Ryefield packs plenty of detail and options into its T-34/85, including posable hatches, a movable gun barrel, detailed wheels, and an optional photo-etched metal (PE) grille. The decals provide markings for four Eastern Front vehicles, two from 63rd Guards Armored Brigade, and one each from the 7th Guards Armored Corps, and the 47th Guards Armored Brigade.
Building the lower hull and suspension was easy, including the lower backplate that builds from three parts. The springs and their channels attach inside the one-piece lower hull. I checked the alignment of the swing arms with a metal ruler.
The road wheels comprise separate rims and tires. This makes assembly more time-consuming, but the result is worth it and, as a bonus, it makes it easy to model worn or burned wheels.
While the link-and-length tracks were still on the trees, I painted them with Tamiya dark iron (XF-84), applied a dust wash, and dry-brushed the guide teeth with Tamiya chrome silver (X-11). While adding the tracks to the running gear, I discovered that each run is one link short, a problem since the links are not identical — they alternate between having a guide tooth and not. I think the problem is the alignment pin on each idler arm (Part C7). I suggest removing the pins and leaving the arms unglued as you dry-fit the tracks using tape. Then you can set the idler at the correct angle for the tracks.
The upper hull assembles in stages starting with the driver’s hatch with inside locks and periscopes. The periscopes are not clear plastic, so I painted the lenses with Tamiya gloss black (X-1) and the surrounds chrome silver to match photos.
Next, come the hull machine gun and engine louvers. I used a pen to shape the PE straps for the auxiliary fuel tanks before supergluing them in place. For the prominent large rear grille, the kit provides a solid molded plastic part or a plastic frame to be fitted with a PE screen. I chose the latter and bent one end over a paintbrush before gluing it in place.
The headlight is solid, so I painted the lens silver.
The Factory 174 turret correctly sits higher than the similarly shaped Factory 183 turret. Assembly starts with the gun mount and the one-piece main barrel, then moves on to the turret top and grab handles. The hatches here also have interior detail.
I painted the tank with Mr. Hobby dark green acrylic (No. H320) and the tires with Tamiya rubber black (XF-85). To add the white ID stripe on the turret, I hand-painted Vallejo cold white (No. 70.919) with a flat 6mm brush to match the sloppy way the stripes were painted on the real thing.
These decals went down without decal solutions; I just rolled a cotton swab over them and set the model aside to dry.
I spent 24 mostly trouble-free hours building and painting Ryefield’s T-34/85. The only hiccup was the track link shortfall, but it’s a relatively easy problem to fix.