T-34/85 |
AFV Club, 1/35 scale |
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by Steve Zaloga |
![](../../images/olivedot.gif)
![](../../images/34d.jpg)
![](../../images/adhbanner_005.jpg)
Description
AFV Club has been releasing a series of "visible" T-34 with full interiors and clear hulls and turrets. This is an intriguing idea, but on looking over the kit, I wasn't sure that the resulting model would be particularly convincing or appealing. There is so much stuff along the T-34-85 interior sides that much of the interior would remain hidden. The rear engine deck comes in opaque grey plastic which leaves the engine area almost invisible.
![](../../images/34c.jpg)
I had been thinking about ways to display models with interiors, and came up with the idea of slicing the model open along the center-line. This was partly inspired by the "cut-away" Centurion at the Tank Museum at Bovington.
![](../../images/34a.jpg)
I decided against sawing the model dead center, as this creates all sorts of problems with the gun, engine, etc. Instead, I sawed it off center, using the edge of the gun mantlet as the aiming point. The advantage of this approach is that the gun assembly and engine remain mostly intact.
![](../../images/34b.jpg)
The kit shows here is mostly out of the box with the obvious exception of the chopping. I used the excellent Hussar truned brass 85mm ammo, and the tank crewman is from Alpine with a Hornet head. Overall, a fun project which results in a very interesting display model.
Model, Images and Text
by Steve Zaloga
Page Created 9 January, 2009
Page Last Updated
9 January, 2010
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