T-34/85 Dragon

[barrythornton]

After the longest ever dormant period , i had a look through all the stuff I`d forgotten I`d bought.
The man cave has had a makeover.
Built a Mk2 Extractor booth.
So, its time to spill some glue and squirt some paint. I`ll start with this T34 as its been so long I need to practice.
And you can hide a lot of mistakes on a scruffy Russian

[digger303]

Go gO Go

[TheNordus]

Definitely looking forward to this one. Had a chance to pick one up a year ago but I never did because the kit itself didn't come with photo etch.

[barrythornton]

Its not a kit that `needs` a ton of etch really, I just got the minimum set for the rear deck grills. All the straps you can do with foil and the wires are wire and the grab handles are wire......so get some wire

[barrythornton]

You will need divine intervention when it comes to the tracks. Aftermarket recommended.

[digger303]

I was looking at a review bu Cookie Sewel and he had this to say which I quite liked.

''Most of them are the "minor" difference items that make it an early production model. These include the rounded T-34 type fenders rather than the more familiar rectangular ones from the other kit; it also comes with a two-piece turret hatch for the commander, a different cupola design, and the 1943 production "spider" wheels with "cheater" holes in the rims (used to cut down on the amount of rubber used) and only six holes in the wheel center and doubled webs, vice the single webs, solid tires and 12 holes found in the previous kit. I could have hoped for some more parts, like the rhombic shaped mantelet for the S-53 gun (predecessor of the full production ZIS-S-53 gun more commonly found in T-34-85 tanks) and the smooth pressed steel engine radiator exhaust louver grille cover, but the model is dead accurate as is so I really have no complaints. ''

I have a couple of the other t-34-85 kits both before and after this one of yours. One I have has a metal barrel but the fit between the mantlet and barrel is bad. So it was good to read this nice bit about yours that it was dead accurate with the nice looking wheels. So I am dead keen on this build of yours

[barrythornton]

Thanks for the interest .........I chop and change what I`m working on, so as not to suffer `burn out`, as bench time is rare.
Trying to clean up and put a few runs of track links together in between other things, so it doesnt kill the buzz of the whole model.
I have a real one I can go and pet quite close by in Manchester (War museum North)
I dont want to go too nuts and bolts on this (its a kit that doesnt need it), as I havent built ANYTHING for the longest time. Just easing back in.
I`m all researching and no building

[barrythornton]

Not much to see ... mostly dry fitting, done a couple of bits to upper hull and turret.
mainly sorting wheels and having a practice with primer. (Stynylrez / Ultimate)




Gotta say this stuff is good ..real good
Just testing brush and compressor settings for later on, but I did hold the paint for a second too long, and it really pooled.
(rookie mistake)
No biggie, thats why I sprayed running gear and bottom of the hull after all. So I walked away.
Had a coffee and came back to dry primer ... and it had completely levelled, just leaving this small tidemark.


RESULT

[barrythornton]

Still tinkering with the hull and adding bits of detail.
Enlarged the MG sight with a drill, added extra texture to MG armour and replaced barrel with stainless tube.


Dragons Russian texture is fine, so I just used Tamiya ET stippled until `just` sticky


Cut the fenders off (Front to be replaced with kit alternatives .... rear ..Brass sheet)
Did the wiring for the search lamp
Shaved off the molded on straps for the fuel drums.
Replaced grab handles and beat them up.


Put a couple of shims to support the positioning of the front fenders ..not a lot to glue to, so these will hold the part till set and then be removed.



Foiled the search lamp