Anyone started working on their Trumpeter T34 yet? Mine’s on the way, and it’s going to be awfully tempting to start it up once it arrives. Any experiences to relate? How long is it taking to build up?
I don’t have one, but it sure looked mighty impressive. I saw one at my LHS. Personally, I wouldn’t know where to put it.
Hi, Larry and T-man!
I’ve started cleaning up the tracks a bit. There’s a pesky bit of unneeded plastic at the tip of each track horn (bell?) that needs to be removed. No trouble, just a lot of 'em!
I almost began to clean up the mold parting lines on the sides of each link, but then thought about how rough WWII Russian armor was…I checked some ref pix, and sure enough, the same mold lines are on the real links! So don’t sand 'em off…they belong there!
That extra bit of remaining sprue at the tip of each track horn (bell?) has gotta go, though.
I’ve got it and am straining at the bit to start, trying to hold off. So many unfinished builds.
Being that I was such an easy mark to be talked into the purchase, I’m sure a group build would be too much for a sod like me to resist.[;)]
J-Hulk,
How sweet was that little click when you put two links together ! I was just playing around and put six together in about ten seconds.
Larry,
The large scale definetly makes some things a little easier. More detail to see and paint. Might have to look into Tamiya XF-62 in five gallon pails!
Someone had an in progress link from some other site - I couldn’t find it
Brian, thanks for the advice. You going to write something up for FSM? [:p] With that in mind, I may actually wait until the build-up review is in FSM, as I find those reviews with all the pitfalls laid out to be hugely helpful.
Ausf, I know what you mean about getting the builds done before starting new ones. So true, yet so difficult.
The tracks snap together? Now that’s convenient. Are you doing a group build? Brian are you doing a review for FSM?
I haven’t bought this kit, and somehow I don’t think I will. The damn thing is so huge, I really wouldn’t know where to display it. But I saw a builtup one (allready) at my LHS. It really is a huge, sweet beast.
Larry, I’m still working on the dio for the towed gun GB. I just want to start something new, but I’m so lazy to finish this one [:0]
Yup, the trax snap together (firmly so), and it is indeed a beautiful sound! Link trax have NEVER been so easy.
No, T-man, I’m not doing a review.
YET![;)]
Only gripe so far is that the large green pieces seem to be a
fairly soft plastic that is hard for me to “true up” when sanding /
dry-fitting,etc.Fit of the hull,large panels,hatches,is O.K. but
not up to Tamiya standards…I’m probably spoiled in this
regard, but nothing so far has caused any problems&
hey, the real thing wasn’t a precision item anyhow!!!
What a novel idea of snap tracks. That would be nice if they became standard in other kits as well. Is that the only Trumpeter kit to have those?
WWII Productions treads have been snap together from the start – and they are 1/35th scale.
Dragon’s are definetly “snap” together too. ( to some degree)
With the bigger scale -you have much better fit. The little pins that hold them in place are much bigger - better holding.
You definetly get a “snap” not a “smoosh”
You’ll see [:p][:p]
How is the kit laid out? Since it’s got a complete interior, does the upper hull lift clean so you can show off the insides? Or do open hatches and so on have to do a lot of the work for you? What I mean is, is the kit set up so that the upper hull is detachable on purpose for display?
Does the turret ring have Tamiya-esque notches, or is it a clean circle?
Gonna make my T-34/85 full op. when it comes out. Go against my bro’s King Tiger. no chance for me at least. [xx(]
[:D]
Here’s a comparison of the hull sizes, compared to Tamiya’s M4 and Tiger I:
It looks like a bit of work to make it fit, love to see it done though, keep us posted.
Dunno, tankbuild. In the Tiger II’s first action on the eastern front, they were ambushed by a single T34/85 commanded by a Lt. Oskin, which destroyed three or four of the lumbering beasts! And got away clean!
Go T34!
One of our main “Workbench Review” builders is currently working on this kit for us.
His expaned review will appear as an “FSM Builds” feature in our November jumbo issue.
Keep an eye out for it!
Matt Usher @ FSM
EGGzellent! So I may just drool over the kit when I get it (which, I realize, is a disturbing image), and wait for the article.
Funny, because you said ambushed, and one had to get 500 meters up to the beast to do some damage vs. 2 kilometers with the tiger 2. [:0]