Russian T-44

[tankme]

From what I read the T34/85 turret was "similar" to the T-44 turret. The T-44 turret uses a single vent on top as opposed to two on the T34/85. From pics I've seen it looks like the rear "bustle" end of the T-44 turret is higher off the upper deck than the T34/85 turret. The T44 turret also looks lower profile, but these differences wouldn't stop Barry from bending a T34 turret to his will...

[Jarlath]

From what I read the T34/85 turret was "similar" to the T-44 turret. The T-44 turret uses a single vent on top as opposed to two on the T34/85. From pics I've seen it looks like the rear "bustle" end of the T-44 turret is higher off the upper deck than the T34/85 turret. The T44 turret also looks lower profile, but these differences wouldn't stop Barry from bending a T34 turret to his will...

T-34/85 turret came from the T-43 project.

The T-44-85 prototype #2 with the ZIS 85mm cannon)

T-44-85_4.jpg (52.49 KiB) Viewed 896 times

Depends on if Barry wants to make a prototype 85mm version or a T-44A production version...
Prototype versions had road wheel spacing based upon the T-34, but production removed the gap between the 2nd and 3rd road wheels (Increasing the gap between the 1st and 2nd ones)..

[BarryC]

Depends on if Barry wants to make a prototype 85mm version or a T-44A production version...Prototype versions had road wheel spacing based upon the T-34, but production removed the gap between the 2nd and 3rd road wheels (Increasing the gap between the 1st and 2nd ones)..

Still noodling this one.

I figure the turret "should" not present any insurmountably issues. However the road wheel spacing is another matter. I would prefer a production model with spacing between 1st and 2nd. I think a HL lower would be easier than a Taigen but not as sturdy. I can shore up the HL and make it better but still not as sturdy as metal.

Barry

[BarryC]

Here's what I'm thinking.

[tankme]

That T44 looks like a T55 hull. The development of the T-44, T54, and T55 confuses me a little. From most things I read the T-44 was developed and produced, but replaced by the T54 then replaced by the T-55. My deduction may be incorrect, but it seems that all of those vehicles are built on the same hull with the differences being the turret, road wheels, sprockets, and idler types. Wouldn't it seem that using a Hooben T-55 chassis would be a good starting point for this build? Since they don't sell spare parts readily I'm sure you'd need to get an entire Hooben kit to start the build.

[BarryC]

That T44 looks like a T55 hull. The development of the T-44, T54, and T55 confuses me a little. From most things I read the T-44 was developed and produced, but replaced by the T54 then replaced by the T-55. My deduction may be in correct, but it seems that all of those vehicles are built on the same hull with the differences being the turret, road wheels, sprockets, and idler types. Wouldn't it seem that using a Hooben T-55 chassis would be a good starting point for this build? Since they don't sell spare parts readily I'm sure you'd need to get an entire Hooben kit to start the build.

Can a T-55 lower hull and running gear be used to kitbash one?

I think it would make a great build using the Hooben T-55 and a T-34/85 turret and scratch built kitbashed upper hull.

Barry

My first thought.

I have both a 1/35 T-44 and a T-55, some measuring needed. I also have a Hooben T-55. I had planned an Israeli Tiran 5 build using the Hooben.

Barry

[BarryC]

Using the T-55 chassis it looks like I would need to lower both the Idlers and Sprockets and use T-34 Road Wheels.

Barry

[tankme]

I didn't quite remember back that far, but I guess my question would've gone out to anyone that knew for sure if this was the T-55 hull. One good thing about using the Hooben as a base if you go that route is you will have a set of the starfish wheels for another conversion. There are quite a few vehicles that use those wheels. I've always wanted to build an SU-122/54. Only 77 of them were built, but the US was surprised by them since they only found out about them 10 years after they stopped producing them.

I think if you used a Henntec idler, lowering the idler would be easy. I have one on my T55 and it uses an adjustable swing arms type action. Not sure about the sprocket height.

[BarryC]

I didn't quite remember back that far.

I usually don't either!

[HERMAN BIX]

I didn't quite remember back that far, but I guess my question would've gone out to anyone that knew for sure if this was the T-55 hull. One good thing about using the Hooben as a base if you go that route is you will have a set of the starfish wheels for another conversion. There are quite a few vehicles that use those wheels. I've always wanted to build an SU-122/54. Only 77 of them were built, but the US was surprised by them since they only found out about them 10 years after they stopped producing them.

I think if you used a Henntec idler, lowering the idler would be easy. I have one on my T55 and it uses an adjustable swing arms type action. Not sure about the sprocket height.

https://www.keymilitary.com/article/shrouded-secrecy

What a piece of work !!
Be great to see one in 1/16th !