Dragon Models 6205 – T34/76 Model 1941
There are many myths and legends about the T-34 but the reality is that it wasn’t a fantasic tank, it was basic and easy to make and like the Sherman it wasn’t successful because of it’s qualities, rather because there were just so damn many of them. Like charging Russian Infantry it didn’t matter how many you got rid of there were always two more to take the place of each one that fell. There are many kits of the T-34 available, with this one representing the 1941 model, being the initial 1940 model with a new F34 76.2mm gun and heavier armour.
The kit comes in a large tray and lid box containing twelve light grey sprues, the hull tub also in light grey, one small clear sprue, one small photo-etch fret, two lengths of wire cable, two sheets of decals, and a slogan guide. There is of course also the instructions which in this kit are a large, full colour fold-out sheet that use computer generated images to show the assembly steps.
The moulding quality is very good with just the usual minor clean-up required but nothing that isn’t easily dealt with. The level of detail is good without being overwhelming, including the nicely done weld lines. The T-34 was a simple and basic tank designed to be easy and simple to manufacture and that is reflected in this kit. There are still plenty of parts and plenty of detail but not on the same scale as building one of the Dragon Tigers. The sufaces all have a very subtle cast texture which looks very good.
The turret is very well made and includes the side vision ports moulded to the side parts. The upper hatch is a separate piece so can be positioned open though there is no interior other than the gun breech and two seats and as this is the early model T-34 the hatch is the large single one that shows off a LOT of the inside. The hatch is however very nicely done, being very slim and having a good level of interior detail to it. The quality of the detail on things like the weld beads, the hinges and the lifting eyes is excellent.
The gun barrel is cast in two halves so care is need when assembling it to get it straight. Considering the small cost of an AM barrel like the RB Models T-34/76 ones I think this kit is certainly deserving of one. It has a fairly decent breech that includes the brass catcher underneath, and the mantlet is very well made with good detail on the weld beads and rivets.
The upper hull is very well detailed and comes with separate hatches for the engine cover and driver’s hatch so that they can be positioned open although there is no interior detail if you do so. But they’re there if you want to add an AM one, as is the rear engine access panel which is also a separate piece. You get two options for the air intake grille, one has the mesh moulded as part of it and is therefore not see through, the other uses a photo etch grille and is therefore see through requiring the underside to be blocked off to prevent seeing the empty engine bay. The headlights have clear parts for the lenses, the hull machine gun is very nicely moulded and you get separate stowage boxes and track links to mount on the fenders.
The suspension construction makes it look good but also makes it hard to articulate without a fair bit of work. The springs are moulded in place so would need to be cut away and repositioned which would require a bit of rebuilding of the spring housings. Not impossible but separate springs would have been nice. The rest of the running gear is very straight forward and well done with the detailing of the rubber tyres on the roadwheels being especially nice. The tracks are individual link tracks that each require a small ammount of clean-up, so these will most likely take up the most time in the build but the finished look is well worth the effort.
Two sheets of decals are included, one contains a selection of personalised slogans and markings for eleven unidentified tanks, the other having the two identified vehicle marking options -1st Guards Tank Brigade, near Moscow, March 1942 and 21st Tank Corps, 130th Tank Brigade, Southern Front, April 1942.
This is an excellent kit and in my opinion it certainly warrants the investment in a good interior set to fully trick it out. But even as it is, straight from the box and modelled buttoned up it is a first rate representaion of one of the Second World War’s most famous tanks.
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