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CYBERHOBBY/ DML
Product Specifications.
6388, T-34/76 STZ Mod.1942 ¡°2-in-1¡±. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 402 styrene parts (including five clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, two pieces of braided metal wire, one turned aluminum gun tube, one photo-etched brass fret, seven water-slide decal markings schemes and eight pages of instructions in 14 steps.
Introduction.
One of the more unusual T-34 derivatives was produced in the STZ factory. The main distinguishing feature of this variation was the welded turret, which featured a ¡°chiseled¡± armored sleeve over the gun tube and cut-outs on either side of the turret¡¯s chin area. Other less obvious features were the interlocking welds of the turret roof as well as a hull and superstructure that also featured interlocking welds. This particular version is the subject of this latest limited edition DML/Cyberhobby collaboration and follows the kit of the earlier 1941 version from the STZ factory.
Tracks.
These are the same new types first seen in the previous STZ kit and are very similar to other types included on other DML T-34-based kits. As stated in my previous review, the differences are extremely subtle and may escape a casual glance. Essentially, each bridge link has a new cleat pattern and a different type of opening for attaching the ice cleats. Each main link also has a different cleat pattern on its face, as well as openings for ice cleat mounting bolts; main links in other DML kits do not have this last feature. These are, of course, styrene individual link ¡°Magic Tracks¡±, which come in two bags ready for assembly. They fit together easily but must be fixed in place with glue; each part has two extremely 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 features the same new road-wheel swing-arms for all stations as seen in the previous Cyberhobby STZ kit. Likewise, the same set of ¡°all-steel¡± road-wheels is provided; these feature ten full ribs and ten perforations, plus ten partial ribs next to each of the openings. New idler wheels are also provided; these come with five full and five partial ribs, plus five circular and five tear-drop shaped perforations, and are also confirmed photographically in references. There are also new drive sprockets of a pattern that have ¡°U¡±-shaped stiffeners wrapped around each of the six perforations seen at the wheel rim.
Idler wheels with rubber rims and a more-or-less ¡°typical¡± type of drive sprocket are also in the box. By including these parts, DML/Cyberhobby gives the modeler more of a choice when it comes to replicating a particular tank.
Hull.
The hull pan may appear to be the typical one seen on every T-34-based DML kit, but it is not. It has been re-worked to include the staggered interlocking plate welds characteristic of this type; although this feature will not be readily visible on the complete model, it is nice to know it¡¯s there. The entire part 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. The separate ¡°cranked¡± idler wheel axle will allow the easy adjustment of the sag of the tracks, so the modeler is advised not to fix it in place until after satisfied with their appearance.
There is a separate lower bow plate that fits in a recess at the front end, while two different parts (one of which is new) can be used for the lower stern plate. The latter also features bulges for the final drive housing; the differences between them are the two types of tow hooks seen fixed to the respective plates. There are separate access plates for the belly, of two different styles; drain plugs, panel lines and recessed access plates complete the area.
Superstructure.
The entire assembly has been completely re-tooled to incorporate the plate interlocks and the attendant weld bead details. Unlike other DML T-34/76 kits, this one has the front plate incorporated on the superstructure molding. This new glacis plate also mounts the so-called ¡°hammerhead¡± tow shackles seen on the new lower stern plate, and has only one mount for a head-lamp, on the port side next to the driver¡¯s hatch lid. The latter assembly has a clear part for the lens and an optional etched brass mounting bracket. A nicely-detailed cast bow MG mount, with separate internal mantle and delicate machine-gun barrel are attached to the starboard side of the glacis plate, while a new multi-part hatch lid with some internal detail (including clear vision blocks) is provided for the driver¡¯s station.
Separate engine compartment cooling vent grills are given; these represent the later ¡°horizontal¡± bar pattern. The top deck hatch lid is separate and is still ill-fitting. 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 now has the interlocking plate configuration. It also features a separate rectangular transmission access hatch lid. New slide-molded exhaust pipes (parts A-6) are provided, with pre-opened bores. Mounted over these are delicately-rendered armored cowls. There are separate fillets for the areas where the main plates all come together.
The track-guards are molded on to the lower superstructure side plates and feature molded-on tie down loops at their edges; the rear mud-flaps are molded in place as are the curved front fenders. All of the tie-downs can be replaced with etched brass parts and there are also 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, any of four different styrene end loop styles, 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 now 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.
Turret.
One of the unique features of the later STZ T-34 was a welded turret that featured interlocking plates and accompanying weld seams; in addition, the cheeks of the turret were ¡°trimmed¡± away resulting in flat welded fillets in that area. Finally, the sleeve over the gun tube had what has been termed as a ¡°chiseled¡± front plate, which lacked the characteristic bend seen on other F-34-armed T-34s; two different gun shields are also given. This is provided for in this new kit and there are two variations that can be built, using two different roof plates and two different hatch lids; the difference being the style of hinges, the configuration of the bulges on the hatch lids, and the hinge type on the signal port lid. The turret¡¯s rear plate is also unique in that there are no bolts to allow it to be removed in the field to change the 76mm gun. The latter comes as a choice of slide-molded styrene or turned aluminum. Internally, there is a nice multi-part breech assembly, episcope details in etched brass and two suspended seats for the turret crew.
There are, in fact, a total of four complete F-34 gun tubes in this box. One is the original conventionally-molded two piece type, split longitudinally down the middle. Two others are slide-molded; finally, there is a turned aluminum item.
Aside from the new turret peculiar to this type, two others are included, both from the Model 1941 STZ kit. One is of the welded type with a full-width rear plate. A new roof plate with two different hatch lid styles 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 plate comes from the original kit and the fit will need attention.
The complete original turret from the Model 1940 kit is also provided. But, since some major parts are used for the turret described above, this is an ¡°either-or¡± situation; the modeler can only build two complete turrets. A check of references might turn up a combination of features that can be replicated by careful use of what DML and Cyberhobby provides in this box.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
With the odd exception (noted above), 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. The various new detail features provided in this special release are well-documented in the cited references. Much of this is, no doubt, due to the efforts of the kit¡¯s designers as well as ML¡¯s own Nick Cortese. If I were to raise a question, it would be in regards to the choice of road-wheel types, since I had hoped the all-steel wheels with the raised circles around the perforations would be provided in the kit. Chesapeake Model Designs markets this wheel type, so there is a readily available alternative. Likewise, various appliqu¨¦ armor panel arrays were fitted to the glacis plate of some of these STZ tanks, but none are provided in the box. These can be replicated using styrene sheet.
Instructions.
These are typical in that they are in the traditional line-drawing style. They are relatively clear, but ¡°busy¡±. There are also a number of sub-steps related to the various options provided in this kit. Modelers are advised to plan carefully before applying the glue. Colors are keyed to Gunze and Testors paints.
Decals and Markings Information.
Water-slide decals are given to mark a total of seven 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:
1. White 07/¡°For Stalin¡±, 5th Tank Army, 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO.
2. White triangle/14, unidentified unit, 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO.
3. White 32-37, unidentified unit, 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO.
4. White Balkenkreuz, unidentified German unit, 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO.
5. White stripe, unidentified unit, 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO.
6. White ¡°For the Motherland¡±, unidentified unit, 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO.
7. White §Ý2-§Ü§ã, unidentified unit (actually 130th Tank Brigade, according to references), 1942, overall Dark Green 4BO with bands of Dark Brown 6K.
I could find photos that confirmed schemes 1, 2 and 7, although there are errors and omissions in them. Number 1 should have a solid white star and number 7 needs one of several names and a solid red star to be complete. Number 1 also has appliqu¨¦ armor on the glacis plate; that item is not provided in the kit. The remaining markings schemes are unconfirmed using the cited references, below. The German Balkenkreuze national insignia, seen on the turret sides of the Beutepanzer (markings set 4) are generic enough as to not be an issue.
Conclusion.
Much like the previous Cyberhobby STZ kit, the variety of options in the box, ¡°official¡± or otherwise, should make this kit very appealing to fans of the Soviet T-34/76 medium tank. As this is a limited edition and is probably the more desirable of the two STZ kits from Cyberhobby, whoever wants one should move quickly to secure it.
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 and Cyberhobby. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
Cyberhobby kits are available from retail and mail order shops. For more details, see their web site: www.cyber-hobby.com.
