T34 or T34-85?

[DavidN]

Let's put our my out of that spammer thread. I am cleaning out my Russian (extra parts) box. I loaded up whatever I could on to my T34/85 tank.

[keilau]

Stock metal HL. I saw your post elsewhere regarding tracks. Whatever route you take, make the sprocket, idler and tracks the same brand. I used Mato tracks on a HL KV-1 and they derailed a number of times, in mild driving. Anybody's metal tracks will last longer than the plastic tanks they run on.

For several weeks, I could not find any seller offering Heng Long metal track and idler wheel for the T34-85, only the sprocket. I bought the Mato sprocket and idler wheel, but could not make up my mind on the Mato metal track. I finally settled on all Taigen metal track, sprocket and idler wheel. They may use the same source as Imex/Torro for metal parts. I will know if I make a mistake of going with Taigen in a few weeks.

[DavidN]

Stock metal HL. I saw your post elsewhere regarding tracks. Whatever route you take, make the sprocket, idler and tracks the same brand. I used Mato tracks on a HL KV-1 and they derailed a number of times, in mild driving. Anybody's metal tracks will last longer than the plastic tanks they run on.

I did the similar mistake. I installed the metal Mato idlers, tracks and sprocket onto my HL KV-1. The Mato sprockets were not the same as the HL sprocket so they did not fit well into the HL KV-1 chassis. They fitted too close to the sides. The inner side of the tracks ended up rubbing on the body of the tank and derailed too. I had to modify and moved the sprockets out about 1/8 of an inch for the track to line up straight from front to back.

[SoCalBobS]

Stock metal HL. I saw your post elsewhere regarding tracks. Whatever route you take, make the sprocket, idler and tracks the same brand. I used Mato tracks on a HL KV-1 and they derailed a number of times, in mild driving. Anybody's metal tracks will last longer than the plastic tanks they run on.

[keilau]

A little run time for my T-34.

https://youtu.be/jj7ab5ssUHM

It runs and looks beautiful. I particularly like the track flexing during the run. What is the track you are using?

[SoCalBobS]

A little run time for my T-34.

https://youtu.be/jj7ab5ssUHM

[SoCalBobS]

One more thing...

While researching my voluminous reference material (Google) I saw that some early T34/76 tanks had grab handles, to hang the machine gun fodder (infantry) on. I always wondered how they hung on in videos and movies. Two on the glacis plate, two on each side of the turret. Hey presto!

[DavidN]

Your tank looks great. So "dirty" . Sorry, I don't know how to do recoil setup. I don't even know much about IR :-)

[SoCalBobS]

Finished the conversion, mostly. The turret rotates 360 degrees, the barrel has servo elevation. An IR bulb is mounted in the barrel. No airsoft. The hatch is hinged. Still needed is servo recoil. If anyone has photos of their homemade recoil setup, please post them! The decals are Archer Fine Transfer dry decals, great since there is no film around the images. I weathered the turret to match the body, but it needs to be run in the dirt since much of the texture of the tank is real dust from battles.

I didn't have to scrounge anything from the 85 turret, so I can always "update" the tank!

[DavidN]

Group picture before they are sent off to their units

[DavidN]

And here is the SU-100:

[DavidN]

Bob! Thank you sharing Bob. I had just finished painting my T34/76 1943 today. Not much of a work. Just repainting, weathering, putting on decals and coated it. I will work on the mechanical interior when all my parts that I had order arrive.

[SoCalBobS]

Interesting thread here, especially about the Trumpeter kits. I bought a T-34/76 turret from an eBay seller in St Petersburg. The exterior is ok, but the interior is a mass of lumps, hard to work with. The mantlet, trunnions and pintles are not symmetrical. Looking at it, and now at pictures of the Trumpeter, I'm guessing someone just made a mold of their turret.

So, not a good value, I wouldn't recommend it, but when it's done it will undoubtedly look cool! I couldn't remember what color I used for the original T-34/85, but I think I guessed right. When I dirty it up, it should match.



Oh by the way, since I had the turret off, I decided to alter the gear ring to make it 360 degree capable. Very easy. The gears are rough enough that as long as the teeth look similar, you won't even detect a difference in operation.

[Vaseline]

Good deal

[DavidN]

I also did the same with my T34/76 1943.

[DavidN]

I have been looking to have the RC 1/16 SU-100 for a long time. My final approach was the Trumpeter kit. It was easy to work with. No warped piece, no drilling, sanding, or dremeling. There are plenty of room for future gun elevation and IR system set up.

[Vaseline]

I haven't found a resin conversion yet. So if I want one I will just pony up and get a Trumpeter kit.

[DavidN]

Thank you for the time I have always like the Su 100 over the 122 or 152 Thanks again for showing and sharing

Yes! I like the SU-100 a lot too. It looks better than the bulky SU-122. I have ordered the RC parts. Hopefully I get to finish the paint job and the weathering before the RC parts arrive.

[Vaseline]

Thank you for the time I have always like the Su 100 over the 122 or 152 Thanks again for showing and sharing

[DavidN]

More $ but less work than those resin conversion kits :-)