The T-34 tank has to be one of the ten most successful weapons to come out of WWII. Easy to built and maintain, it also had sufficient armor to hold its own against the current crop of German tanks. It is also one of the most modeled tanks around with kits available in every conceivable scale from 1/700 to 1/16.

This book on modeling the T-34/76 derivative concentrates on 1/35 scale. The authors have chosen to do things a bit differently from the other 'modelling' books in that there is no section on tools, not much historical background, no section on museums, no color chart. Just a half page of intro at the beginning, and a page each of bibliography and current kits/accessories at the end. In between are four very involved build articles, each of which uses a Dragon/DML kit as the basis.

These articles include:

T-34/76, Factory 112, 1942

Early T-34/76 Model 1943 'Sniper'

STZ T-34/76, Italian Army

German T-34/76(r), Western Front 1944

The build articles themselves are superbly done with lots and lots of photographs. Not only are the various modifications shown, but much of each article is devoted to different types of weathering. The results are stunning to say the least. I could never hope to duplicate what they have done, but it isn't from their lack of instruction in this regard. Each technique is fully described so that those of you with talent will be able to follow along and obtain similar results.

Yet another outstanding book in the series and one that I can highly recommend to you. Due out by October of 2006

August 2006

Available in bookstores everywhere. For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com

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