Tank surfaces are composed of a variety of materials that were created using a variety of processes. Common methods include casting, or cold rolling sheets of steel. Several modern tanks use composite materials, which lack the characteristic "grain" or "stippling" that is so prominent on tanks produced during World War II.
One of the most recognizable "features" of a T-34/85, the Soviet Union's highly effective tank during the 1940s, is its poorly sand cast turret. Throughout the war, Soviet tank design and production were guided by the principle of practicality, which simplified away unnecessary luxuries such as cleanly cast parts and uniform welds. To tank modelers, the T-34 presents a fun opportunity to represent surface texture. Heng Long's 1/16 scale T-34/85 is molded with a bumpy pattern, that hints at the overall effect. While it is certainly better than a smoothly molded surface like many other Heng Long tanks, I wanted to take the effect a bit further.
To begin, first I gather references online. Note the widely uneven welding along the turret, with deep pitting along the surface.
Contrast those rough, uneven surfaces of the sand cast steel turret with the smooth rolled steel on certain upper surfaces such as the fender.
One of the most recognizable "features" of a T-34/85, the Soviet Union's highly effective tank during the 1940s, is its poorly sand cast turret. Throughout the war, Soviet tank design and production were guided by the principle of practicality, which simplified away unnecessary luxuries such as cleanly cast parts and uniform welds. To tank modelers, the T-34 presents a fun opportunity to represent surface texture. Heng Long's 1/16 scale T-34/85 is molded with a bumpy pattern, that hints at the overall effect. While it is certainly better than a smoothly molded surface like many other Heng Long tanks, I wanted to take the effect a bit further.
To begin, first I gather references online. Note the widely uneven welding along the turret, with deep pitting along the surface.
Contrast those rough, uneven surfaces of the sand cast steel turret with the smooth rolled steel on certain upper surfaces such as the fender.
Comment