SOVIET MEDIUM TANK T-34/85 BEDSPRING ARMOR DRAGON 1/35

I got the hobby magazine prize in Hasegawa JMC 2007.

It is T-34/85 Russian middle tank. It is a type of avoiding German Panzer Faust to put the wire net on the side and the upper part of the tank in the end of the World War II. This time, I will finish it up in the winter camouflage and attached some figures.
（2007/07/16）

Assemble completed the lower body. When I assembled the none-movable caterpillar last time, I tried to join all of the parts at the same time but it was not so good work. This time I connected these parts divided by 5 areas and fit them to the lower body little by little and it worked well.
Finished caterpillar form was better than the last one. However, it was difficult to adjust the length because T-34 caterpillar is a pair of two kinds of parts.

A lot of photo-etched parts were attached. In addition, I had to cut the front fender and pasting some parts, it takes much time. I expressed the damage, bending the fender a little.
(2007/07/18)

Almost assemble completed. After I almost completed painting, the wire nets were assembled. The metal barrel surface was lightly textured by the sandpaper and improved paint sticking. Inside the engine grill was painted in black in advance, before I covered it.
(2007/07/21)

I shaved and thinned the edge of the exhaust muffler. There were a lot of photo-etched parts. The location of the wire parts was roughly decided. This time, each hatch is a close state. Because I have a plan to place the infantrymen behind the turret in combat.

To emphasize the texture of of casting turret, its surface had been ruined with the putty.

I paid attention to set up the wire net running parallel with the armor, unless the wire net will be twisted.

In case of setting the bed spring armor, there’s no space to attach many OVMs and fuel tanks, tool boxes. Still, I installed the saw and the tool box. headlights clear parts are installed at the end.
(2007/07/21)

Work did not make progress because I had a business trip to Korea. At last, I set up the figure and I had not given them their weapon yet. I was going to put three figures on the back of the turret, but there was only space for two figures. However, because it is the inclination armor and the turret was also large, infantry might not have gotten on this T34 easily. This figure joined the resin head to the body of the Tamiya kit. I chose the serious face in combat.

Basic painting end. I don’t understand the effective method for winter camouflage. I painted this tank in dark green. I changed the contrast to spray dark green, khaki green, olive drab, etc. Let’s paint white with the brush.

After painting in white, as shown in the photo. This photo is more natural than the bellow one, but at that time I felt it was too dirty, so the final painting was as shown in the following photo.
（2007/08/08）

I will do the chipping in the dark green and white, washing lightly to complete painting. The number of bodies and the stars were handwritten. Many Russian tanks marking were handwritten in front lines which was simple and rough. I have to attach an essential wire net.
Natural winter camouflage was very difficult to accommodate weathering.
（2007/08/10）

T-34 is a representative Russian tank which had an important role of the Eastern Front in WWII. They battled with German tanks from the beginning of Barbarossa Operation to the Berlin battle.
T-34/85 was strengthened arms from T-34/76 type that the turret shape enlarged.
However, T-34s were divided more variations in detail.
I got the hobby magazine prize in Hasegawa JMC 2007.
It’s more realistic to board infantry figures. It’s next time goal. I went to the JMC Tokyo hall. All works of Master Class were wonderful.

This kit includes the wire net photo-etched parts of avoiding Panzer Faust, and you can reproduce the appearance of this bed spring armor easily. (I was saying easily, but difficult for me…)

I challenged the winter camouflage the first time. At first, I painted the base color dark green and blew in white, after that drybrushing and chipping, etc. A turret number and a red stars were handwritten as the tank crew’s writing on the front line.

The winter painting remains on the lower chassis. I tried to on board 2 tank desants, but after attaching the wire net on the engine cover, there’s no space. There’s no figure this time because all the hatched were shut under the combat situation. These figures under working will have a chance to board on the other vehicle.

I painted this tank in the image of early spring rather than the midwinter. I balanced base dark green, winter white and mud dirt around the foot. I assumed to express rust a lot in humid season. Placed rusting where the camouflage started peeling off on the upper part of the body.

Placed rusting where the camouflage started peeling off on the upper part of the body.

It is necessary to complete painting to some degree before attachment of the photo-etched parts. The brush doesn’t reach under the net after installing these wire nets. I repeated the same work twice.

T-34 covered with the whole body wire net is eccentric and interesting.

This kit assemble was straight from the box, but I had to cut and paste some parts in addition there were many photo-etched parts. It is quite interesting to paint winter camouflage, it’s my first time. I want to try the painting of the North African vehicle next time.
（2007/08/17）