Tamiya 35059 - 1:35 T34/76 (1943)

1:35 plastic model kit of the Soviet T-34/76 Model 1943 tank

Tamiya 35059 depicts the T-34 in its Model 1943 form – with the distinctive, roomier hexagonal cast turret and all-steel road wheels. Vehicles of exactly this type formed the backbone of the Soviet tank brigades at the Battle of Kursk. The model is produced from 1976 tooling and measures 194 mm when assembled.

The kit offers a choice of two commander's hatches, allowing you to represent vehicles from different production batches. Vinyl band tracks speed up work on the running gear considerably, while three figures – full commander and loader figures plus a driver bust – add life to the finished model.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, hexagonal turret and fittings
• Vinyl band tracks
• Two commander's hatch options
• Two full figures (commander and loader) plus a driver bust
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35059
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 194 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The build is quick and accessible to beginners. The choice of commander's hatch is worth making before the turret goes together. The all-steel road wheels are best painted before the band tracks are fitted, as access to the inner running gear becomes limited afterwards.

Soviet protective green is the recommended base colour (e.g. Tamiya XF-58 Olive Green). The model responds well to heavy weathering – a dark brown wash along the weld seams and around the hatches, edge highlights in a lighter green, and pigments for dust and mud on the running gear. Military vehicle models are usually finished with a matt varnish.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for mud and dust effects

About the vehicle – T-34 Model 1943:

Early T-34s had a flaw that cost many crews their lives: a cramped two-man turret in which the commander also had to serve the gun. The Model 1943 was an attempt to ease the problem, receiving a larger cast turret of hexagonal shape that offered a little more space and better observation.

The armament remained unchanged: the 76.2 mm F-34 gun, still able to deal with most German vehicles, though it was beginning to fall behind against the new Panthers and Tigers. Power came from the 500 hp V-2-34 diesel, and combat weight rose to around 30.9 tonnes. The all-steel road wheels, without rubber tyres, were a response to wartime rubber shortages.

It was in this form that the T-34 took part in the greatest armoured battle of the Second World War – the fighting in the Kursk salient in the summer of 1943. These mass-produced tanks were what allowed the Soviets to keep the initiative on the Eastern Front.

Original vehicle specifications (T-34 Model 1943):

• Hull length: approx. 6.7 m
• Width: approx. 3.0 m
• Height: approx. 2.6 m
• Combat weight: approx. 30.9 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 76.2 mm F-34 gun
• Turret: cast, hexagonal in plan
• Road wheels: all-steel
• Powerplant: V-2-34 diesel engine, 500 hp
• Combat debut of the variant: the Battle of Kursk, 1943

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade, but by the late 1940s it was producing wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first plastic model kit. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this T-34 kit belongs, runs to hundreds of items and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.