RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

After a pretty long break earlier this year, I got my hands on Francis Pulham's excellent T-34 Shock, which has hundreds of photographs covering the development and evolution of the T-34. It inspired me to design and build a series of conversion kits for Heng Long and Taigen T-34/85s; ones that'd be more straightforward than converting a Trumpeter kit, and offering more options than just those two turret shapes. I know this is pretty ambitious, but I've really been enjoying the design aspect a lot more than I have more traditional modelling on previous builds. It's going to be a long-term project, but here's where I'm at after about two months' worth of CAD work:

I've made an elevation/recoil system that looks like the F-34 gun, trying to hide the servos as best I can. Should be useful for the earlier variants with the single large hatch.

I've got the recoil servo inside and under the recoil guard, and the elevation servo in the commander/gunners station.

Finally got around to some test prints earlier this week, and I'm pretty pleased with how it's going so far:

There are magnets to hold the upper and lower halves of the turret together, and to hold the mantlet to the gun mount. Bearings on the gun trunnions for smooth elevation, and in the turret ring to roll on the upper hull.

I'll supply each kit with all of the hardware needed for assembly. There won't be just turrets but wheels, hatches, fuel tanks and exhausts for a complete conversion. Eventually I'd like to do the assault guns and TDs based on the T-34 too. Should keep me busy for a while yet!

wow, you have been busy What printer are you using?

Those look really impressive quality, when you get to the full tanks could you make me a couple for the fighting girlfriend?

looks very good, quality of printing is awesome.

I don't know if you know this website: https://t34inform.ru/photo.html
maybe it can help you (I always use google to translate).

Are you ready for me to send the 1942 turret'd version now ?

That looks fantastic and so well thought out. Great work

I just found a the book here in the U.S., where Fonthill published it simulaneously with the UK version. Thanks for posting the publisher's URL. (Here's the citation for those who might be interested, but may not be able to afford shipping from Fonthill Media

Pullham, Francis and Will Kerrs. T★34 Shock: The Soviet Legend in Pictures. Fonthill Media, 2021. ISBN 978-1-78155-846-1.

I will certainly be enjoying this thread as I watch your 3D design and handiwork. Go get 'em!

Wow, the print looks so crisp! Nice idea with magnets also. Are ypu planning to sell those files somewhere (especially recoil mechanism).

Very impressed with the print quality. If I had that turret I would swap it with the Trumpeter one and finish my T34/76 project.

Many thanks for the kind words everyone, I'm genuinely flattered! I'll try to answer all of your questions:

Tiger6 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:45 am What printer are you using?

I've got a Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K and Sonic Mighty 4K. I use the Mighty for large parts like the turret (50 µm resolution), and the Mini for detail parts like these (35 µm resolution).

stu_the_flat wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:25 pm when you get to the full tanks could you make me a couple for the fighting girlfriend?

Absolutely, and if you need anything extra like camera mounts or interior parts let me know. We'll be able to sort something out!

jee wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:03 pm I don't know if you know this website: https://t34inform.ru/photo.html

I do, it's a great resource. They've got some really nice wartime photos and documents!

HERMAN BIX wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 10:44 pm Are you ready for me to send the 1942 turret'd version now ?

Yes please, and I'll be able to use those dimensions to get the 1940 version correct!

Kaczor wrote: ↑Sun Nov 06, 2022 9:22 am Are ypu planning to sell those files somewhere (especially recoil mechanism).

I'm not planning on selling any files, mostly because I've been designing these to my printers' capabilities based on the particular mix of resins I'm using. Other people might not be able to print them! I'm also constantly updating them, nothing's ever finished.