Russian T-34/76 Model 1942

Kit #07206

Review by Stephen Brezinski sbrez(at)suscom-maine(dot)net
Edited by Rob Haelterman

Preliminary note:
The T-34/76 Model 1942 is also (unofficially) known as T-34 Type C, and T-34-76.

The kit contains 84 injection-molded light gray styrene plastic parts and two black-colored band tracks. No etched brass parts are included.

The boxart shows an assembled model painted in a light Russian green color. In the photo we see the cast turret produced from 1940 to early 1943, and the dish-shaped rubber-tired roadwheels seen up to 1944; there are no all-steel roadwheels as was seen on some T-34 mod.1942s and mod.1943s.

The driver's hatch is the the late style; the earlier 1940 and 1941 driver's hatch had a single periscope opening in front and two small periscopes on either side looking off at a 45 degree angle. The bow machine gun now has the armored mantlet. On the rear are external supplemental diesel fuel tanks. Atop the turret roof hatch we see a single PTK-5 periscope that should have a viewing hole drilled into it. Note that there are no cylindrical fuel drums common to some later T-34s, and no tools attached to the sides. This model is basically the same T-34 version as ESCI/Italeri's T-34 M1942 kit. (Aslo see this article.)

The scan of Sprue C shows the basic parts for the model 1942 T-34 kit.
The driver's hatch can be modeled open and Trumpeter gives us nice detail on the rear of the driver's hatch. The rear engine plate which is supplied has the round rear access hatch so this kit cannot be used for a model 1940 or 1941. An odd thing that Trumpeter did, is to mold 12 separate grab handles for crew and tank riders yet mold six other handles as tall ridges sticking up from the engine deck and the sides of the turret. As a display modeler, the first thing I will do is to shave off these ridges!
The 76.2-mm F34 gun barrel is nicely done and slide-molded with an open muzzle. The cast turret looks nicely molded though it could use some texturing. On the turret sides are viewports that are open all the way through to the turret interior; these ports should be blocked off since they are for periscopes and are not supposed to be open. The turret roof hatch lacks fittings for the earlier 1940 turret.
A significant error that Trumpeter did with their turret is to leave out a bolted-on, plate with pistol-port on the rear of the turret. This plate can be scratchbuilt with not too much work. ESCI got this plate right on their T-34 m1942 kit, while UM also forgot to model this removable plate on their T-34 m1940.


Sprue B2 shows the solid, dish wheels with the correct number of bolts and decent and apparently accurate tire thread detail. The soft band tracks are very well rendered and appear to be 1942-1943 production tracks with tread pattern.


Trumpeter's original sprue (Sprue A, shown below) has parts appropriate for the 1942, 1943 and 1945 T-34's (sprockets and idler wheels, fuel containers, storage boxes and small fittings) with parts being snipped off and left on depending on the kit being sold. This sprue can be seen at Trumpeter's website and in other kit reviews. On this sprue were extra parts that Trumpeter has cut off, therefore depriving us of some extra parts to play with! There are no hand tools included with the kit, which is accurate with many early-war T-34s.

The instructions are black and white, 12-step exploded-view type typical of other Trumpeter kits and other manufacturers. With the painting and marking instructions on the last page. Trumpeter fails to identify the vehicle and unit for this set of decal markings. Unfortunately this is very typical of Trumpeter kits.


Back to Trumpeter Kit List Back to Home Page
Article Last Updated: 27 September 2009