T-34/85 with Bedspring ArmorReviewed by Cookie Sewell
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Stock Number and Description | Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale Kit Number 6266; T-34/85 with Bedspring Armor |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Media and Contents: | 587 parts (263 in grey styrene, 160 "Magic Track" track links, 160 etched brass, 1 turned aluminum, 1 length stiff steel wire, 1 length twisted steel wire, 1 clear styrene) |
Price: | price estimated at US $41.00 - 45.00. Will be available online from Mission Models |
Review Type: | First Look |
Advantages: | Takes the best T-34-85 kit on the market and makes it better, offers options not found in past kits |
Disadvantages: | For many modelers may be unimpressive; odd choice of features or lack thereof in the kit |
Recommendation: | Highly Recommended for all "34-ka" fans |
FirstLook
DML has now released a second "Premium" T-34-85 kit by making more
changes to the recent release, but in doing so has made the other
kit (No. 6319) more of a "kit collector's" item by offering four
distinct variants in this kit.
What DML has done is to add 32 more parts including the Model 1944
"Split Hatch" to its previous "Big Hatch" release, therefore
permitting the modeler to make either one from this particular kit.
They also now provide the flame projector for the bow machine gun
mount to make the kit into an OT-34. Lastly is the "Bedspring" armor
version seen late in WWII and most notably photographed in Berlin.
Recent Soviet archival material releases published by Russian
authors show that this was not the case, as these mesh shields were
actually manufactured specifically for the purpose of stopping
Panzerfaust grenades from striking the tank, and therefore the term
"bedspring" is just a nickname and not their actual structure.
The base kit is again the T-34-85 Model 1944 (Late Production) with
the single flap hatch and twin ventilators at the rear of the
turret. The original T-34-85 kits came with just over 400 parts, all
but one of which were in grey styrene, and setpiece tracks on sprues.
The rear engine grille was a solid component and no other media came
in the kit other than one length of nylon string.
As with Kit 6319, this is the same kit but with some key changes.
The C sprue (upper hull and gun) has been redone, with opened louver
bays and places to add either styrene parts from the "H" sprue or
etched brass parts. However, for some odd reason the kit comes with
the original engine air exhaust decking (part B15) with the solid
grille. There is a two-part etched grille on the brass fret, but the
modeler still has to cut out the kit's grille to install it. Since
it is solid, this will be somewhat tedious. This kit at least
provides etched brass louvers for the area under the grille, so it
is one step up on Kit 6319.
The styrene gun barrel now is slide molded as are two new exhausts
for the rear of the hull. Also included is a complete DT machine gun
for the bow.
The rest of the kit is virtually the original kit (not that it was a
bad kit!) with the addition of the "Magic Link" tracks. These come
separately bagged as "Link 1" and "Link 2," but unlike German tanks
with left and right side tracks, these are easy to sort out.
However, it is recommended that the idler adjustment arms (parts A6)
be left loose until the tracks are ready to test fit so that the
length will come out right. As always, T-34 tracks HAVE to have an
even number of links so the flat and toothed links will mesh.
Most of the changes in detailing comes in the form of the etched
brass, and there are some new styrene parts to help out as well. The
kit comes with twelve ice grousers and brass straps and tiedown
straps to fit them to the right fender. The model also comes with
etched brass straps for the three 95 liter fuel tanks as well as two
smoke canisters (oddly not provided with the kit.)
The rest of the brass "spiffs up" the model with details on the hull
and turret hatches. The "bedspring" panels are very well done, and
when held up to a good light one can see they simulate an
interleaved webbing of wire on the frames.
A very nice Cartograf decail sheet – targeted – comes with the kit
and provides markings for one of four tanks: Unidentified Unit,
Berlin 1945 (4BO green with the "bedspring" armor installed); 2nd
Guards Tank Corps, Eastern Prussia 1944 (4BO green); 3rd Guards Tank
Corps, Prague 1945 (4BO green with white stripes); and Unidentified
Unit, Eastern Front 1944 (red brown patches over 4BO green). None
are given specific details except the "bedspring" variant, but some
research and aftermarket transfers should cover the bases.
Overall, this kit may not have been a great idea as it makes the
previous Premium Edition kit superfluous except for the decal sheet.
A 12x2 Road wheel arms and driver
mounts
B 27 Cupola and rear deck hatch
C 20 Upper hull and gun (new)
D 15x2 Spoked road wheels
E 9x2 Handrails
F 37x2 Fuel tanks and drivers/idlers
G 7 T-34-85 Model 1944 turret
H 6 Louvers and driver's hatch
I 1 Lower hull pan
J 1 headlight lens
L1 80 "Magic Track" flat link
L2 80 "Magic Track" toothed link
M 9x2 tiedowns and details
N 4x2 Spring suspension
P 4 Spare track links for fenders
Q 3x4 grousers
T 11 Model 1944 split hatch
U 3 OT-34 parts
W 1 twisted steel wire
MA 129 etched brass
MB 31 etched brass
MC 1 steel wire
MD 1 turned aluminum gun barrel
Thanks to
Freddie Leung for the review sample