Unimodel 251 T-34/76 Mod. 1940 Beutepanzer

A quick in-box preview of this recent addition to the UM T-34 range. Although this is my first T-34 kit from this manufacturer, I guess that most of the parts in this one also feature in one or more other UM T-34 kits.

This kit contains:

Plastic parts: 99
Resin parts: 6
Rubber parts: 20
Photo-etch parts: 2

No, you don't need new glasses: UM has provided resin parts to turn this T-34 into a "Beute". I don't know why that is, but the parts are nicely cast, so for a modeler with some experience these should not pose a problem. It also means that you get a complete Red Army T-34 Model 1940 as well. So, if you can get this kit for the same price as a regular T-34 and don't need the decals, you might as well buy this one.
( I am no T-34 expert whatsoever, so please let me know if UM is right in calling this a Model 1940.)

The sprue for the lower hull is marked UM327-B, which might mean it was first produced for the kit bearing the name "T-34/85 w/D5-T cannon" (although it will probably be included in a host of other T-34 kits). The bump stops for the suspension are slightly different than those in in kit 325 (T-34/76 Mod.1942).

The sprue for the upper hull and turret is marked UM328-E. As kit 328 corresponds to a T-34/85 w/Zis-S-53 cannon, this would ruin my theory above, as it definitely contains an early, flat turret and not the T-34/85 one.
I can't compare with all other kits, but the hull is different from the one in kit 325 (T-34/76 Mod.1942).

The resin parts which are unique to this kit and which contain the new copula from the Panzer III, a Notek light and some stowage boxes.

The regular small PE set:

You get two sprues for the tracks and road-wheels (marked UM336-A) and two for the rubber tyres and tow cables. While these have the advantage of making it easier to represent a vehicle with burnt-out wheels, I have some misgivings about the concept. Even more so as, reputedly, the rubber will eat into the plastic of the kit.

You only get one paint scheme, but decals for two vehicles. It's UM's habit to provide more decals than needed for the marking options, but as they probably researched them, they might as well tell us how to use them.
The manual speaks of an unknown unit, but I am pretty sure the tank on the back of the box is the vehicle of 4.(Pz.)Kp./s/Ski.Btl.1 as shown in Panzer Tracts 19-2 page 95. The next page in the same book shows a T-34/85 with turret marking "125" which might correspond to part of the spare decals. If so, this means we will get a T-34/85 Beute in the near fiuture.

Tony Mackinder adds:

The kit represents a model 1940, but it does not have the early tracks that are portrayed in the artwork.
The roof and cupola just look silly! It would be better to replace them with the spare ones from the Dragon German T-34 1942 kit.
The stowage boxes are good (the dragon equivalents are a just bit too big but could be used) .
The notek light is okay but the Dragon ones are better.
Typical items like a German jack, German aerial socket, spare track section or jerry cans are lacking.

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Article Last Updated: 24 January 2009