T-34/85 Comparison

Bolt Action Miniatures
1:56

S and S
1:60

West Wind Productions
1:60

Cost:

£16.00

£15.00

£18.00 (purchased on sale, £10.80)

Parts included:

Parts summary:

Resin hull, turret, two track units, driver's hatch. White metal front mudguards, fuel tanks, tow hooks, light, gun barrel, and hull MG.

Resin hull, turret, two track units. White metal gun barrel and hull MG.

Resin hull. White metal turret, two track units, fule tanks, spare track links, turret hatches, hull toolbox, hull MG and commander.

Initial impression:

Cast in a creamy resin, with good cast-metal surface detail on the turret. Some surface pitting and bubbles. Lots of surface detail cast onto on the hull and turret- items like the toolbox on the left fender, grab handles on the hull and turret, a saw, the siren and a tow-rope on the hull.

A very clean, tidy model with very few extras. There are a few voids in the resin, particularly the right track unit. The turret is very smooth, and there are no locating lugs for the track units.It appears very "bland"

A very "busy" model, as it has even more detail cast on than the Bolt Action one. The fuel tanks are attached by plugs that fit into holes in the hull, and the hull has been pre-trimmed to remove the excess resin. The hull and turret have cast-on grab rails, and the headlight and siren are also cast on the hull. The turret texture is rougher than the hull, but not as rough as the BAM texture.

Scale Drawing

Scale Drawing

Scale Drawing

Scale Drawing

Overall Comments:

Well, having built all three, and having put all three next to each other, there really isn't that much to differentiate the three models. All are pretty close to 1:60th, and the small differences in overall size can be attributed to different factories producing them.
Visually, all three "look right", although, when comparing them to each other like this, serious differences do appear.
The Turrets
The BAM and WWP models show the turret ventilator domes correctly (the S+S model has them coming straight onto the turret without the openings at the join. The BAM and WWP models have the turret lifting lugs and grab handles, which the S+S model does not have. The S+S and WWP models have the front periscopes correctly situated, while the BAM model's periscopes appear more post-war. The S+S and WWP models have the gun n the centre of the mantlet, while the BAM gun is off-set to the right as per all the drawings I've found. None has the turret pistol ports. The BAM model has a good cast texture, while the S+S model is very smooth. The WWP falls pretty much in the middle. The S+S turret appears very "slim" compared to the other two. The S+S and BAM main gun appear the correct length, while the WWP one appears a little short. Overall, the WWP turret appears a little short at the front.
Overall favourite: BAM.
The Hulls
All three hulls are pretty similar in overall length, although the WWP hull is longer than the other two. The WWP and BAM models have lots of additional cast-on detail. The BAM model has the smallest exhausts and least engine hatch detail, although all three have decent rivet-detail on the back plate.
The S+S is the shortest, and because the front hull angle is flatter than the others, as well as the S+S hull sides being taller than the others, the top of the hull is higher and narrower than the BAM or WWP ones, which is part of the reason why the turret is too narrow (it looks right in proportion, but is visibly too slim left-to-right when compared with drawings or the other T-34/85s). The WWP hull MG is the one closes to right, with the S+S being the furthest off. The BAM driver's hatch is a shade too high, the WWP a touch too low, and the S+S even lower. All three come with mudguards- S+S have the best profile (albeit too thick), and although I didn't fit the BAM ones, they are better than WWP's. Overall, the hulls are pretty similar. I think that the S+S model is let down by the fact that it is very "bare"- there are none of the grab handles, light and siren or tow-hooks that are so visible on T-34's. Since the handles were welded on, and frequently shifted to suit the crew's needs, I won't comment on the placing of the handles, but will say that BAM's offerings look superior (The WWP offerings look more like a solid plank rather than a rail). The fuel drums carried by the BAM T-34 also appear more in proportion- the WWP drums look too slim.
Overall favourite: BAM.
The Track Units
All three have the later wheels, and show some degree of track detail. The wheel spacing on all three looks correct, although the S+S drive sprocket looks too small. The WWP units have locating lugs on tham, but they do not locate firmly in the locating holes on the hull. The drive-units are attached to these units.
Overall favourite: WWP

Length(w/o gun): 6290mm
Width: 3000mm

Length: 104 mm - 1:60
Width: 51.5 mm - 1:58

Length: 102 mm - 1:61
Width: 49 mm - 1:61

Length: 102.5 mm - 1:61
Width: 50 mm - 1:60

Scale:

Detail:

Fit:

Casting:

Overall Accuracy:

Total Mark:

20

18

19

Average Mark:

minus

minus

Final Comments:

After having built and begun painting all three, and having put all three next to each other, there really isn't that much difference between them, especially when they are seperated by a few inches on the table. As all three "look right", unless one actually starts counting rivets, there's no big favourite. I think that the WWP is let down by the poor fit of the running gear to the hull, while the S+S is let down by the too-slim turret and too-high hull, as well as the missing fuel tanks and grab rails (easy enough to add, though). The BAM model is let down by the rather undersized exhausts and the too-fine hatches on the rear plate.
So which one would I pick? I would love to take parts from each to make my "perfect" T-34/85, as each has really good features. I think my "parts list" would be:
The hull, turret and gun from the BAM model, but using the exhausts and engine hatch from the S+S model, with the Hull MG position, track units and loader's hatch from the West Wind kit.