T-34/76 1943 Friuls?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hi there

I know there is a T-34 expert on here somewhere who knows this one… i’m building the Dragon T-34/76 Krasnoe Sormovo Factory 112 Late Production kit and the tank i’m doing is from 1943. At some point i know the tracks changed sizes so do i order the T34/76 or the T34/85 Friuls? The “Magic Tracks” that came with the kit are about 14.5mm across if that helps at all.

thanks!

andy

2

IIRC correctly, the track witdth changed around the 1941/42 time period. And there were two or three different patterns as well.

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thanks stikpusher. would it be safe to assume the /85 tracks would be the correct width for the later /76? i’m not as concerned about correct waffle pattern as i am about the width fit.

thanks!

andy

4

The 500mm wide tracks first appeared in 1942. So those would be correct for a later war T-34 either 76 or 85.

5

Andy, work carefully with the links. They are relatively thin. Of all the Friuls I’ve used so far, the T-34’s were the most difficult only because they seems to bend more easily. But that may have something to do with the big sausage fingers working them too[whstl] . Even if you drill out the holes for the link pins still be careful when inserting the wire. If it goes off course it will poke through at an odd angle somewhat easily. Next time I think I would use a stiff pin than the wire that come with the set. Tony, aka Pvt Mutt, uses a pin that I can’t remember the name of but he is always around to ask.

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stikpusher, the descrip of the kit at a review site said the tracks are the 550mm “waffle” pattern. i ordered the t-34/85 friuls so i HOPE those are correct. I’ll compare with the magic tracks when they arrive. thanks for the reply.

thanks for the heads up wingnut. i’m going to build the “smart” tracks and the friuls so i can make an educated decision about which i like best. i know from a cost standpoint there is no comparison but it’s more about my enjoyment than anything else. [;)]

so maybe i should look into a heavier gauge wire for these. I’ll track down Pvt Mutt if it comes to that.

thanks again!

andy

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Those should work. From my limited library on the T-34, it appears that all the changes made to the suspension were pretty much completed by late 1942/early 43. The T-34/85 was essentially a new turret on an a T-34/76 1943 hull with new ammo bins. As production went on just the road wheels were the only visible change, being of the solid or spoked rubber rimmed type.

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I have the AFV Club T-34/76 Model 1942 Factory 112, and I bought AFV Club’s T-34 500 mm cast links Type 1942 intended for that kit, albeit a T-34/85 is on the box art… I’ll use this set on a Zvezda T-34/85 model 1944… Well, I checked my reference, specially the book T-34 Mythical weapon I think it is OK to use T-34/85 track links on your T-34/76 model 1943. Best regards.

José.

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Thank you Stikpusher and José for your affirmitive on the /85 tracks.

cheers!

andy

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I received the T-34/85 Friuls and i have to say i am REALLY impressed with them so far! And they are the same size as the Magic Tracks that came with the kit so i don’t expect any fit issues.

I drilled them out w/ a #76 bit, cleaned them up (only the drill holes needed cleaning, almost no burrs or anything), then washed them and let them dry. I picked up some .5mm silk pins and the fit is perfect. I put a few links together and now i can really see what the fuss is about. Very nice!

Thanks for the input, all!

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Good to hear! Post pics when you can![8-|]

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ok here is a pic of just an initial string of tracks. the fit is so snug with the silk pins that i didn’t even glue the ends of these. I wrapped it around a road wheel for effect.

13

Wow! that sure does look good! Just curious but how do you plan on coloring the Fruils? At a recent AMPS meeting we discussed using gun bluing to make them look a proper color. What have you used on them to make them look proper?

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Ooooohhh… Those are looking nice.

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i think i’ll do a red brown base color (can’t remember where i read that is the color). then i’ll add washes of brown and black, dry brush with steel and then pigments once on the tank and one last dry brush session. literally going to wing it!

16

I have a set of these that will go onto the T-34 I have posted over in dioramas, but I’ve not attempted assembly yet. What is a “silk pin?” These look like long straight pins for sewing fabrics?

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not sure why they are called silk pins. but on the package they say .5mm and that was what i was looking for. check out your local fabric store.