Mistreatded T-34

Mistreatded T-34, Modelarstwo, czasopisma

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
MIS
Ulf Andersson
12
TREATED
bends more Soviet Armour
13
Russian organisation where the huge tank
formations from the initial stages of the
war were found obsolete against the
German tactics. A tank corps was roughly
the same size as a western tank division.
The 18th tank corps was formed in 1942
and fought in the battles leading to the
shores of Volga. It took part in operation
Uranus and the race for Kharkov in
February 1943. In July it fought at Kursk
and was one of the units in the famous
clash at Prokhorovka. It battled it’s way
across the Ukrainian plains into Rumania.
In the final stages of the war the 18th was
heavily involved in the bitter fighting in
Hungary and it ended the war in Austria.
Along the way the 18th tank corps was
several times badly decimated and at
some occasions more or less completely
wiped out. One such occasion was the
battle for Kharkov winter of 1943.
Of all the T-34 variants the model 43
production is by far my favourite, probably
since it’s so hooked up as the Red Army
workhorse in the mammoth battles in the
decisive year of 1943. When reading
literature covering this period it will forever
be that robust designed machine with it’s
Micky Mouse turret hatches that springs to
mind. It didn’t only help making history, it is
history itself. This tank was the backbone
of the Russian tank armies when the
Germans pushed back in the beginning of
1943.
In January 1943 the Russians still had
much to learn about tactics, especially
when their opponent was Manstein. The
third battle for Kharkov was a grim
reminder for the Russian headquarters that
victory wasn’t to be taken for granted that
easily and in fact it was the battle of Kursk
in July-43 that finally turned the tide on the
eastern front.
On January 13 the Russians started an
attack on a broad front breaking away
from river Don. On the 16th of October
Kharkov was back in Russian hands. The
city was defended by Hausser’s SS panzer
corps but he disobeyed Hitler’s order to
turn it to a second Stalingrad and withdraw
in order to fight from a more favourable
position. The Russians raced on towards
Some time ago when I was looking
through ”The Red Army Battle Order 1941-
45” my eyes fell on a tank unit who literally
took part in all the well known tank battles,
the 18th tank corps. It was formed as a
corps in 1942. This was part of the new
14
Dneipr and when their lines were stretched
and exhausted, Manstein struck with rapid
blows from Hausser’s SS-panzer corps,
Hoth’s 4th panzerarmie and Mackensen’s
1st panzerarmie.
In this turmoil we again find the Russian
18th tank corps. It was attached to Mobile
Group Popov, consisting of four tank corps,
which in the German counterattack was
encircled by Mackensen’s 1st panzer arme
(7 and 11 panzer divisions, SS division
Wiking and 333 infantrydivision) By
February 24, Popov’s group was trapped in
the area around Krasnoarmeyskoye. A
number of tanks and troops managed to
escape to the north but was finally caught
near Barvenkovo and shot to pieces. This is
like putting a magnifying glass to the map
in yet another monstrous clash on the
Eastern front. However, the destruction of
Mobile Group Popov is the scene for my
knocked out T-34, from the 18th tank
corps.
Imagine a dull, bitterly cold day. The
fighting in the area has died out. In the
distance the thunder from the front moving
north-east. The fields are littered with
wrecks. Flocks of crows are flying low and
stray dogs sneak around the hulks in
search for something to eat. No glamour,
no shining armour. Among Russians and
Germans, beasts and machines alike, just
the feeling of being…..mistreated.
Stop, and think twice!
When building a wrecked tank it’s very
important to carefully plan ahead. Yes,
that’s what we always do but even more so
for something knocked out. Usually, a story
goes with the model and this has to be
visible in the finished product. Here the
general feel is as important as the more
physical evidence like impacts from
grenades etc. Of course the painting
process gives a thousand opportunities to
show this, but also small details like placing
the debris around the tank, the base and
so on. It’s quite difficult to correct things so
a carefully planned story, build and paint
job is necessary. This is truly challenging,
and it is extremely important is not to rush
the job once the main object, the tank, has
15
been finished. Poorly executed groundwork
or sloppy painted debris can ruin the whole
effect, no matter how delicate the hulk
might be. I find that this takes discipline...
This is where the story around the model,
the history, steps in and helps out. The
twisted piece of scrap ends up being as
interesting as, for example, the turret.
don’t include anything remarkable. I
removed the three splashguards, filled the
holes for the extra fueldrum brackets. This
time I didn’t have to bother rounding the
front.
Damage is next. First I removed everything
on the inside of the lower hull to get an flat
surface to put plastic card onto. The
escape hatch is moulded on the bottom of
the lower hull. I cut it out and left the
space open. The sides would be exposed
at the front and it’s a very strange
impression one gets when looking at the
otherwise in scale thin armour. Then the
right side was separated from the floor and
bent inwards. I used the brilliant Jaguar
engine/transmission set which fits like a
glove. Some improvements were made
when the whole lot was going to be visible.
I replaced the exhaust pipes with brass all
hollow ones and detailed the fueltank
supports. One cyclone airfilter was left out
and the one in place was detailed around
the connection to the bulkhead. Finally, I
had to add the armour to which the rear
plate is attached. I carefully drilled out all
the holes in their proper place and put
some bolts left with their heads blown off.
Of course this has to correspond nicely
with the plate laying on the ground directly
behind the vehicle. The large rear plate
was also detailed referring to photos.
I got the T-34 ABER set as usual for this
model, even though I never use all the
microscopic, tiny parts. They tend to take
value away instead of adding when I’m
dealing with it. I simply have to practice
more I suppose…however, it’s great for
grilles, louvres, toolboxes and other
detailing. I left one of the rectangular
louvres out over the airintake and left the
top access hatch open and quite abused.
Some time ago I built the ARMO T-34 hull
which was really interesting because it’s
constructed as several parts. Back then, I
decided to take one of the armoured
covers away in cas I ever did a KO’d T-34,
something I’ve also seen on some
photographs. The right cover was taken
away with a fine saw and I built the plating
underneath it from plastic card. The
opening for the cooling louvre was made
with the Exacto knife and lids and bolts are
the ABER parts.
Fenders were made from printers
aluminium, an absolutely fantastic material
for constructing your own parts and easy
to shape as desired. The last thing worth
Construction
The idea for this wreck came from a photo
from the battle of Kursk. I wanted some
drastic and unusual damage and this
photo served the purpose very well. It’s a
hex turret and in all respects a classic
m43. Another unusual thing is the fact that
this victim doesn’t follow the common T-34
rules. The tank has suffered an enormous
explosion but the turret is still in place and
even more strangly, the hatches are both
there. The lesson to learn from this is of
course the fact that one should be careful
before saying; “ Hey, that’s wrong, that
never happened!” Literally anything could
happen it seems.
The DML T-34/85 m45 once again served
as the base when I built this m43 model.
The fixes to take it two years back in time
16
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

sylwina.xlx.pl