More Scale photographs

Rubicon is developing a range of 1/56 post war tanks, starting with Centurions.

Now I would have preferred 1/50 (or 1/48) as it would suit the Empress Vietnam range.

Empress US Marine with a Company B Volkswagen Beetle.

And with a Rubicon T34/85.

T34/76 Mantlet detail

These are some close up views of the Rubicon T34/76.

I need to fabricate a mantlet for the blown turret (the only bit I have been unable to obtain from this or other kits.

T34/76 damaged turret

The Rubicon T34/76 kit contains a number of optional components. Once you have chosen the version you are going to build you have a number of spare bits. Unfortunately you cannot assemble an additional turret (though there is another complete 76mm turret in the T34/85 kit). In the T34/85 kit there is a spare lower turret ring so you can assemble most of a second (or third really) turret complete except for part of the mantlet.

The spare ring from the T34/85 kit is bottom left.

Scaling exercise for a 76.2mm round (a Warlord Marder III crew man).

Receiver in place in the turret.

In detail.

 Sight assembly.

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build part four

So I used Citadel Athonian Camoshade on the body and turret, and Citadel Agrax Earthshade on the wheels and tracks. Unfortunately the shade dried with a mixed gloss and matt finish, so I used some Humbrol acrylic matt varnish (49) to get a common matt finish.

To recap, the tank was undercoated with Citadel Chaos Black followed by Humbrol Dark Green spray. The track and wheel treads were painted with a mix of Vallejo Black Grey and Hull Red. A mix containing more Hull Red was used on the ice cleats and the spare track links.

A similar mix was used on the exhaust pipes.

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build part three

So I have undercoated the tank (Citadel Chaos Black spray) and given it a base coat of Humbrol Dark Green spray.

I masked the tracks to reduce the amount of over painting that was required. I have painted over the black with a mix of Vallejo Hull Red and Black Grey. The spare track pieces were painted with a more mix containing more Hull red. The exhaust pipes and the front tow hooks have also been painted.

The wheels need a bit of touching up.

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build part two

So I have finished the build. Besides the rails, it has been built straight out of the box.

The fuel tanks on the rear deck have been smoothed off and attached. I had contemplated adding some soft stowage, a bucket and other bits such as pioneer tools.

But as that is the reason why the T34/85 build is still not finished, I decided to just leave it as is.

There is a lot of dust on it, it will be dusted before it goes for undercoating (when the weather improves).

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build

So I have assembled the kit to this point. There are a lot of options, the best bet is to find a prototype and then choose the parts to match.

I chose the "Cast" turret with the two periscopes, the Stalingrad sale gun mantlet and the all steel wheels. A late style engine access hatch was used at the back.

I was just going to build it "out of the box", but ended up adding some hand rails, using the Bill Bedford hand rail jig.

Stowage and hull machine gun to be added.

Rubicon T34/76 - the sprues

I bought this when the kit was originally released, but have not got round to building it.

The later T34/85 kit build is currently awaiting finishing, but is going to have additional stowage.

The T34/76 however will be effectively straight out of the shop and into the fray so will not have the delay.  Once I decide what version to build.

There is an additional sprue for another turret present in the T34/85.

Vehicle comparisons

Some more comparisons.

Empress Technical with a Rubicon Studebaker lorry.

Rubicon T34/85 (work in progress)

Warlord M4A4 Sherman V and a Rubicon T34/85.

 Spectre Miniatures SUV and the Rubicon T34/85.

Empress Technical and Rubicon T34/85.

Empress T72M.

T34/85 continues...

So, I have completed the hand rails on the left side of the tank.

Ainsty Salesman Kit

Ainsty Salesman Kit is a set of pots, pans and suitcases scaled to 28mm.

Here they are sitting on a Rubicon T34/85.

T34/85 continues...

A few more bits added to the model.

The fuel cans have been added to the right side of the tank.

A clearer photograph of the stowage box on the turret bustle.

I have had this Rubicon T34/85 sitting (partially built) on my "To-Do" table for a while.

Various factors have caused it to be looked over (I do not really have a use for it, and I have thought about using it for post war conflicts across the world) and also I was looking for some inspiration.

A while back I bought the T34 NVA book from Tankograd (NVA is Nationalen Volks Armee, the army of the East Germany).

On page 31 there is a rear view of a T34/85 stacked high with stowage (something that tends to be missing from most photographs of T34s - well property is theft).

So having found all the bits I began to think about what needed to be done.

If you have seen this model previously on the blog, you will have seen that it has previously had hand rails added to the turret. One of the features of the NVA tanks is a large box on the turret bustle, this will of course cover the previously added hand rail.

I looked through my stock of bits, and decided to use one of the tool boxes from the Rubicon German Stowage set. It is not an accurate model of the NVA addition, but is square (or rectangular - you know what I mean).

Having added hand rails to the turret, I decided to add some to the hull.

I used a Bill Bedford Models hand rail bending jig to make the hand rails and the holes in the hull.

I bought mine at a model railway show many years ago, they are available on the Internet.

One of the distinctive features is the Notes light on the glacis and its brush shield.

A 1.5mm hole was drilled in the glacis and a piece of 1.5mm plastic rod was pushed through and cut horizontally. A piece of 2mm by 0.8mm plastic strip was cut and shaped as the top of the light.

The brush guard was made from 0.7mm brass rod, again holes were drilled for the rod which was bent using the jig.

And now a word from our sponsors: The Comfi-Matrress Company

Crooked Dice have released a range of resin scenery items including a pack of four mattresses.

There are two mouldings, one intact, the other with the stuffing leaking out.

They are certainly of generous dimensions - William Killian for scale.

And a Rubicon T34/85.