T-34 assistance offered

[davebane]

Hey all,
New here... have a T-34 on order...
I'm in the USA, but I own a late 1944 T-34/85. It is on premises... I will be happy to provide any assistance or measurements etc. if needed for the community...
I will also be looking for additional pieces and parts to model my specific tank...

Thanks!

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

[Robert E Morey]

Dave,
Welcome to the forum. How cool is that to have your own real T-34! Too cool! Wish I was close to Indiana!
Best regards,
Bob

[Jan_Donadoni]

Hello !!!
that's really "unfair competition"

Is the real one in driving condition?
You'll for sure receive TONS of mails asking for pictures and mesurement of thousands of details, and if someone is getting close to you, a roundtrip ride also!

Maybe some sounds of the motor will be very appreciated, to be uploaded and the sound system. Motor starting, Motor idle, motor revving up, motor full ahead, motor turning down.

GUn firing ???

Also, a sound I was always looking for is the sound of the track... that kind of metal klinging...

[Dale jordan]

Hi Dave . You lucky man . Can you tell us all how you ended up with this bady !! What did you have to go thought to get it . I've gone 1.1 as well ... Dale

[davebane]

Well she is just one of my "full scale" family. I also have a T-54, T-55AM2, BMP-1, BPzV (recon variant of the BMP), OT-90, BTR-60 and BTR-40. I was trying to convince the armortek folks to get into modern armor at War & Peace... T-55 please!

I came across her from a collector in the northern US. As the story goes a well known Soviet tank general defected during the cold war. He brought with him a lot of info regarding force sizes, order of battle etc. He had served in T-34s during WWII. Some time after the wall fell the son of the well known general wrote the Russian consulate, that if a T-34 was available he would like to acquire one for his father, and described who his father was. Sometime later he received a call from the docks on the E. seaboard, to say there was a piece of armor sitting there for his father.

When the unit was picked up, there was a letter stating that Russia had appreciated his service and it was a new era for the Russian people. Something to the effect all is forgiven and take this as a token of appreciation for the past. Thats the story anyway.

The unit is a late '44 with a registered breech (as in operational). She is quite literally the finest '34 I have ever seen personally. I can certainly help with audio and for anyone who is wanting to do custom parts or other products for the '34 line, I would be happy to assist in anyway... provided of course one of your production pieces makes it my way... LOL!

I also have access to an operational DT machinegun (as I am a Class II manufacturer in the US) so if someone needs that sound, it can be arranged. Let me know how I can help!

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Armor Collection

[davebane]

Ok guys, due to a lot of requests, I have uploaded some measurement pics of various parts of the '34...



First this is the front tow hook, size and shape. From the 8 or 9 T-34/85s I have personally inspected, this was the most used... it matches the rear...





Length is 10.75 inches... height just over 5 inches.

Location of the vision slit and pistol port:








Vision slot from top of turret: 1 ft. 1 inch
Pistol Port Plug Center from top of turret: 1 ft. 7 inches
Width of vision slot: 4 inches
Width of pistol port plug: 3 inches
Depth of pistol port plug (removed): 3.5 inches
Protrusion on pistol port plug (installed): 1 inch top, < .25 bottom
Center of Pistol Port Plug (along turrent jib line from edge of mantlet): 3 ft. 9 inches

Rear tow hooks:



Same length and depths as fronts

Another picture, left side:



Picture of front head on:



Hope this helps... when we get her out we will get a sample of the engine, engine start, and track sounds...

This is a late '44 tank, but has had post war upgrades, which is mainly the light and horn addition.

PLEASE REMEMBER if you are doing a T-34, you can rarely model to much dirt... and oil on the back under the exhaust. The dirt you see is just from driving across dry turf with grass! This this is a 38ton launch "cookie" cutter and its gets dirty everywhere!

Thanks guys! If anyone comes up with some templates from these, I'd sure appreciate a copy, as well as pistol ports if someone makes them!

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

[davebane]

Oh, one more thing... the youtube video of the T-34 / 85 prototype shows spare track on the right side of the tank on the "shelf" above the track. This however was where the track grousers were placed... I have track grousers if anyone wants photos to make them. Traditionally track was placed underneath the turret handles and on the front of the hull.

Dave Bane

[Brown Hawkins]

Dave,
I know I'm being picky here but how thick is the weld/base the tow hook sits on? Also, how long is the pistol port plug and is it held in by a chain or cable?

Here's all I have:



Thanks for your help,

Brown

[leesellars]

Hello Dave

First class thank you very much

Lee

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Dave
I have a few questions to tap your valuable experience.

Are the vision slits in the Turret and the Cupola open to the elements,or
protected behind with glass?

What is the purpose of the vertical welds on the lower Turret that are near
the horisontal weld but dont seem to cross it and it looks to be from the
model 1944 to 1945?

Do you have any sizes for the Smoke Canisters on the rear of the T34/85
and any discription on the workings of them.
I know they were electricaly fired but how was the smoke released?
I have seen a photo with a panel that was open on the horisontal surface.

RE Handles for lifting the Rear Deck Lid,I have seen a couple of photo's
showing different handles,but several photo's with no handles at all.
It must be heavy to lift with out them.
Do your T34's have any?
Cheers
Phil

[davebane]

Hey Phil,

The vision slits are indeed back by a vision block...



I cannot verify however if this was a post war addition or not. I will have to pull my reference material out and see...

I believe for the second question you are referring to this:



We believe those to be tool marks in the mold... everyone I have ever seen has these if war production as well as the bump on the left side of the turret (from inside).

I do not have any sizes for the rear smoke canisters... I do have the brackets. When I return from our big machine gun shoot I will attempt to measure them...

These were fired by an electrical charge. The bracket also enabled the tankers to drop these canisters and leave them behind to continue to emit smoke as you got out of there. These are rare on remaining T-34s... I've only seen them on units at the Lesany musuem in Czech republic... but I have not been to Tankograd.

The ones I saw in Lesany had no visible means for the smoke to come out, perhaps the electrical charge blew open a section for the smoke to emit? I do not believe they were reusable. I found my original photo from Lesany... it is below:



The rear deck has two handles, and while I can't remember if I've ever seen a '34 without them, mine definitely does. These are not for lifting the rear armor... they are only for riders as the Russians used the '34 as a battle taxi. The weight of this armor is significant, it would break the welds quickly.

The engine access hatch (which is mostly under the turret bustle) has no handle on my tank and due to restricted access, I am unsure if this is common or unusual. I noticed on your model Armortek had supplied one. This is one heavy door believe me, and when opened allows access to the top of the engine heads and the fuel injectors.

Keep us posted on your progress! My Armortek T-34 arrived two days ago!

Dave Bane
Eastern Indiana Tank Collection

[davebane]

Upon further inspection, it appears that the smoke dischargers do indeed have an opening that is triggered by the electrical impulse of firing...

Dave Bane

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Dave
Thanks very much for all the info,its agreat help to learn this way.
I did see a picture with a little panel missing out of the smoke canister when it was
on the ground behind a knocked out T34,so that might be the one you refer to.
Thanks for the Tool mark and sprue info,I thoght at first they were small vertical welds
but they didnt seem to have a purpose.
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi dave
Forgot to say the engine hatch handle was one I made myself,I saw a photo
of a T34/85 with a fold down handle because of the Turret clearance.
Yes I can imagine how heavy these hatches etc are to lift and get access
Cheers
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Dave
Have you got time to take measurements of the vision block assembly and any more
photo's showing the workings,or descriptions like you did for the drivers hatch.
Also I have a couple of pictures which show some sort of spring assisded bar that helps
hold the Cupola Hatch and Loaders Hatch open.
Could you please confirm this and take some photo's for us.
Have you had time to start on your own T34 model?

Thanks Dave
Cheers
Phil