S+S Models
United Kingdom
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| Cost: | £15.00 |
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| Stated Scale: | 1:60th. |
| Mixes best with: | Several of the ranges out there... |
| Long Review: | This model of the T-34/85 is cast in four resin parts (the hull and the two sets of tracks - a left and a right, as well as the turret). There are also two metal parts- the 85mm gun barrel and the hull-mounted MG. The tracks on this model don't have a positive fit, but it is easy enough to establish where they should go from photos (of which there are many available on the web). There was a minimal amount of excess material (the underside of the body required a little cleaning at the rear and was a touch under-filled at the front- it's the moulding plug), and also a small number of bubbles in the resin, which are easily filled. The turret is also neatly done, with a large turret-plug that fits into a decent-sized cavity in the hull. The under-side is again somewhat bubbly, but well within tolerable limits. The surfaces are pretty smooth (much smoother than I would have expected), and the engine-deck detail is quite lightly engraved, but shows all the lines that are required. Assembly was fairly easy, with no real problems anywhere. Once the various parts are glued in place, it looks a lot better than in the unassembled state. |
| Commentary: | Overall, this model is actually quite good, other than the fact that the turret is a tad narrow, and the various grab-rails are missing (it's easy enough to add these, though). Definitely a worth-while addition to any 28mm force. The model captures the overall look of the T-34 well, and, while the hatches are all closed and adding a commander would be a bit of work, it will definitely prove a presence on the table. This is definitely a gamers' standard vehicle- it looks even better once painted than it does assembled, and the minimal number of delicate parts means there is very little chance of damage during normal play. |
| Historical Accuracy: |  Average. |
| Scale: | Width-wise it scales out at 1:60, length at 1:65, which I'd say are within tolerable limits for 28mm vehicles. |
| Sculpting: | Average. |
| Casting: | Good. |
| Sources: | Purchased for own collection. |
| Sculptors: | Shaun Matthews |
| Other reviews for this company: | See the reviews: |
Assorted additional images of the vehicle
I decided to paint this model as a Finnish vehicle, which does make a difference visually, as this three-tone colour-scheme is so different from the normally-seen standard dark-green Soviet colours or German-crewed captured vehicles. The fact that I have more T-34s than I really need for the Soviets and none for my Finns also helped!
As you can see, the tank does look the part- much better than I originally thought. Of course, I wouldn't want to put it right next to another T-34 as the differences come out then, and it becomes very easy to nit-pick, but as it is- a very useful kit.