CYBERHOBBY
Product Specifications.
6452, T-34/76 No.112 Factory Krasnoe Sormovo Early Production, 3-in-1. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 571 styrene parts (including four clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, one piece of braided metal wire, one turned aluminum gun tube, one photo-etched brass fret, two water-slide decal markings schemes (plus generics) and six pages of instructions in 13 steps.
This angled rear view shows the major difference between this version of the T-34/76 and others: the rear plate and transmission access hatch lid, and the engine air intake grill housing.
Introduction.
Typical of any widely-produced AFV, there were many sub-variants of the legendary Soviet T-34 medium tank. Normally powered by the V-2 diesel engine, several hundred were also powered by the M-17 gasoline-fueled aircraft engine. Factory 112, “Krasnoe Sormovo” located at Gorky, built 173 such tanks in 1941 and a further 465 in 1942. This latest release from Cyberhobby allows the modeler to produce a model of either the M-17 version or the V-2 version, with additional parts included to create a sub-variant of the M-17 type.
The main assemblies in place. It should be noted that many parts have not been fixed in place with cement, so gaps will be noted by the sharp-eyed; these will be rectified during final assembly.
Tracks.
Two complete sets of tracks are provided in the box. One set is the 550mm-wide stamped type seen on the first T-34s. These are styrene individual link types and are attached to sprues in the conventional manner; this means a bit of cutting and trimming will be the order of the day. They fit together easily but must be fixed in place with glue; each part has two 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.
The second set is provided as Magic Tracks in two bags. These represent a typical 550mm-wide cast type. While no trimming of sprue attachment points is required, these links also have subtle ejector pin marks that the modeler will have to deal with. Likewise, these fit together easily but must be fixed in place with glue.
The two pairs of links at left are the stamped 550mm-wide types, while those at right are the cast 550mm-wide types.
Suspension System.
The suspension system features separate road-wheel swing-arms for all stations, as well as Christie-type coil springs and housings for inside the hull. Separate cranked idler wheel axles are also provided; these should not be fixed in place until the track sag and fit has been properly achieved. The road-wheels are the dished type with rubber rims of the type with small perforations along the side-wall. All-steel idler wheels and a more-or-less typical type of drive sprocket complete the suspension system. An early style idler wheel with rubber rim is provided and can be used if appropriate for the tank being modeled.
Hull.
The hull pan is typical for every T-34-based DML kit. It 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. A separate circular access plate unique to this version is supplied as is a second smaller plate, which was seen on all versions; both are attached to the belly plate towards the stern. Molded-on drain plugs, panel lines and recessed access plates complete the area.
There is a separate lower bow plate that fits in a recess at the front end; the same applies for the lower stern plate. The latter also features bulges for the final drive housing and tow hooks that are unique to this version.
Superstructure.
The entire assembly is based on that seen in the first early T-34 from DML, the Model 1940 kit. It features a separate glacis plate of the type with interlocking welds; it is embellished with tow hooks unique to this version and a single head-lamp. 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 multi-part hatch lid with some internal detail, clear parts for the vision blocks and separate positionable covers is provided for the driver’s station.
Separate engine compartment cooling vent grills with the horizontal pattern are given, while the access hatch lid has been re-tooled and now fits the opening extremely well. There are two included due to the sprue layout, so the extra one will come in handy to upgrade any previous T-34/76 kit the modeler may have in the stash. 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. There are also three of these provided, two of which are variations for the M-17 engine; the other is for tanks with the V-2 engine. Other etched brass details include the various clasps seen around the aforementioned access lids as well as an all-styrene or all-brass tail-lamp assembly.
Seen here are the variations provided for the rear plate and air intake housings. Note that both opened (for use with etched brass screens) and closed types are given.
The new superstructure stern plate has the typical mounting bolt pattern and features a separate circular transmission access hatch lid, unique to tanks produced at Factory 112. Slide-molded exhaust pipes (parts A-6) are provided, with pre-opened bores. Mounted over these are new 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 (there are optional etched brass replacements in the box). The rear mud-flaps are molded in place and there are optional etched brass replacements for them. The front mud-flaps are the type with a rounded end and are also separate parts. Many of the tie-downs feature separate 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 track-guard, while a tow cable can be replicated using the provided braided metal wire, styrene end loops (in several 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.
The superstructure side plates have mounting points molded in place for the rectangular fuel cells. These must be removed, but the instructions don’t say to do so. However, the drawings do indeed show them to have been deleted; you’ve been warned. Many extra detail parts are provided for the superstructure. These include hand-rails for Desant infantry and various deflector strips for the armor plates.
There are a total of six early rectangular-style external fuel cells provided in the box; these also feature optional etched brass or styrene mounting brackets and hooks. In addition, a set of cylindrical fuel cells is also provided, with mounting brackets. All are marked as not for use, so they can be used to enhance other kits where necessary; otherwise, the spare parts bin will get another “feeding”.
Turret.
This is of the cast type with a separate recessed rear plate. It appears to be a typical Factory 112 type as produced in 1941. The main shell is created using a slide-mold and it has a very nicely-rendered cast texture, as well as fine weld bead details around the area of the episcope housings. Separate pistol port plugs are also provided. There should quite probably be some casting numbers on one (or both) of the turret sides, but none are seen; these should be easy to add. The rear plate is held in place by six bolts. Four grab handles are provided for the turret sides. The roof plate comes with a choice of two hatch lids. Two different separate dome vents are given; if using the one with four openings around the rim, the mount on the turret roof part needs to be modified so the vent touches the roof. If using the plain dome vent, do not modify the mount. Periscope cover options (opened or closed, etched brass or styrene) and etched or styrene details for various points on the turret assembly are also included. The front mounts a multi-part external mantle to which can be attached a turned-aluminum or slide-molded styrene gun tube. Internally, there is a nice multi-part breech assembly, episcope details in etched brass and two suspended seats for the turret crew.
The cast turret has internal details for the gun breech as well as a pair of seats. Note the mantle (new for this kit) as well as one variation of the hatch lid and the turned aluminum gun tube.
The welded turret from the Model 1940 kit is also provided. Swapping hatch lids will allow for more variety if references confirm that fitting on the particular vehicle the modeler wishes to construct. It should be noted that the parts will allow for the construction of one or the other, not both. Again, the spare parts bin will be happy!
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
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. When fitting the superstructure part to the hull, some attention in the areas of the track-guards will be needed for a tight fit. Super glue and a few moments of manual clamping will do the trick.
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.
Instructions.
These are in the usual very busy line drawing style. If the modeler is a fan of DML he will already know that there are often pitfalls; I have already mentioned a minor one. The lesson? Proceed with caution and don’t take anything for granted. Colors are keyed to Gunze and Testors paints.
Decals and Markings Information.
The decal sheet, etched brass fret and wound metal wire for the tow cable are shown. Note the different styles of Tac numbers as well as the slogans.
Water-slide decals are given to mark a total of two specific vehicles; generic Tac numbers in three styles are also provided, all in white. These high-quality decals 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. All vehicles are finished overall in Dark Green Shade 4BO.
Conclusion.
This kit exhibits no major flaws; its features match information in the cited references quite well. The parts in the box will allow the modeler to produce a unique (albeit relatively rare) version of this most famous of Soviet tanks of the Great Patriotic War. This, in a nutshell, is Cyberhobby’s mandate and also the reason this kit will only have limited availability. So, if the modeler has to have one, now is the time.
Highly recommended.
Frank V. Curly 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; 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, Vol.IV; Wydawnictwo Militaria 269, by S. Kirsanow.
13. T-34/76 Medium Tank 1941-45; Osprey New Vanguard 9, by S. Zaloga.
14. T-34 Mythical Weapon; Armageddon/Airconnection, by R. Michulec & M. Zientarzewski.
15. 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 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 limited edition kits are available direct from the manufacturer. For details see their web site at: www.cyber-hobby.com.
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