Unimodel 1/72
OT-34 Flame-Thrower Tank

Background

Production of the Soviet WWII OT-34/76 flame-thrower tank began in June of 1942. This version followed the British practice of retaining the main gun and mounting the flame gun in the hull. Its arms consisted of a 76.2mm main gun: the F-34. In addition to the flame gun it mounted a 7l.62mm DT machine-gun.

The first flame system ATO-41 was replaced by the ATO-42; the earlier system had 100 liters (22 Imp gal) capacity while the OT-34 ( ATO-42) held 200 liters (44 Imp gal). It could reach 80 – 90 m (89-98 yards) with unthickened fuel and under ideal conditions, with thickened fuel, up to 110 m (120 yards).

The flame gun was mounted in the hull in the machine-gun position and operated by an electric pump with a 20mm cartridge for ignition. The gun had a 5 degree traverse off center and was capable of six two-second shots.

Ammo for the main gun was 77 rounds. The crew consisted of 3 or 4 members. In total 1170 of the OT-34/76’s were manufactured.

The Kit

What’s in the box?:

The kit comes in an end opening type box. The box art shows a OT-34/76 tooling along in the snow through a forest. The back of the box has the painting and marking instructions, in full color. It calls out the Humbrol model paint line for colors. There is also a brief history given in Ukrainian, English and German. However, the English is quite fractured. Um needs a better translator.

The kit contains 5 sprues of dark green styrene parts, a cello bag with 2 trees of black vinyl tires and tow cables, a fret of brass PE parts and the decal sheet. The 4 page instruction sheet completes the contents.

The brass PE gives us a engine air intake screen a two handed saw and a riveted reinforcing ring that goes around the bow machine-gun opening.

One of the 5 trees of styrene parts is duplicated. These two identical trees hold the running gear and link and length type treads. The third tree holds the lower hull parts that have to be assembled into a tub. The fourth tree holds the upper hull piece and hatches etc. The final, fifth tree, holds the turret parts.

Page one of the instructions begins with a repeat of the vehicle’s history in Ukrainian, English and German followed by the parts tree drawings and international assembly symbol translations.

Page two begins with READ BEFORE YOU START instructions (in the same three languages again) This is followed by the first 3 assembly steps and a list of Humbrol paints that are suggested to use.

Page 3 gives us the balance of a total of 7 assembly steps.

Page 4 gives 2 four-view drawings of 2 painting and marking schemes:

• 47th Independent Flame-thrower regiment, Autumn 1944
• Unknown Independent Flame-thrower Tank Brigade, Leningrad Front, Winter 1944

The kit has the treads done as link and length style. There are no figures in the kit. There are some parts that are shaded out on the parts tree drawings as being excess and not needed to complete the kit. These amount to a total of around 41 parts. So, you will have quite a bit of stuff to put in your spares box.

Conclusion

Detail looks good and crisp and no flash is evident. Highly recommended. You can see for yourself at your local hobby establishment or you can find this kit online at Squadron Mail Order.

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!