the hull sizes, compared to Tamiya's M4 and Tiger I:




It looks like a bit of work to make it fit, love to see it done though, keep us posted.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 9:26 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankbuild121

Gonna make my T-34/85 full op. when it comes out. Go against my bro's King Tiger. no chance for me at least. Dead [xx(]

Big Smile [:D]


Dunno, tankbuild. In the Tiger II's first action on the eastern front, they were ambushed by a single T34/85 commanded by a Lt. Oskin, which destroyed three or four of the lumbering beasts! And got away clean!

Go T34!
Moderator
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Matthew Usher on Thursday, July 15, 2004 9:38 AM
One of our main "Workbench Review" builders is currently working on this kit for us.

His expaned review will appear as an "FSM Builds" feature in our November jumbo issue.

Keep an eye out for it!

Matt Usher @ FSM
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 9:41 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Matthew Usher

One of our main "Workbench Review" builders is currently working on this kit for us.

His expaned review will appear as an "FSM Builds" feature in our November jumbo issue.

Keep an eye out for it!

Matt Usher @ FSM


EGGzellent! So I may just drool over the kit when I get it (which, I realize, is a disturbing image), and wait for the article.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 11:26 AM
QUOTE: ambushed by a single T34/85 commanded by a Lt. Oskin, which destroyed three or four of the lumbering beasts! And got away clean!


Funny, because you said ambushed, and one had to get 500 meters up to the beast to do some damage vs. 2 kilometers with the tiger 2. [:0]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Thursday, July 15, 2004 12:00 PM
Back to the models, what is everyone's take on the armor surface texturing in these kits? It looks like Trumpeter went to some effort to recreate the cast and plate armor textures, and they look pretty good to me, but I'm wondering if it's just not rough enough. Most ref pix I see of T-34s show VERY roughly hewn vehicles, almost like the crew needs a tetanus shot just to safely operate them.

So, what are your thoughts on Trumpeter's armor textures?
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 12:01 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankbuild121

QUOTE: ambushed by a single T34/85 commanded by a Lt. Oskin, which destroyed three or four of the lumbering beasts! And got away clean!


Funny, because you said ambushed, and one had to get 500 meters up to the beast to do some damage vs. 2 kilometers with the tiger 2. [:0]



Yeah but once you got close (and from the example that obviously wasn't impossible) the Tiger II was helpless. It's turret turned so slow it may as well have been not turning at all.

Anyway, first encounter:

T34: 3
Tiger II: 0

Laugh [(-D]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: O'Fallon, MO USA
Posted by seyahmit on Thursday, July 15, 2004 3:05 PM
I've been working on this kit for almost a month and I have enjoyed every second. Here are a couple of pics of the engine compartment. I still have some detail painting and weathering to do.






More in-progress pics here:

http://www.seyahmit.com/pn/html/index.php?module=photoshare&func=showimages&fid=17
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 3:26 PM
I've seen two T-34s up close, one in the Imperial War Museum in London and the other at Bovington. Both were post-war manufacturer /85s, and as I remember, the surface of the turrents was extremely rough. In some places, you could even see where a grinder had been used to round off the bends and remove large burrs. The hulls were somewhat better, but lacked the unblemished surface of most American, British and German tanks.

I have the Trumpeter 1942 model, and after comparing it with a number of photos, I'd say it's pretty good in this regard, although a few additional dings and gouges wouldn't hurt. I've heard that workmanship varied considerably from factory to factory.

I'm hoping Aber will eventually come out with a PE set for the fenders and tool box. The tool box on the T-34 in the Imperial War Museum has a gouge in it that appears to have been made by either a bullet or shrapnel. It would be fun to try and duplicate this feature, but in order to get an accurate look, you'd have to use PE.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 3:44 PM
That is one nice build you've got going there Seyahmit, Beautiful. One monster flywheel and clutch, huh?
It's getting tough not to crack this box and have a go.
Keep the pics coming, and Welcome by the way.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 15, 2004 4:12 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by seyahmit

I've been working on this kit for almost a month and I have enjoyed every second. Here are a couple of pics of the engine compartment. I still have some detail painting and weathering to do.


Extremely excellent stuff, seyahmit! Thanks for posting the pics.


  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Thursday, July 15, 2004 4:30 PM
seyahmit, that's absolutely gorgeous.
J-Hulk, I can't comment on the textures of the t-34, but some of the stuff in their 1/35 kits is superb, most notably the Abrams tank line. Cast iron texture is great as well, where I've found it, like their IS-3M tank.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, July 16, 2004 12:15 PM
Seyahmit, great looking build you got going there!

Seventrs and zokissima, thanks for the armor texture input.
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 16, 2004 1:35 PM
Great Job seventrs!

Love that paint!
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