The T-34 was a successful tank design. The T-34’s sloped armour maximized the protection of the tank’s thick armour; the wide tracks allowed the tank to maneuver easily in the snow and mud; and the tank’s gun was efficient against heavily armoured tanks. Moreover, the T-34 was reliable, sturdy and easy to maintain.
The Beutepanzer, the German designation for captured armoured fighting vehicles, played an important role in the German military, augmenting the German armoured units. Foreign vehicles were given German vehicle designations and were repainted with Panzer colourings and markings. In 1943, the Germans started producing their own T-34 tanks from captured Russian T-34 factories. These T-34s were redesignated as the Panzerkampfwagen 747(r).
Italeri produces a 1/72 scale (20 mm) ‘fast assembly’ T-34/85 medium tank model kit, which includes the components for two T-34/85s.
I built and painted both Panzer 747(r)s (T-34/85s) with a camouflage pattern commonly found on late war German vehicles, using Vallejo Iraqi Sand (819), Military Green (795) and Flat Brown (984) for the camouflage. Dunkelgelb (dark yellow) became the standard base coat for German vehicles starting in 1943, with green and brown paints added to create patterns of camouflage. As well, I applied some extra Italeri German Panzer decals I had to the Panzer 747(r)s.
The images below are found in the German Armour I section of Citizen Soldiers: A 1/72 scale World War 2 Model Site.
Citizen Soldiers: A 1/72 scale World War 2 Model Site is devoted to the hobby of painting and collecting World War 2 models/miniatures. It is my hope, through creating this website, to honour the men and women who served in the Second World War, whose sacrifices and courage have given us the freedom and quality of life we have today.
No comments:
Post a Comment