Every flavour of T-34

[Raminator]

Long time between updates, eh? I spent nearly a month trying to print some of the early-style tyres with special flexible rubber-like resin, but after nearly 30 attempts I still hadn't ended up with any that I was completely satisfied with.

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The resin I was using is extremely sensitive to UV light and (I suspect) humidity; both of which we have in spades during the Australian summer. The top surface of the resin in the vat was partially curing in a room with the blinds and printer cover both closed! My wife suggested moving the printers into a wardrobe in another room, and the idea took off a bit. I've ended up relocating all of my hobby stuff into a new room, with proper benches and storage for once. I can finally farewell the plastic folding table that's served as a workbench all these years!

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Cameos from Herman's Trumpeter kit ( I've borrowed it to take some dimensions to make sure that my prints will fit) and an old work labcoat (worn with a respirator while processing resin prints). I've turned the wardrobe into an ersatz fume hood (cupboard to fume cupboard?) with chemical-resistant polypropylene walls and a huge charcoal filter to vent out the resin and alcohol smells. I haven't 100% finished so the printers aren't hooked up yet, but hopefully I should be able to get everything up and running again soon.

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In the meantime, I've started on some drawings of the short L-11 gun for the pre-war version of the T-34 with the small welded turret.

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It's been very difficult to find good references for this, I've had to use photos of the L-17 gun (basically the L11 mounted in bunkers), parts from Dragon's 1:35 T-34 Model 1940, photos of knocked-out early-war T-34s and a generous dose of imagination. Hopefully it'll look the part from an open hatch!

[HERMAN BIX]

Great job and very inventive way to overcome the printing problems.
I won’t however tell my wife about the wardrobe scenario as she would quickly jam me in one as the source of the smell of alcohol in our house
I’m keen to see how you arrange the turret internals for the small space and still retain serviceable functionality.
That Trumpeter is going to be “white 30” with the 57mm gun that only 5 were made by most accounts.
Beautiful work space by the way, you are a lucky little vegimite

[tankme]

Maybe if I wait long enough, Ram will build all the parts I've been avoiding on my T34 projects...lol. I wish my hobby room were that clean at the moment.

[ColemanCollector]

Great looking setup and it looks very conducive to some cool T-34aucity!

My workbench always looks like yours...in my fever dreams. Sigh...

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

You have made a first class hobby room, Ram! And the cache of static kits is so neatly arranged. I wish you many hours in there of fun and continued creativity.

[Raminator]

Cheers for the kind words fellas, it's good to have something purpose-built after all these years! Don't worry, it won't stay this neat and tidy once I actually start working in there!

That Trumpeter is going to be “white 30” with the 57mm gun that only 5 were made by most accounts.

Yep, that long, long 57 mm is going to be something.

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[Estnische]

Keep at it Ram! We are all selfishly wishing you success in spades. Meanwhile, I am in and around the UK, wondering how I can fit Haya’s Centurion kit into my suitcase!

[Raminator]

Thanks Brett, and it's good to hear from you! Hope you get a chance to check out Bovington if you're heading down south, it's definitely worth the trip if you haven't been already.

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Just about done with the detail work for the pre-war turret with the short-barrelled L-11. The weld beads are temporary and won't be printed, they're just to make cutouts for good old-fashioned putty ones. CAD's great for flat and curved shapes, but doesn't lend itself well (or at all, really) to irregularly textured surfaces like welds or casting.

Now the fun part begins, figuring out how to squeeze the recoil and elevation into such a tiny turret. It's only 65 mm (or 3.5" for the left-handed drivers) at its widest point up top, and the sides angle at 30° from the vertical. Space is definitely at a premium, so even though I'd love to get the PT-4-7 or POP periscopes movable I'll be happy with the basics.

[Raminator]

I've been procrastinating from trying to figure out the mechanical aspects of the turret, so in the meantime I've drawn up the simplified Stalingrad turret (with the chiselled Barrikady factory mantlet, scalloped cheeks and appliqué/repair plates on the sides):

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As well as the more recognisable early-style cast turret (what Trumpeter calls the 1942 model, even though these were made from 1940 onwards) with the long 57mm ZiS-4 anti-tank gun:

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I've had a couple of ideas for how to set up the recoil and elevation in the limited space, so I'll try to get started on them. It's either that or finally finish off the ventilation system for the wardrobe (the other task I've been putting off), and I don't feel like doing that with this wretched cold that's been dragging on. Breathing in MDF dust when you're already coughing and wheezing probably isn't too smart!

[Estnische]

Thanks Brett, and it's good to hear from you! Hope you get a chance to check out Bovington if you're heading down south, it's definitely worth the trip

Yes mate. I have a ticket already booked for the Autumn Tiger Day.

Cannot wait after missing out on Militracks. I am so disappointed as it clashed with the UK Slot Car Festival, which itself was fantastic - the Brits really know how to celebrate a hobby.

Those turrets are looking good.