T34/76 Mantlet detail

These are some close up views of the Rubicon T34/76.

I need to fabricate a mantlet for the blown turret (the only bit I have been unable to obtain from this or other kits.

T34/76 damaged turret

The Rubicon T34/76 kit contains a number of optional components. Once you have chosen the version you are going to build you have a number of spare bits. Unfortunately you cannot assemble an additional turret (though there is another complete 76mm turret in the T34/85 kit). In the T34/85 kit there is a spare lower turret ring so you can assemble most of a second (or third really) turret complete except for part of the mantlet.

The spare ring from the T34/85 kit is bottom left.

Scaling exercise for a 76.2mm round (a Warlord Marder III crew man).

Receiver in place in the turret.

In detail.

 Sight assembly.

A couple of photographs of the Studebaker with the T34/76.

Weirdly they were both sprayed with the same Humbrol Dark Green spray. Evidently I used more Citadel Athonian Camoshade on the Studbaker.

Bad Squid Female Soviet troops - PPSH-41 SMG

This is the first of the Bad Squiddo Soviet soldiers I have painted. They clean up reasonably well, but this one has an unfortunate mould line running across the helmet and then across the face. The discontinuity is obvious on the helmet at this magnification.

 I still have to add some foliage to the base.

Here she is being supported by a T34/76.

With overhead daylight fluorescent lamp above, without below.

Comparison with a Bolt Action Soviet Infantry man.

 The bodies are only slightly smaller in stature, the helmet and gun are both smaller.

 Though there is a difference, for the SMG gunners it is not that noticeable. However, it will be noticeable for the rifle armed troops, but I need to paint them first.

A final shot of the Bolt Action figure and the Rubicon T34/76.

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build part four

So I used Citadel Athonian Camoshade on the body and turret, and Citadel Agrax Earthshade on the wheels and tracks. Unfortunately the shade dried with a mixed gloss and matt finish, so I used some Humbrol acrylic matt varnish (49) to get a common matt finish.

To recap, the tank was undercoated with Citadel Chaos Black followed by Humbrol Dark Green spray. The track and wheel treads were painted with a mix of Vallejo Black Grey and Hull Red. A mix containing more Hull Red was used on the ice cleats and the spare track links.

A similar mix was used on the exhaust pipes.

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build part three

So I have undercoated the tank (Citadel Chaos Black spray) and given it a base coat of Humbrol Dark Green spray.

I masked the tracks to reduce the amount of over painting that was required. I have painted over the black with a mix of Vallejo Hull Red and Black Grey. The spare track pieces were painted with a more mix containing more Hull red. The exhaust pipes and the front tow hooks have also been painted.

The wheels need a bit of touching up.

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build part two

So I have finished the build. Besides the rails, it has been built straight out of the box.

The fuel tanks on the rear deck have been smoothed off and attached. I had contemplated adding some soft stowage, a bucket and other bits such as pioneer tools.

But as that is the reason why the T34/85 build is still not finished, I decided to just leave it as is.

There is a lot of dust on it, it will be dusted before it goes for undercoating (when the weather improves).

Rubicon Models T34/76 - the build

So I have assembled the kit to this point. There are a lot of options, the best bet is to find a prototype and then choose the parts to match.

I chose the "Cast" turret with the two periscopes, the Stalingrad sale gun mantlet and the all steel wheels. A late style engine access hatch was used at the back.

I was just going to build it "out of the box", but ended up adding some hand rails, using the Bill Bedford hand rail jig.

Stowage and hull machine gun to be added.

Rubicon T34/76 - the sprues

I bought this when the kit was originally released, but have not got round to building it.

The later T34/85 kit build is currently awaiting finishing, but is going to have additional stowage.

The T34/76 however will be effectively straight out of the shop and into the fray so will not have the delay.  Once I decide what version to build.

There is an additional sprue for another turret present in the T34/85.