Product Specifications.

6418, T-34/76 Mod.1941 Cast Turret. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 497 styrene parts (including two clear), two pieces of braided metal wire, one turned aluminum gun tube, one photo-etched brass fret, five water-slide decal markings schemes and eight pages of instructions in 20 steps.

Introduction.

The classic Soviet T-34 was produced in huge numbers and also came in a variety of sub-types. One of these saw the welded turret supplemented by cast turrets; this is the type represented in this latest DML release.

Tracks.

These are styrene individual link types and are attached to sprues in the conventional manner; this means a bit of cutting and trimming will be the order of the day. They fit together easily but must be fixed in place with glue; each part has two subtle ejector pin marks on the inner face. These may be able to be ignored, or some may wish to ensure their disappearance by cleaning them up.

Suspension System.

The suspension system separate road-wheel swing-arms for all stations, idler wheel axles are also provided; these should not be fixed in place until the track sag and fit has been properly achieved. The road-wheels are the dished type with rubber rims of the type with small perforations along the side-wall. Idler wheels with rubber rims and a more-or-less “typical” type of drive sprocket completes this option.

Hull.

The hull pan is typical for every T-34-based DML kit. It comes from a slide mold so all details on the side walls and the belly plate can be easily included. The side plates feature openings for the Christie suspension swing-arms as well as their mounting points and various bump-stops; there is also some nicely-rendered bolt detail around the area of the (separate) final drive housings. Inside, there are separate “boxes” to hold the Christie spring units.

There is a separate lower bow plate that fits in a recess at the front end; the same applies for the lower stern plate. The latter also features bulges for the final drive housing. There are separate access plates for the belly, while molded-on drain plugs, panel lines and recessed access plates complete the area.

Superstructure.

The entire assembly is based on that seen in the first early T-34 from DML, the Model 1940 kit. It features a separate glacis plate that is embellished with a separate periscope heads, tow cable mounts and twin head-lamps. The latter assemblies have a clear part for the lens and an optional etched brass mounting bracket. A nicely-detailed cast bow MG mount, with separate internal mantlet and delicate machine-gun barrel are attached to the starboard side of the glacis plate, while a multi-part hatch lid with some internal detail is provided for the driver’s station.

Separate engine compartment cooling vent grills are given as is a (still ill-fitting) access hatch lid. The main engine compartment access lid comes in two configurations. The first is the original all-styrene part, complete with molded on screen detail. The other option features an opened-up styrene part where the screens and framework are replicated with etched brass, and there are panels and louvers as seen beneath the opening, also in that medium. Other etched brass details include the various clasps seen around the aforementioned access lid as well as an all-styrene or all-brass tail-lamp assembly.

The superstructure stern plate has the typical mounting bolt pattern and features a separate rectangular transmission access hatch lid. New slide-molded exhaust pipes (parts A-6) are provided, with pre-opened bores; these are designated as not for use in the instructions, while the older parts, B-3 and B-4 are shown being used in step 10. The modeler is advised to use parts A-6. Mounted over these are delicately-rendered armored cowls. There are separate fillets for the areas where the main plates all come together.

The fenders are molded on to the lower superstructure side plates and feature molded-on tie down loops at their edges (there are optional etched brass replacements in the box); the rear mud-flaps are molded in place. Many of these tie-downs feature separate etched brass straps to hold the styrene ice cleats into place on the fenders. Mounting points for the various tool boxes are molded in place, as are some other tie-downs and plate details. Separate hydraulic jacks with etched brass enhancements can be mounted on one fender, while a tow cable can be replicated using the provided braided metal wire, styrene end loops, and etched brass straps and tie-down loops. The various tool boxes themselves can be enhanced with the included etched brass parts, while the superstructure side plate-mounted tie down points are given as fine separate styrene parts, or as etched brass options.

There are a total of six early-style external fuel cells provided in the box; these also feature optional etched brass or styrene mounting brackets and hooks. References must be checked to see if a particular tank had these cells, how many there were, and where they were mounted, as the configuration varied. In addition, a set of cylindrical fuel cells is also provide, with mounting brackets.

Turret.

This new molding is of the cast type with a recessed rear plate. It appears to be a typical Factory 183 type as produced in the spring of 1941. The main shell is created using a slide-mold and it has a very nicely-rendered cast texture, as well as fine weld bead details around the area of the episcope housings. There should quite probably be some casting numbers on one of the turret sides, but none are seen. Two styles of rear plate are provided; one is held in place by four bolts, the other by six bolts. The pistol port plugs are separate parts and four grab handles are provided for the turret sides, but they are not mentioned in the instructions. A new roof plate with new hatch lid is provided; it also features separate dome vents, periscope cover options (opened or closed, etched brass or styrene) and etched or styrene details for various points on the assembly. The front mounts a multi-part external mantle to which can be attached a turned-aluminum or slide-molded styrene gun tube. Internally, there is a nice multi-part breech assembly, episcope details in etched brass and two suspended seats for the turret crew.

The complete original welded turret from the Model 1940 kit is also provided. Swapping hatch lids will allow for more variety if references confirm that fitting on the particular vehicle the modeler wishes to construct.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

The fit of the parts in this kit is good-to-excellent. No sink marks are apparent and with the exception of the tracks, no ejector pin marks are visible on any external surface of the complete model, including the interiors of the various hatch lids. Flash was non-existent, while mold seams are quite fine and easily dealt with using traditional modeling skills and tools.

Accuracy and Details.

References show the kit to be quite well-done in this regard, with major components matching published 1/35th-scale plans extremely well.

Instructions.

These are in the oft-dreaded photographic style, but honestly they are quite easy to follow. There are also a number of sub-steps presented using line drawings, interspersed throughout. Colors are keyed to Gunze and Testors paints.

Decals and Markings Information.

Water-slide decals are given to mark a total of five vehicles, and are printed by Cartograf in Italy. They are crisp and in excellent registration. Carrier film is thin, matte and cut close to the design edges. The following vehicles can be marked:

• Red star/white 64, unidentified unit, 1943, in Dark Green Shade 4BO.
• Red star/white “Bars”, unidentified unit, Manchuria, 1945, in Dark Green Shade 4BO.
• White diamond/slogan, 116th Tank Brigade, 1942, overall Dark Green Shade 4BO.
• Yellow 1053, unidentified German Beutepanzer, 1942, overall Dunkelgrau.
• Red slogan, unidentified unit, 1943, overall Dark Green Shade 4BO, with winter whitewash.

Photos in Ref. 3, confirm “White 64”, but show that it had later 1942 features, such as periscopes on the driver’s hatch lids and “hammerhead” tow shackles. “Bars” is shown in three different color plates spread throughout the cited references, in two different color schemes; it also mounts the cylindrical fuel cells. It is not confirmed in any photos and in fact, the only photo I could find of any of the markings options was as stated at the beginning of this paragraph. This is rather unusual considering the resources in my library. Naturally, just because I can’t find a photo, it does not necessarily mean the markings provided in the kit are not correct.

Conclusion.

This is a sound rendition of a major variant in the T-34 series and because of that, it should be quite welcome by fans of this type. One would now hope that DML continues and provides modelers with renditions of the later 1942 and 1943 turrets. I don’t think it will be too long now…

Highly recommended.

Frank V. “Curley Stooge” De Sisto

References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:

1. “T-34, Stalin’s Warhorse”, AJaKS Military Press, by P. Skulski & J. Jackiewicz.
2. “T-34 in Combat”, AJaKS Military Press, by Z. Lalek, R. Sawicki & J. Jackiewicz
3. “T-34 in Action”, Squadron Armor 20, by S. Zaloga.
4. “Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of WW 2”, Arms and Armour Press, by S. Zaloga & J. Grandsen.
5. “Russian Tanks 1900-1970”, by J. Milsom.
6. “Soviet Tanks in Combat 1941-1945”, Concord 7011, by S. Zaloga.
7. “Russian T-34”, AFV Weapons Profile 47, by J.M. Brereton & Maj. M. Norman, RTR.
8. “Camouflage of the Tanks of the Red Army 1930-1945”, Armada, by M. Kolomiyets & I. Moshchanskiy.
9. “T-34, Vol.I”, Wydawnictwo Militaria 259, by M. Baryatinsky.
10. “T-34, Vol.II”, Wydawnictwo Militaria 265, by A. Lagutin.
11. “T-34, Vol.III”, Wydawnictwo Militaria 268, by S. Kirsanow.
12. “T-34/76 Medium Tank 1941-45”, Osprey New Vanguard 9, by S. Zaloga.
13. “T-34 Mythical Weapon”, Armageddon/Airconnection, by R. Michulec & M. Zientarzewski.
14. “Modelling the T-34/76”, Osprey Modelling 33, by J. Alvear, M. Jimenez, M. Kirchoff & A. Wilder.

Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.

DML kits are available from retail and mail order shops. For more details, see their web site: www.dragon-models.com.

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- Frank V. De Sisto