1:35 T-34-85 Czechoslovak Prod. Late Type

T-34-85 — Czechoslovak production, late type, 1:35 (MiniArt)

An injection-molded plastic kit in 1:35 scale from the Ukrainian manufacturer MiniArt. It is a model of the T-34-85 tank in the form of late Czechoslovak license production — that is, of a machine built in Czechoslovakia and serving with the Czechoslovak People's Army. The package contains photo-etched parts, clear plastic parts and individual track links; according to the instructions the hatches can be shown open or closed. The decal sheet offers several marking options. This particular edition is a kit without an interior — it is meant for a quicker build than the MiniArt variants with a full inside.

The real subject

The license to build the T-34-85 was agreed between Czechoslovakia and the USSR in 1949, and the technical documentation came from the Nizhny Tagil plant. The first Czechoslovak T-34-85 was completed on 1 September 1951. Series production ran at CKD Sokolovo in Prague (from February 1952 to December 1953) and gradually moved to the J. V. Stalin works at Martin in Slovakia. The V-2 engines were supplied by Skoda Plzen, the turrets and guns by the works at Dubnica nad Vahom. A total of 1437 machines were built for the Czechoslovak army (731 at CKD, 706 at Martin), and further ones went for export.

Because the last Soviet T-34-85s were built as early as 1946 and the design had moved on in the meantime, the Czechoslovak machines differed from the Soviet ones in detail — and that is exactly the point of this kit. The characteristic features are above all the radio set and aerial placed on the left rear of the hull, an added tow cable mount on the left side, a cover over the front headlamp and a different arrangement of the tools. Late machines are further marked out by newer radio equipment and additional fuel tanks.

Building and painting tips

Glue with thin cement for plastic and use cyanoacrylate glue on the photo-etch. Deal with and paint the running gear and the individual track links before you close up the hull and fit the fenders. Lay down a primer before painting; an airbrush is ideal for the base shade. The cast surface of the turret comes out well once brought up with a dark wash; build the mud and dust effects with pigments from the running gear upwards. Coat the surface with gloss under the decals and, once dry, take it back to matte.

Who the model is for

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.

• Modelers interested in Czechoslovak military equipment and in the weapons of the Czechoslovak People's Army
• Collectors of a T-34 variant outside the usual Soviet production
• Builders with experience of individual track links and photo-etch
• Fans of richly equipped MiniArt kits