1:48 Russian T-34/76 (model 1943 Factory No.112)

T-34/76 model 1943, Factory No. 112 (1:48, Hobby Boss)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Soviet T-34/76 medium tank in the 1943 production version from Factory No. 112 in Gorky (Krasnoye Sormovo), in 1:48 scale from Hobby Boss. Compared with the older 1942 configuration it captures a later vehicle with the characteristic cast hexagonal turret. The package holds decals with Soviet army markings; check the exact number of parts and schemes against the manufacturer's part number for this item.

The real subject

The T-34/76 was the backbone of the Soviet armored forces in the first half of the war. The 1943 version brought a new cast hexagonal turret, nicknamed formicka, the little baking mold, among Czech modelers, which offered more room and easier production. The vehicle kept its sloped armor, the 76 mm F-34 gun, the V-2 diesel engine and wide tracks for moving across country. Tanks from Gorky were fielded in large numbers on the Eastern Front in 1943, among other places at the Battle of Kursk and in the offensives that followed.

Building and painting tips

Assemble and paint the running gear (wheels, rollers, tracks) before you close the hull. Glue with liquid cement for plastic and the fine parts with cyanoacrylate glue. The cast turret has a rougher cast texture that can be suggested with putty texture or with a brush. After the base green, apply a gloss coat under the decals and complete the weathering with dark washes and pigments for mud effects.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of Soviet armored vehicles of the Second World War
• Modelers with experience of building tanks in 1:48 scale
• Anyone interested in late T-34/76 versions with the cast turret
• Builders of dioramas of 1943 and the Battle of Kursk

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.