Armourfast, T34 – 85 Russian tank

[GDonk]

Hi there
just wondered if anyone could give me a quick opinion on the Armourfast T34-85 (or 76), 2 in a box, kit. I'm not looking for a historically perfect representation (not that I've suggesting that it isn't) but an idea of how the component parts are presented.  I've never bought the Armourcast brand. Do they have separate parts for chassis, running gear, tracks etc as in a traditional scale model or is it in larger moulded units akin to the Zvezda style snap together kits?- To put into some sort of context, I'm looking for a basis for a 28mm conversion into the imaginary Jungle Cutter vehicle featured in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull and just need the chassis, running gear and tracks. I will scratch build the rest. 1/72 looks about the right scale for the basis looking at comparison shots with characters from the film. Any thoughts welcomed. Many thanks in anticipation, GDonk.

[GDonk]

Ok - forget that question! I've done some more poking about on the interweb and found this. Cheers anyway, GDonk

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Useful find, I had wondered about Armourcast before.

[GDonk]

Yeah - looks like it'll do the job and for £4.50 one tank on a single sprue on E-Bay, its got to be worth a punt.  When it arrives and I start on the (yet another) project I'll post some more of my W.i.P but never finished shots on the PA thread!

[Norm]

I think this is one vehicle in which the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) T34 (3 in a box) is a good option because you get both the 76mm and the 85mm turrets, making those 3 vehicles twice as versatile.

As for armourfast, I have several (not the T-34) and like them. Generally the track face has lower details, but with a splash of mud etc on the tracks, it matters little. They have few parts and go together well.

[GDonk]

Hi Normsmith - thanks for your reply.

Yes - I saw the PSC ones on-line as well when I was looking around, but as I'm discarding the upper hull and turret, and using the lower bits for a conversion, I've gone for a single tank on a sprue from the Armourfast twin pack which someone was selling on E-Bay. Cheers

[Ultravanillasmurf]

There is always the spare track sets from the Rubicon T34/76.
http://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?topic=19.msg3636#msg3636

[GDonk]

Thanks again - I'll bear that in mind for when the knife blade slips and I ruin the one I've ordered!

[forrester]

I have a lot of these, both 76 and 85.
Armourfast dont try to depict tools and other hull details, and if Im doing British Shermans for example I get detailing sets from S and S or EWM.
However as T34's look quite plain anyway it's not so much of a problem.