T34/85 25th Guards Brigade No 234a

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Kent for your advice,I found a way to re shape my front end for the sharper T34/85 look
Just need a bit more attention to the front counter sunk screws to hide them better.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Started on the Idler,Sprocket and road wheels.
light coat of primer on my road wheels

Fitted bearings and installed Idler

Idler and sprockets primed,waiting for bearings to go in the Idler

[phil fitzpatrick]

Assembling the sprocket rollers and bearings into hubs

Rollers fitted into sprockets

Sprocket Bits

Hub Parts

Bearings fitted in hubs

[phil fitzpatrick]

Started to assemble the Tracks
Nice and easy with the bent wire,just a few links to clean up so they move nice,lovely stuff

[Bill Riedel]

Good morning Phil,

I notice that when you installed the front suspension pieces, the allen screws are not fixed into the top mechanism for the spring tension. And, it doesn't look like they would clear the glacis plate anyway.

Regards,
Bill

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Bill
Yes you are right,the 100mm replacement screws were still too big because they hit the underside
of the glacis plate.

I cut off 40mm measured from the top of the cap head and rounded the end nicely.
This was enough to have plenty left inside the spring adjuster so it cant fall out evan at the
lowest the suspension can get,this was with the spring adjuster screwed right up into the trunion.
I greased it before reassembly so it slid nice in the spring adjuster,and now the front suspension
has got all the travel it could need.and the cap head shaft does not hit the underside of the
glacis plate but still suports the spring if neaded.
I adjusted the front springs about the same as the main ones.

Check with Mark though because you may get away with cuting a little less off.

I was working underneith the glacis plate because I hadent read right through the manual first.
and I had already done some welds and flushed off the fasteners on the front,when I found out
that taking off the glacis plate was recomended when i came to fit the Idler shafts.
But I did it
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Road Wheels coming together and Tracks assembled

[Robert E Morey]

Phil,
Great work on the T-34, its really coming together. It looks like a nice model. I love the machined track links! Keep us posted on your progress.

Nice to see one of the first ones coming together so well.
Best regards,
Bob

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Bob
Yes its going to be a fun model to build and the Kit parts are all lovely stuff as usual

Need to start turning the Hull a bit green soon especially the bottom,so I dont have to
keep turning it over now the weight is growing
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Trying My Wheels on to see if every thing is ok,befor I put my tyres on

[phil fitzpatrick]

Fitted my tyres

[Bill Riedel]

Good Morning, Phil.

I noticed in the second to last photo, you have what looks like added another coat of different colored primer to the suspension parts and appears that something has also been applied to give the components a rougher "forged or cast" texture.

How are you doing that? With what?

Really fine and quick assembly.

Best Regards,

Bill

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Bill
I was just having a play about with a Mat Black aerosol acrylic and I found a Green car paint when I was picking up
some more Red Oxide.
It was Vauxhall "Leaf Green" and it looked a reasonable shade for use as a quick under coat.
I was spraying the lower hull and the bottom from a longer distance than normal especially with the black to
make it speckly and dirty in the areas that would get dirty,I did the Green first then ran over the dirty places
with the Black,put more black on the bottom
But the texture turned out good aswell.
Once I move the Tank into my spare room,I will only be Air Brushing and weathering.
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Fitted my Road Wheels

[phil fitzpatrick]

Taper Bush parts

Sprockets Fitted