OT-34/76
Soviet Flame-Thrower Tank

UM, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glenn Porter

UM's 1/72 scale OT-34/76 is available online from Squadron.com

This is another in the series of T-34s by UM but this time it's a flame-thrower tank.

With 194 plastic parts, even with link and length tracks, you can see it must be very detailed and it is. Now people who know more about T-34s than I do tell me that UMs range have a few small inaccuracies, but I'm willing to let them go by because these models are so nicely moulded and detailed. The flame throwing device replaces the hull MG in this instance and the turret still carries the 76 mm anti tank gun and coaxial MG.

All the injection moulded plastic is in a dark green and the soft rubbery plastic is black. UM are inclined to over-engineer their kits in my opinion and if the modeller is not careful this can lead to miss-alignment of parts especially while assembling the chassis. However, the nine build diagrams are reasonably clear although the placement of some parts is a bit vague due to there not being any locating pins so be careful. I noticed, in the parts plan, they tell you not to use one of the four external fuel tanks but then in the rest of the instructions they only use two.

PE parts only number three, an engine screen, a saw blade to go on the hull side and small surround for the hull MG/flame thrower nozzle. That shouldn't scare off too many people.

I've mentioned before, while reviewing these kits, that I don't like the rubber tyres for the road wheels. Having separate tyres is, in it's self, okay, it makes them easier to paint but why make them in the soft stuff? That just makes it hard to eliminate the inevitable seam around each one. Fortunately, with the 38[t] range they've stopped doing it.

The decals are nicely printed, look very thin with good register and cover two vehicles, one in winter white wash and the other in the standard Russian Armour Green.

These UM kits are very welcome by us Braille Scalers and I generally believe they will build into nice little models however their moulding is not quite as good as Revell, the yard stick, and they are a little over-engineered but at leased they give us link and length tracks which is what the modellers want.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Squadron for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2005 by Glen Porter
Page Created 17 June, 2005
Last updated 17 June, 2005

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