Question for Cookie (or anyone else who might know)

Because I know next to nothing about Soviet armour and because I can't find a definitive answer, I'm gonna ask here...
If I was wanting to build a T-34 as seen at Kursk (Prokhorovka, to be precise), which of the umpteenfarsand available T-34 kits would be my best starting point? (I looked in my local hobby shop today, and they had 3 Dragon versions, maybe 4 - all those sub-type numbers get me confusered. Then there's the other brands as well... sheesh, I thought we were oversupplied with Bf109 kits.) I'm just after a generic '34, no particular unit etc, and it's going be slighty destroyed. I'd prefer to do a minimum of mods, adding as little detail as possible (def no resin or etch unless it's crucially important).
Ditto the German Tiger 1, although I'm pretty sure a generic 'early' Tiger would suffice, as research seems to indicate that the Kursk Tigers were among the first commited to battle anywhere (but I could be wrong).
Anyone got a suggestion or 2? Cheapest is bestest, but if I have to buy a <gulp> Cyber-Hobby kit to make my job easier, I will.
Thanks guys RobG (The Aussie one)

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Well, I don't know what this is worth but...
1/35?
My impression is that the Soviet tanks got used up pretty quickly. Anything that was a 1943 production I would guess.
Look for T-34/76. The T-34/85 came along after Kursk.
Look at Cybermodeler.com (Cookie's reviews are here), Missing-Lynx, Track Link, Modeling Madness, ARC Armor (good but new) and Aromorama.
1/35 Russian T34/76 1943 Production Model Item No:35059
Cheap enough probably, it's an early Tamiya, I have a couple banging around here somewhere it sure looks like the T-34s on the Military Channel. Just add glue and shake the box.
Build Review: http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/tam/build_tam_35059.shtml
AFV Club      AFV35143 T-34/76 1942 Factory 112 With Full Interior    $54.95     AFV35S51 T-34/76 Model 1942 Factory No. 112 - Special Edition    $57.95 AFV35S57 Russian T-34/76 Tank Model 1942/43 Factory No.183    $58.95    
Cyber-Hobby      CHC6355 T-34/76 Stz. Mod. 1941 2' n 1    $52.95     CHC6388 T-34/76 Stz. Mod. 1942    $45.95     CHC6452 T-34/76 No.112 Factory Krasnoe Sormovo Early Production Tank $61.95 CHC6486 T-34/76 MOD. German Army 1942 Cast Turrett W/ PZ III    $46.95 CHC6487 T-34/76 Mod.1942 Formochka    $0.95    
DML/Dragon Models      DML6092 T-34/76 Early Version Mod. 1940    $47.95     DML6185 T-34/76 German Army    $44.95     DML6205 T-34/76 Mod. 1941    $46.95     DML6418 T-34/76 Mod.1941 Cast Turret    $47.95     DML6424 T-34/76 Mod.1942 Hexagonal Turret Soft Edge Type Smart Kit $53.95 DML6479 T-34/76 No.112 Factory Krasone Sormovo Late    $49.95     DML6487 T-34/76 Mod. 1942 Formochka Smart Kit    $54.95     DML6614 OT-34/76 Mod.1943 (No.112 Factory) - Smart Kit    $53.95    
DML T-34/76 Mod.43 w/Commander Cupola Factory No.183 - Smart Kit 6564 T-34/76 No.112 Factory 'Krasnoe Sormovo' Early Production 3-in-1 6452 T-34/76 STZ Model 1941 2-in-1 6355 T-34/76 STZ Model 1942 2-in-1 6388
Italeri      ITA0282 T-34/76 M 1943    $23.50    
Lee Models      LEE307 T-34/76 Russian Tank    $22.95    
Tamiya      TAM35049 T-34/76 Tank 1942    $30.00     TAM35059 T-34/76 1943 Model Russian Tank    $26.95     TAM35149 T-34/76 Tank ChTZ    $39.00    
Zvezda Models      ZVE3525 T-34/76 Tank Mod. 1943 Soviet    $23.95 ZVE3535 T-34/76 (1942) Soviet Tank    $32.95     ZVE3580 T-34/76 w/ Mine Roller    $32.95    

On 11/05/2012 10:58 AM, ftauss wrote:
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Good Lord... I knew there was a fair selection of kits, but wow. Quite a list, thanks for compiling it.
I'll look around online, see which of the ones you mention as suitable are available cheaply, and go from there.
Thanks a lot for the info. I'd figured out the 76/85 timeline, but it's good to have my deductions confirmed.
RobG (the Aussie one)

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Glad to help.
I'd suppose that the Italeri and Zveda are the same. They USED to be inexpensive but the importer has lost his mind. I'd ventuer a guess the old Tamiya will be the cheapest, with the exception that someone has asome kind of a super sale. Ebay has quite a few. Good luck!

The Tamiya "Model 1943" (really a Model 1942 with an optional cupola for a '43) is not a very good kit unless you want it burned out in the background of a dio.
If you want a "foreground" model the DML or AFV Club (not Hobby Boss unless you change scales) are the best choices (standard model 41 or 42, either one would have been there) but most of them would have been the Factory 183 or 112 vehicles, not the STZ ones.
Cookie Sewell

On May 13, 2:35 am, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote:
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Thanks Cookie. The '34 will be the centerpiece, so I'll try to find a DML version.

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Haha. I sold an HB T-34 a few months ago as part of my stash pogrom. Never mind. 35th is the scale of choice for this one, as I'm wanting to put some tank crews in a diorama. Thanks for the thought though.

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O.K. - How about this bad boy then? Note Hannants have it on special offer. http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AF35S51
Cheers,
Moramarth

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Say, while we are on about Reds and Pinkos given I have a few T-34s and KV laying about, what does Cookie say about ... wait for it ... color?
What paint, brand and color, is a good match for WWII Soviet Armor green. And did they ever 2 or 3 tone them? Assuming that MM Soviet Armor Green is Post War.
I don't need color chips and references back to the Kremlin, just ballpark. The beasts always look filthy on the Military channel anyways.

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They were all nominally painted "4BO" green, which is close to FS34088 or FS34102 depending on who mixed it. (The Russians used pigment mixed with whatever was available such as low-octane gasoline as a thinner.)
There are fancy "modulation" sets out there with six or seven different versions of the base shade but for the most part the base color can be weathered by your favorite method to get the right effects.
Cookie Sewell

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote in
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About like the Germans. Yeah I was thinking something like that or some form of OD and lighten to taste.
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Nah, I'm getting into mixing my own. I think those sets make it to easy.

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Holy Russkie tanks, Batman, that is a badboy indeed. And cheaper than the Dragon kits I can buy here, too. I might grab a couple or more, for just-in-case. Thanks for the heads-up.
RobG