Yeah, it's a pile of work. I started on MiniArt's T-44 with the interior years ago and it's still half-finished in the box. Sigh, another thing I need to pull out and finish. Thankfully the fit was pretty darn good, hopefully this one will be as smooth a build for you. 

I facilitate Russian history classes from time to time, and planning a couple of new ones. Anyway i got into T-34s this past winter and have 12 or so of various scales including T-34/76 and /85 in 1/35 and 1/48 with complete interiors. Also a KING TIGER. i will get the Amusing Hobbies (?) T-72 with complete interior once i finish some shelf queens.

if you have the plastic clips that hold loaves of bread closed, they make great sprue markers. clip it on and use a marker for the letter. also wire desk top sorters for letters and files from an office supply store make good sprue dividers.

all marked up ready to go (apart from the 10 sprues of tracks, 8 of wheels and 6 of shells).... noted the interior paint colours and ordered the few I was missing

Yikes !!!!

thanks for the encouragement guys - broke it out tonight and started with the engine.... first page done (21 left)

Wow an epic project!!! The engine is lookin' good! 

Does the engine have a wire harness? My T-34 engine has one that uses individual strands so I put aside for now to finish some shelf queens.

You are going to have a lot of fun with this. I have a couple of T-34s with complete interiors to start.

waynec

Does the engine have a wire harness? My T-34 engine has one that uses individual strands so I put aside for now to finish some shelf queens.

You are going to have a lot of fun with this. I have a couple of T-34s with complete interiors to start.

 

if you mean the wiring for the engine then no, not provided... some people to wire up the top as that is visible with the hatch open - haven't decided if I will (may be too late now it is all glued together (not to the body tho)

That looks really good!

I accidently melted the shells on my T-44 and ended up buying turned metal replacements. On the up side they do look way better than I could have painted them brass though.

Gamera

That looks really good!

I accidently melted the shells on my T-44 and ended up buying turned metal replacements. On the up side they do look way better than I could have painted them brass though.

how did you do that?  where did you get the shells?

this makes me want to start on one of my T-34s with complete interior 35th or 48th

Well, Let's see;

 Just about this time I would be cutting out the Hull, Transom and Sides for an off the wall Work Boat with that interior! With geared twin drives, driven off Both ends of the engine!

waynec

 

 

Gamera

That looks really good!

I accidently melted the shells on my T-44 and ended up buying turned metal replacements. On the up side they do look way better than I could have painted them brass though.

 

 

 

how did you do that?  where did you get the shells?

this makes me want to start on one of my T-34s with complete interior 35th or 48th

 

Hey Wayne, I painted the plastic shells with acrylic brass and hated the way they came out. So being a dum-dum I dunked them all in paint thinner to soak the paint off. Then forgot about them for a couple days. When I came back they were a big melted goopy stuck together mess. 

The T-44 had a standard 85mm gun so they're just regular turned brass 85mm shells. I believe the T-44 turret was retrofitted to the T-34 to make the T-34/85. So any 85mm aftermarket shells should do the trick. Biggest problem is I had to rebuild the straps etc around the shells. 

progress...all still dry fitted. So far so good, just a couple of breaks but they are OK once in situ.... really need to start painting - going to prime all grey, airbursh the large parts (sides/bulkheads/engine/floor) an dthen brush paint the detail... 

Looks good, you're moving right along!

That is a LOT of plastic!  I've never built a MiniArt kit.  The detail looks amazing and crisp - I'll follow along with you on this build.

Wow , suttle weathering?, you sure gave this interior a realistic look! Lov'n it so far.

That's coming along awesomely Rob!!! 

In case you need some refernce video, Battlefield Vegas has a Restoration channel on YouTube wher ethey show the insides of their Soviet armor, which is a growing collection.

I cannot attest to how valid their color selections are for bare metal up restorations, especially since they have a mix of Czech, Polish, and Hungarian vehicles in the shop.

I agree, the interior does look amazing. Keep it coming.

BK

Oh yeah! Like my T-44 that's a boatload of parts! 

This looks super good. How much of the interior will be visible at the end? 

It is coming out great.  Good job so far.

castelnuovo

How much of the interior will be visible at the end?  

That depends on how you display it.

I seem to have missed this up to now, Rob - sorry I'm late!  It looks like a very involved build, but it's looking very good.  I admire your grit in taking on all that track-bashing, too, nice work!