T-34/85 Mod. 1944
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Stock Number and Description | Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale Kit Number 6319; T-34/85 Mod. 1944 - Premium Edition |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Media and Contents: | 536 parts (231 in grey styrene, 160 "Magic Track" track links, 139 etched brass, 2 turned brass, 1 turned aluminum, 1 length twisted steel wire, 1 length stiff steel wire, 1 clear styrene) |
Price: | price estimated at US $41-45 |
Review Type: | First Look |
Advantages: | Takes the best T-34-85 kit on the market and makes it better |
Disadvantages: | For many modelers may be unimpressive; odd choice of features or lack thereof in the kit |
Recommendation: | Recommended for all "34-ka" fans |
Dragon's 1/35 scale
M2A1 Half Track
is available online from Mission Models
FirstLook
DML has now added one of their T-34-85 kits to the "Premium"
offering by changing out one sprue and adding a number of new parts
to their previous kit.
This is 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.
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. Also, once cut open, there is no cute
"gimmick" such as the photograph of the transmission to insert
underneath it nor the louvers for the air exhaust flow from the
engine bay.
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.
A very nice Cartograf decail sheet – targeted – comes with the kit
and provides markings for one of six tanks: 4th Guards Tank Brigade,
2nd Guards Tank Corps Belorussia 1944 (4BO green); 55th Guards Tank
Brigade, 7th Guards Tank Corps, Berlin 1945 (4BO green); 3rd
Belorussian Front, East Prussia 1945 (whitewash); 3rd Belorussian
Front, Koenigsberg, East Prussia 1945 (whitewashed); 22nd Guards
Tank Brigade, 5th Guards Tank Corps, Prague 1945 (4BO green); and
63rd Guards Tank Brigade, Eastern Front 1944 (4BO green). The last
unit is out of the 10th Guards Tank Corps (later 10th Guards Tank
Division in GSFG, an old "friend" of mine).
Overall this does take an older kit and make it better, but as the
extra cost for a bit more quality I am not sure if it will matter
much to most modelers.
Highly Recommended.
Sprue Breakdown
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
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
W 1 twisted steel wire
MA 139 etched brass
MB 1 turned aluminum gun barrel
MC 1 steel wire1
MD 2 turned brass shells
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Text and Images by
Cookie Sewell
Page Created 22 October, 2006
Page Last Updated
22 October, 2006