Cyber Hobby T-34/85 with Thoma shields

[MarkVerploeg]

Hi guys
This will be a build thread on the T-34/85 i started this week
The kit is the Cyber Hobby Value pack T-34/85
So basicly a old Dragon T-34 in a newer box and with some Soviet tank riders
Because this is a pretty basic kit i decided to get some upgrades for it but i will show those a bit later on in this post
First a look at the kit

20180807_230911 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The box with pretty plain box art


20180807_231151 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Hull tub


20180807_231209 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Upper hull


20180807_231215 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Turret parts


20180807_231223 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Fuel tanks and suspension parts


20180807_231237 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Engine deck parts


20180807_231246 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Wheels


20180807_231256 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Various parts


20180807_231311 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Tracks
Not going to use those


20180807_231504 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Decals


20180807_231434 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The figures
6 of them in total


20180807_231514 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Friul tracks to replace the kit tracks


20180807_231351 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The other upgrades
I will be using a Aber basic pe set , antenna , gunbarrel and Thoma shield pe set
For those who don't know them Thoma shields are the Soviet equivilant of the German mesh Schürtzen like you could see on the Panzer IV Ausf. J
In some cases even taken from knocked out or abandonned Panzers but just like the bedspring armor a field modification
And a Blast stowage set
I don't know what and how much of this i will use as it all comes down to the shields and figures and how much room they need

So that is it for thw intro of this build
Next time i will show the basic tank with some of the pe on it
I allready have the build that far and i am currently working on the Thoma shields but they are proving to be quite time consuming

Thanks for stopping by
Take care
Cheers
Mark

[Stokesy44]

I reckon a master work is in progress here. I built their assault gun version of the T34 and it was great except for the individual track links, well done for getting replacements. All that aftermarket stuff should look amazing too.

Cant wait to see this come together mate

[MarkVerploeg]

Thank you very much Stokesy
I didn't use a whole lot from the basic pe set as most where internal parts (didn't need them)
The barrel and antenna do add a bit but the Thoma shields are proving to take up a lot of time with bending all those fairly small parts
I will be putting this on hold for a bit as i need to finish 2 other builds as those have deadlines
1 ends this month ,the other has a bit longer but i forgot the deadline
But it shouldn't take that long i think and i can still show the construction of the tank and thw start i made on the shields

[MarkVerploeg]

Hi guys
Well i think it is time for a little update
The T-34/85 is getting painted at the moment so it is about time i show the construction of this rather busy tank


20180807_235707 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
As with most tanks it starts with the wheels


20180808_000431 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the boxes for the suspension where glued in the hull


20180808_001207 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The swing arms where next


20180808_001909 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The lower rear plate aas added


20180808_002934 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the upper hull was put in place and the various air intakes
Where glued in


20180808_010048 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The front details where added


20180808_014006 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Some side details


20180808_014009 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The exhausts where next


20180808_014012 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The spare fuel tanks


20180808_194828 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Some more small bits on the other side


20180808_194831 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the basic turret parts where glued together


20180808_200958 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
All the small bits where added


20180808_203032 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The antenna was put together


20180808_203034 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the basic construction was done
I left it like this as all that will be added now will be photo etch parts


20180808_224651 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
A testfit of the tank riders
At this point i was having doubts about the guy standing on the toolbox on the fender
The brackets for the Thoma shields need to go around there aswell
Later on i was proven right about that


20180809_115319 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The PE was added
Not too much as most was for internal parts of the tank and because i will be putting all those figures and some stowage on there it will be inpossible to show any internal bits


20180809_115327 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
On the other side of the hull


20180810_090328 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the real fun began
Building the Thoma shields
I started with bending all the hooks and brackets for the shields


20180810_090331 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The reinforcement bars on the edges where placed
A very good way to spill glue on the cutting mat and glue these things to the mat


20180810_090333 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
All the brackets and spacers


20180811_000301 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
That is one shield done


20180814_221228 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
All of them are done except for the parts that go on the outside of the shields


20180814_221542 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the 2 turret shields where made and glued to the turret
They do prevent the turret from moving more then 45 degrees to eiteher the left or right but i don't plan on putting the turret on there facing to the side
A slight agle at the most will give a more dynamic look


20180815_012129 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the bracket or supports for the shields where added


20180815_012133 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
A look from the front shows the front part of the supports are bend inwards a bit


20180815_012624 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
A testfit with all the shields installed


20180815_013129 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Some of the stowage was added


20180815_013133 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
And some stowage on the other side


20180815_015029 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The figures where test fitted again including a commander from the spares box


20180815_015036 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20180815_015040 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20180815_015045 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20180815_015050 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20180815_015055 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20180815_015100 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
A little tour around the tank

And then i prepared all the parts for painting
Wich by now is started as the base color is on the tank at the moment
But i did notice one slight little problem in the photo's
I closed all the vision ports for the driver
He can look either through 2 small periscopes in the hatch or through the open hatch
So i need to adress that before i move any further
But that is all i have for now

Thanks for stopping by and having a look
Take care
Cheers
Mark

[digger303]

WOW Mark your not messing around, with all those upgrades they should have just given you the kit.
Lovely just lovely...

[Gary30]

This is going to look awesome once you shoot some paint at it!

I'm thinking of a T-34 for my next armour build so I'll be following closely.

The commander is looking like he's left his sun screen at home compared to the others

[Kevthemodeller]

This is going to look awesome once you shoot some paint at it!

I'm thinking of a T-34 for my next armour build so I'll be following closely.

The commander is looking like he's left his sun screen at home compared to the others

I totally agree and I'm closely following this one too Mark no pressure mate

I've got a couple of T34's in my stash, I'm going to build a few more planes first but my next armour build I think will be a T34.

[MarkVerploeg]

WOW Mark your not messing around, with all those upgrades they should have just given you the kit.
Lovely just lovely...

Thank you very much Digger
The kit by itself is very basic though ,a bit of work can make it look better but adding some upgrades is even better to improve it
Atleast that is what i think but i bought it with that in mind

This is going to look awesome once you shoot some paint at it!

I'm thinking of a T-34 for my next armour build so I'll be following closely.

The commander is looking like he's left his sun screen at home compared to the others

Thank you very much Gary
You can do a lot with a T-34 as there where lots of them ,like Shermans really
The commander came from my figure box so those are all either just build ,partially painted or finished and used on a diorama at some point
I was going to use it on a KV-2 once but that fell from the bench and it cracked the hull
It was beyond repair so i only kept the figures

This is going to look awesome once you shoot some paint at it!

I'm thinking of a T-34 for my next armour build so I'll be following closely.

The commander is looking like he's left his sun screen at home compared to the others

I totally agree and I'm closely following this one too Mark no pressure mate

I've got a couple of T34's in my stash, I'm going to build a few more planes first but my next armour build I think will be a T34.

thank you very much Kev
They are pretty cool tanks to build
Lots of diorama potential as many had some field modification or another
And they aren't as big as most German tanks i have in the stash
Besides that their origin gives a chance to ise a different color then dark yellow for a change

[MarkVerploeg]

Hi guys
Just a mini update again but atleast it will show my plan for this build
I will be adding a bunch of German troops aswell but they will be in the sewer below the street where the T-34/85 is driving


20180818_090617 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
So these guys will be joining the scene
I think they can add another layer to the build as they have several poses
1 is wounded and being helped by a medic to get away
Some are walking
1 guy is climbing ,so i can have him climbing down the ladder of the sewer and 1 is waiting
He can be the officer waiting untill every other soldier is moving

The idea came from a diorama made by Greg Cihlar
He is a American modeller who was published several times by Verlinden in the early 2000's
So the next 2 pics are of his work but it shows the idea of the scene that i am going for
All be it that i will have the Soviets in the street and the Germans "down the drain" instead of the other way around as he did it

20180818_092100 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20180818_092112 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
So this should give a idea of what i am going for
My plan is to scratch build most of it as i don't have any house kits anymore but stuff like a building and the brickwork in the sewer should be fairly easy to do and i have most of the stuff that i would need for it allready

This should make for quite an in depth build as i started with some figures and a tank with some upgrades
By now the plan turned in to a multi layered diorama
But i think the idea of having multiple layers is pretty cool and besides that by posting this i (and you guys) can actually see the build evolving sort of speak

So that is it for now
I am off to prime the figures and do a little bit of painting today
But i should be able do quite a bit in the following days in terms of painting and maybe a bit of weathering on this tank and my other builds

Take care
Cheers
Mark

[digger303]

Cool !!

[MarkVerploeg]

Cool !!

Thanks
But this is just the idea
I never tried to make a multi layered diorama so things could go horribly wrong
But i am still looking forward to that challenge
I just need to finish my T-10 first as that GB ends this month

[MarkVerploeg]

Hi guys
I think it is about time i post an update on this build as i am getting close to finishing it
Then again i am falling behind with all my buildthreads
So here is what happened since the last update


20181116_221536 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I started with a basecoat of H303


20181116_232340 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then some flat brown (vallejo modelcolor) as a basecolor for the stowage


20181116_233013 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then i used vallejo's panzer aces canvas wich is drybrushed in layers to get a varying coverage of the color


20181116_235444 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
And finally some vallejo camo beige brown as a highlight color


20181117_000229 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The same was done to the other pieces of stowage


20181117_004522 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then some more basecolors
I used Ammo shadow rust on the exhausts and spare track links
For the bare metal of the idlers and sprocket wheels i used mr metalcolor dark iron


20181117_004529 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
To get a slightly different shade i used mr metal color iron on the mesh screens


20181117_010403 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then some Ammo medium rust to add a bit of extra color to the spare track links


20181120_115039 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
After a coat of Aqua gloss i applied some of the decals
I just picked the ones that would fit on the turret as the brackets of the screens limit the amount of room i have on the sides of the turret
So i didn't really pay any attention to the accuracy of it
The few photo's i found of real life T-34/85's with these screens don't really show any markings on the tank so i just picked what i thought would look good and what would fit
It may be a bit hard to see but i also added chipping with vallejo modelcolor german camo black brown (also a nicr color for chipping on german yellow vehicles)


20181120_115441 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
After that a second coat of Aqua gloss



20181203_142828 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The next step was to spray 2 coats of Ultimate winter wash
Taking about 30 minutes between the layers to give it some time to dry


20181203_142831 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The wheels where given the same winter wash


20181204_025359 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I then started to wear down the winterwash with a couple of dry brushed


20181204_093338 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
After a while i decided to remove the screens on the turret and i also decided to make the winterwash look very worn
The hull is still as worn as i showed in the previous photo
The turret is as worn as i want the tank to look


20181204_093341 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
This shows the wear and tear a bit better
The really fine dusty bits will dissapear later on when the new layer of Aqua gloss is applied (the wash disolves in the Aqua gloss)


20181204_102145 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then i decided to put things together for a while to figure out how it will look in the end and if i wanted to add or remove anything
I then decided to add a pair of camo nets to cover some parts that i didn't like as much like the ice cleats and the headlight wich doesn't have a clear part for the lens


20181206_002741 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
This is how it looks after the new coat of Aqua gloss
Most of the dusty remains of the winter wash are now gone as it disolves in the aqua gloss
I will be adding that effect again though as i like it
I also added the wash ,i picked Mig prod. brown wash for this



20181207_002005 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
After the wash i added some streaking effects with AK streaking effects for dark yellow vehicles (dark brown color)


20181207_002018 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The weathering on the rear


20181207_002036 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
A close up of the weathering on the front


20181207_002048 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
It is a bit hard to see as the results are quite subtile but i used some oilpaints to add additional coloring to the tank
I used a light green on the green parts and titanium white on the winter washed bits
Just to brighten up or intensifying some bits where i removed a bit more winter wash then i wanted
By dragging some of the white oilpaints downwards it also gives the idea a this residue of the winter wash is left on the surface


20181207_005655 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The work so far
At this point the figures are about half way done and the tank is almost done


20181208_001958 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I then gave a bit more color to the Verlinden camo nets
They had a straw like color with was to light and didn't really match the look of the tank
So i used some thinned vallejo german field grey to add a darker color and then lightly drybrushed it with a light shade


20181208_002004 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the spare track links and exhausts where finished
I first covered it with a light coat of Mig prod. rust wash
Once that was dry i really lightly brushed some Mig productions russian earth on the tracks to get the final look


20181208_002018 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Using a big solid graphite pencil (9b) i added some bare metal effects


20181208_003053 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I then added some dust to the lower half of the tank
I picked Mig prod. Rubble dust wich is a lighter shade of brown


20181208_003059 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The finished rear plate and exhausts


20181208_211257 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The next step was to add a bit of fuelstains
I decided to only add a couple of streaks on the external fuel tanks


20181208_213436 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then i moved back to the figures as the tank (except the tracks) is now done


20181208_235803 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181208_235814 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181208_235831 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181208_235842 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181208_235847 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181208_235854 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
The finished figures


20181209_000429 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I then fixed the figures on the tank

And that is where this build is at ,at the moment
The only thing that is left are the tracks
I have cleaned the Friul tracks but they are still drying
Once that is done i will use some burnishing liquid to finish them and then assemble them

So that is all i have for now
Take care
Cheers
Mark

[Kevthemodeller]

I'm so glad you picked this one up again it's all looking great Mark

The stowage, figures and weathering are superb mate

[MarkVerploeg]

Thank you very much Kev
I managed to finish it last night
But i am having doubts about the diorama idea i had at first
I think it would take up quite a lot of space and when i look at the stash and the builds that i want to start soon i think it would get in the way
One of them is a Takom King Tiger where i want to add a modified crew so they can be on the inside of the tank like they normally would be
A KT takes up about half a shelf in my display cabinets and so would a diorama (or even more space)
So i think i will scrap the diorama idea all together and focus on building vehicles,planes and figures instead

[aur0ra145]

Dude, that's awesome!

[MarkVerploeg]

Dude, that's awesome!

Thank you very much

[MarkVerploeg]

Hi guys
Well time to wrap this up
All that was left where the tracks so it will be a short update


20181211_232211 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I had very little work with the tracks as they where quite clean allready but i did gave them a quick washing to make sure the paint would stick
They where then painted black and drybrushed with a steel color on the parts that make contact with the idlers and sprockets


20181211_232810 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
I then dusted the outsides with the same "rubble dust" pigments and sanded the raised parts with a piece of sandpaper

I do suggest you use sandpaper if you do this
Most Friultracks have sharp edges (like tracks with ice cleats) and they will ruin your sanders


20181211_233702 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
After the tracks where fitted i dusted the inside


20181211_233711 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
A look at the front shows the sanded parts a bit better


20181211_234621 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Then the shields where placed
And i called it finished


20181211_234913 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234917 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234926 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234930 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234939 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234942 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234944 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE

20181211_234950 by Mark Verploeg - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Some inside shots of the finished tank

In the end i decided not to build a diorama for it
The idea i had would become higher then the shelves in my display cabinets and i have the feeling the tank by itself is quite intresting
A diorama would have a lot to distract from that
So i scrapped the idea alltogether

Thanks for stopping by and having a look
Take care
Cheers
Mark

[digger303]

[SEBa111]

Dude It looks awesome! And I see It almost rigth before starting a T-34 paint process. I can say I will take more than a few ideas from here

[MarkVerploeg]

Thank you very much Digger

Dude It looks awesome! And I see It almost rigth before starting a T-34 paint process. I can say I will take more than a few ideas from here

thank you very much
Good luck with your T-34