Výroba vlastních obtisků

I was fortunate enough to get these two new styrene kits within a day of each other and am not disappointed in either of them at all. Below is a side by side comparison review. A construction review I am sure will come soon.

The Hulls

     Both have very nicely done hulls that compare favorably in detail. Both the Eastern Express (EE) hull and the Revell hull have closed engine hatches making it more difficult to show an exposed engine [unlike the AER kit that has engine hatches that can be modeled open]. The EE front glacis has a driver’s hatch that opens with inside detail where the Revell’s driver hatch is molded closed. The Revell hull appears easier to assemble though has a small, easy to miss sinkhole on the rear lower plate.
     EE’s exhaust pipes are similar one-piece units like in ESCI’s T-34, though Revell has a more realistic two-part exhaust pipe and armor cover.     Revell offers the 1944 and later angular front fenders. EE offers the earlier rounded fenders common up to early 1944. If you look at the Revell Sprue you first think that the tow cable is broken and missing a short section of cable. Actually you glue the cable end onto the loop during assembly. EE supplies four cable ends and you supply the string or wire.


The Suspension & Running Gear

     EE’s wheels and suspension is the same as in their other T-34 kits, in fact the wheels have excess parts from the EE SU-85 kit. Revell has done a good job depicting features of the Christy spring suspension in case you wish to model the tank with missing wheels
     Revell features the spoked ”spider” wheels with holes, which are superb. EE’s also nicely done wheels are of the solid ”dished” style. Both kits’ wheels are about equal in size. Both have well molded link & length styrene tracks. I found Revell's sprocket and idler to more delicate and accurate.


The Turret

     Both turrets are done very well and compare favorably in detail & dimensions. The two kit’s turret periscopes depict two different variants of the M4 periscope. Revell’s turret features the later single-hatch, larger cupola hatch of the 1945 turret. Both turret hatches can be modeled open.
     EE’s turret has closed hatches and choice of either the early 1944 two-hatch or later 1945 single-hatch commander’s cupola. The problem with EE’s late style, ”1945” cupola is that it is the same diameter as the earlier hatch, where it should be larger in diameter.
     Revell’s 85-mm gun barell is longer and appears more accurate for the S-53 and Zis-S-53 guns. EE’s gun barrel is shorter and appears more accurate for the early 85-mm D-5T gun. While Revell offers the 1945 Zis-S-53 gun mantlet, EE offers choice of three different mantlets, which may not be accurate considering other Eastern Express turret features.

     Both kits need to have the turret’s prominent cast texture and weld marks enhanced. I do the cast texture with liquid solvent and stipple the wet plastic with a stiff brush. EE has four tiny separate lift hooks for the turret sides while Revell was small molded on nubs to simulate these hooks.

Markings

     The EE kit I have is an early release without decals or box art, so I cannot say anything about these features. The Revell comes with decal markings for two late WW2 Soviet tanks.

Conclusions

Both kits are very, very good and I honestly feel that any competition between them is a tie. Both have minor faults that are easily corrected in most cases. Both kits come with good instructions. The PART and Eduard etched brass will help in detailing. I guess you will have to buy both.