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Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:37 am
by HERMAN BIX
Thanks lads, for a quick time filler its taking a bit longer than it should really ! :/
After doing a considered look into just what makes a T34/85 what it is, there are so many idiosyncrasies & differences that are normally overlooked when peering at the masses of '85's in black & white pictures.
The turrets are different between versions, wheel hole patterns, hatch designs, ventilator positions, lifting hook style & placement, pistol ports,periscope design & position,gun & mantlet type,vision slits....................so many more :crazy:
These things are built like dumb tractors, but due to the pressures of manufacture & urgency, they actually took on many variations & improvements on the fly which often go unnoticed.
I put them in a similar vein to Shermans and StuG's.

The weather here has been quintessentially a New Zealand winter, actual cold, actual rain, and actual need to wear a hoodie & ugg boots for the first time since Ive been here :problem:
So not a chance of painting in the dark like normal this time of year.
Hopefully over the weekend I can get the roadwheels painted.
If I can get them painted & fitted, then the alluring coat of hairspray will go on & then I will grab the hairy stick & do the whitewash.
I have thought to do a rough Soviet star on the turret, hand painted will be good enough like the real ones, to have the whitewash missed in a patch around it, but getting the right look or markings for the unit is proving tougher than I hoped.

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2019 12:53 pm
by 43rdRecceReg
I understand the weather factor all too well, HB, when there's a need to work al fresco- and the sadistic weather Gods decide to deliver a prolonged period of unseasonal sh*t :problem: >:<
We had 80f (26c) here in the Highlands at the end of June, but has been p**sing down almost without cease since then. So... It's out of the shorts (or kilt for fantasists :lolno: ), and back into the winter long johns. :thumbdown:
The weather is crazy. In Feb., we had 20c here. That's mid-Winter, and the highest temp ever recorded in Scotland in February... and bearing in mind we're pretty much on the same latitudes as Norway, and Alaska. Today, it's 11c. :/
In short, no painting here either, even though it's mid-Summer.
By the way, I meant to ask what you used on the turret to get that pitting- from- casting, effect? Was it Milliput, perhaps? Certainly not the sour cream from the tub you mentioned. That was a handy improvised donor material, by the way.:D
In any event, it looks great, and there are some other neat detail touches elsewhere in there already. :thumbup:
Make an offering to the weather gods, methinks! A ritual sacrifice of a glass of bourbon! should do the trick.
:lolno:

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2019 2:55 pm
by PainlessWolf
Good morning,
Gentlemen, to continue in a weather vein ( vane ;o) it has been up until the last couple of days, an unseasonably cool and damp Summer up here in the Rockies. Back in June, we had over two feet of snow just over 7000 feet ( we live at 7000 feet ) The annual Melt has begun and people are getting drowned left and right in the rivers roaring with melt water. It's stronger and more dangerous than it has been in many years. The upside is that many reservoirs downstream are filling up to levels not seen in some time. For the Desert Southwest, this will be a Boon. In other news, a huge Earthquake yesterday in California. It has been interesting lately! Following along on the T-34 build. To nag in a familiar way, Herman, don't forget the tail light centered under the Engine Grill on the rear of the tank. Some easy eye candy to add! ( will complement that great paint job in the works )
regards,
Painless

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:18 pm
by HERMAN BIX
Mr 43rd, I used Tamiya putty stippled on with a very stiff brush and then wiped in areas with an old card to further disrupt the surface.

Mr Wolf, the tail light is a timely reminder. I wish you had bought it up earlier !!
I could easily have run the headlight cable to the rear & made a tough enough red light.
I could still place a non illuminating one though I suppose.

If only there was a supply of soviet winter tank riders eh

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 3:04 am
by PainlessWolf
Good evening, Herman,
On the IS-2 marker lights \ tail lights, I used a few of the lenses available from a Hobby Shop in England. They reflect available light so well that they seem to illuminate all on their own. Not expensive and can ship in an envelope. Here is the link and a pic of them in use. https://www.modellingtools.co.uk/little-lenses-26-c.asp
regards,
Painless

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 10:13 am
by HERMAN BIX
Great info and supply source Mr Wolf, thanks.
I did manage to get a bit of headway on this one, despite a 5th birthday (my youngest & last) AND the Super Rugby Final which my guys won in a rather dour but tough encounter against the Jaguares from Argentina.
Hell of a match in freezing temperatures against pure passion from the men from South America.
Mr wife always gets "enraptured" by the Spaniard- blooded hunks.............. :problem: Tough luck lovely-if ya cant be with the one you love-love the one your stuck with :/
Some time after full time I managed to roll a bottle of bubbly on top of the copious amount of Jack Daniels(and what have we learnt about JD's kiddies hmmm ? - NOT Bourbon!!) so was pretty dusty this morning :think:

Bashed the V05 extra hold hairspray onto the green surface & let it go off.
Later on I made up a thin-as brew of XF-2 Flat white and Tamiya Diorama Texture Paint 'Snow Efect'.
Measured up one of my broad flat brushes to check scale, & set about the white wash using what would have been a 4 inch wide brush(s) in full scale.
Took a while but over the hairspray it looks ok . If I want to further disrupt the white finish, the hairspray will allow easy progress.
I have left clean a couple of patches on the turret sides for Red Stars to be applied.
Bunged a wash of texture paint over PVA glue in areas that I felt would accumulate snow, but still need to do a dirty wash over the area under the sponsons & roadwheels etc.
Lots of streaking & finishing still to do, tow cables and some level of stowage.

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:05 pm
by BarryC
It looks fantastic Herman. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Barry

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:48 pm
by Jimster
Great looking winter weathering! Makes me cold just looking at it. I need a shot of that Jack to warm up.

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:41 am
by HERMAN BIX
Cheers lads, a bit more done.
Fitted the tracks & used a blend of MIG Rainmark Effects and Brown wash for German Dark Yellow to bring them together.
Ive chucked on a couple of Value Gear tarps using straight PVA to add support to gel super glue, and once they are set they will have the straps painted to contrast the tarp surface.
The larger one is attached only to the engine vent cover & I intend to fire a screw into it through the cover so it can be used to remove the cover for greasing the gearboxes.
Still have the turret red stars to add and tow cables to secure but its close now.

Re: 5TH GUARDS TANK ARMY T34/85, Cherkassy, Zhurzintsy–Hill

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:57 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
Ooh ooh ooh, I really like this Herman :clap: :clap:

I particularly like those fuel tank straps :thumbup: