Review

This offering from MiniArt arrives in the usual manner of a cardboard tray with a separate card lid. Inside all of the sprues are packaged in a single plastic bag, an inspection of the contents reveals no obvious moulding issues. However, there is an exceedingly large number of sprues, most of which are for the tank. I did find an atm belonging to a figure set that had broken free but was not damaged.

The T34/85 in this is the W D-5T. Plant 112. The figure sets supplied, certainly in the case of the crew cleaning the gun, is one of the older sets from MiniArt. However, it would appear that MiniArt has done some work on the moulds or the figures are better than I remember. Hand and facial detail is surprisingly good for a set of this period, and a little bit of help during the preparation will knock any rough edges present off. The officer figures are not ones that I recognise, but again the moulding is clean. Presentation is natural and there is just the faintest amount of flash present in a small number of areas, and so the figures should live up to expectations. An area of complaint for me is the base plate, which is vac formed. However, if you fill the back of it with plaster it should give you a stable platform to work from. It does mean that there are an exceedingly large number of moulding nipples on the roads surface that will need to be snipped off and sanded to be removed cleanly. Also included for the base is an ornate cast iron lamp post and a signpost. These are very nice items with regards to detail and the lamp itself can easily be fitted with an LED for those who want to add something a little special. My concern is that you basically have an A4 size platform with a uniform surface and I would have expected to find a lamp and a signpost on a pavement, or edge of a pavement and not in the road. My proposition to you is that you modify the base and create your own paved area to make it look more realistic. 

The T34/85 in this release, is one of the full interior kits and so you have a lot of interior detail both as regards the crew and engines compartments. The suspension of the model is locked in a neutral position, but in the belief that you are going to use this base that is an ideal situation. The photo etch in the set, is not excessively large, but I would have liked a jig for bending some of the photo etch as the curves could prove difficult for some modellers. However, you will get out of this model what you put into it, and so the result is very dependant on your personal ability. Some aspects of the model that may surprise, is that the tow cables need to be sourced by the modeller and MiniArt provides the shackles for these. There are some after market companies that provide excellent cable for this purpose, that takes bends beautifully and does not fight you. However, you could also go the whole hog and buy cables that have everything inside the packet. So that is a decision for you to make. You are also provided in this release, with 2 versions of the drive wheel - the differences are not that obvious regardless of which you choose and there are so many different details on the T34 family that I have no intention of getting into any arguments as to what is and is not accurate. The tracks are individual links, and I can’t help wishing that MiniArt would re-visit them and release an updated version, that does not fight the modeller so much unless perfectly clean. 

The turret of the model also has good interior detail, with the interior walls being fillets with both moulded on detail and details that you will need to add. The functionality of the T34 is I believe is functional rather than well laid out. A good example would be that many of the T34’s had no communications inside them, and even communicating with crew inside the tank was next to impossible when in use. It is good to see some ready to use ammunition for the main gun, as well as the MG to the side of the main gun. But if you compare this to a German tank, I think you will be surprised by how little is present within the turret. The breach of the main gun is very pleasingly detailed, and obviously provides you with a substantial item through the hatches. While on the subject of hatches, they can all be left open or closed and this includes the engine and I would probably look for a figure who is actively engaged with work on the engine, rather than someone stood looking at it. 

Another aspect of the model that pleases me, is that MiniArt has included clear parts where required. The gun barrel is a single piece moulding, which is a plus. Lastly included in the release, is fuel barrels, a tool set, some of which is not applicable for the model as I can’t think why you would use a wood plain on a tank!

Looking at this product as a whole, I do think that you get a reasonable amount for your money in this package. There are some changes I would make, but these are limited to changing the base, as it does not really work as laid out with the lamp and sign post in the road. The figures are something that I was concerned about when I first saw the release, however I was surprisingly pleased with what the figures offer an the tank of course, is of exceptional detail both inside and out.