Bronco's new T-34-85 but in 32nd scale??

It seems that there has either been a typo or Bronco Models has launched the first in a new series of 1/32nd armour kits - We think the latter - as the new kit of a rather famous  T-34-85 from the Chinese army in the Korean conflict is Kit No# 32001! See what we know about this latest kit from Bronco in our preview...

Bronco Model's new kit in January 2019

SOVIET T-34/85 MEDIUM TANK

From Bronco Models

1/32nd scale (!!!)

Kit No# MB32001    

Bronco is making a brand new T-34/85 tank. one of the most famous in history and one of many modeller's favourites with HEAPS of variants and sub-variants and adaptations/ alterations that give us heaps of possibilities... surely you know all about the T-34?

The T-34 in history...
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1941 to 1958. It is widely regarded as having been the world's best tank when the Soviet Union entered World War II, and although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the war's most effective, efficient and influential design. First produced at the KhPZ factory in Kharkov (Kharkiv, Ukraine), it was the mainstay of Soviet armoured forces throughout World War II, and widely exported afterwards. It was the most-produced tank of the war, and the second most-produced tank of all time, after its successor, the T-54/55 series.

The T-34 was developed from the BT series of fast tanks and was intended to replace both the BT-5 and BT-7 tanks and the T-26 infantry tank in service. A T-34 Model 1943 is in the picture below (left), next to the T-43 (the precursor to the T-34/85). You can see how the turret has been widened considerably

At its introduction, it was the tank with the best-balanced attributes of firepower, mobility and protection, although initially, its battlefield effectiveness suffered from the unsatisfactory ergonomic layout of its crew compartment, lack of radios and poor tactical employment. The two-man turret crew arrangement required the commander to serve as the gunner, an arrangement common to most Soviet tanks of the day; this proved to be inferior to three-man (commander, gunner and loader) turret crews.

The design and construction of the tank were continuously refined during the war to improve effectiveness and decrease costs, allowing steadily greater numbers of T-34s to be fielded. In early 1944, the improved T-34-85 was introduced, with a more powerful 85 mm gun and a three-man turret design. 

By the war's end in 1945, the versatile and cost-effective T-34 had replaced many light and heavy tanks in service and accounted for the majority of Soviet tank production. 

The T-34/85 was one of the North Korean and Chinese' main tank of the Korean conflict.

Its evolutionary development led directly to the T-54/55 series of tanks, built until 1981 and still operational today in some obscure battlefields around the world.

This kit from Bronco:
This new kit from Bronco represents a T-34-85 (which could be a Type 58 in North Korean service). The model is seen to be offered in 1/32nd scale which is a poser. We guess if you are going to start with any vehicle in a new series it might as well be the T-34-85.

CAD drawings of the exterior of the new kit

It looks fairly detailed, with the addition of Photo Etch for parts like the grills for the engine deck.

The markings for this kit are for the Korean War-era T-34-85 number "215"

We have some period and recent images of this tank... firstly from the Korean War:

Chinese volunteers with T-34-85 ‘215’ during the Korean War. This tank was famous for having reportedly destroyed five UN tanks, nine artillery pieces, a command post, a staff car, and twenty-six bunkers. This story, however, is regarded as somewhat fantastical and a typical piece of PLA propaganda.

Taken recently in 2017 - this photo shows the same tank T-34 tank No.215, 4th Company, 4th Tank Regiment, 2nd Tank Division of the People's Volunteer Army(PVA), commanded by Yang Aru, allegedly destroyed four and damaged one U.S. M46 Patton tanks from 6 to 8 July 1953. It also destroyed 20 U.N. bunkers. The tank is now preserved in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution

This kit is due in January! See more about Bronco's models on their website.