T-34 (new project) and new ideas for sharing my 3D works - August 5th, 2023
Hello everyone. It's me Antony, back with another blog in 2023. We are now on August 5th - past the half of 2023. Now that I'm working and my 7th semester has started, my time for Blogs decreased to some occasions. At least it is good to be back at work.
A while ago, the town hall announced a new civil service exam for this year - with some to the education and health departments. I'm still waiting for the subscriptions to be open in case I plan to apply for another public job. Like I said before, I may give it a shot, but it will be the same thing as before - Reserve my rest days for study. If I fail, it would be another civil service performed, with my money being spent for nothing.
For the calling process to work as a teacher, I definitely gave up due to the lack/low number of vacancies for mathematics teachers. My mom said for December they might re-open the subscriptions. However, I'm not sure I plan to do that in case I'm going to wait for too long until they reach to my position and then I announce my interest for that vacancy.
Enough of that, let's go for the important. For this Blog, I'm going to bring new images of a new project I started recently. I know. I'll never get tired of starting new projects while I have countless of undergoing projects. For this one, the focus is the T-34 - the famous WW2 Soviet tank. As always, I like to share its story in my Blogs.
The T-34 is the Soviet most produced medium tank during WW2. Prior to WW2, the Soviets' armored forces consisted of the T-26 and BT tanks. During the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939), Soviet authorities realized several strengths and weaknesses from these two tanks. The T-26 was slow-moving but was designated to support the infantry while the BT tanks were cavalry tanks: fast-moving but light armored. Both were based on foreign design, with the T-26 based on the British Vickers 6-Ton and the BT tank on the Christie's prototype tank. Before Operation Barbarossa, the Soviets designed the T-28: a multi-turret medium tank to support the infantry to suppress enemy forces and fortifications during the Winter War on Finland, but some units fell to the Finnish due to mechanical issues and lack of proper training after the effects of the Soviet Purges. In 1937, the young engineer Mikhail Koshkin was assigned to the Kharkiv Komintern Locomotive Plant (KhPZ) to design a replacement for the BT tanks. The first prototype, designated A-20, had a modified BA-20 engine and was specified with 20 mm (0.8 in) of armor, a 45 mm (1.77 in) gun, the production model used a Model V-2-34 engine, a less-flammable diesel fuel in a V12 configuration designed by Konstantin Chelpan. It also had an 8×6-wheel convertible drive similar to the BT tank's 8×2, which allowed it to run on wheels without caterpillar tracks. By 1937–38, a second prototype was built by Koshkin, a more heavily armed and armored "universal tank" that reflected the lessons learned and could replace both the T-26 and the BT tanks after the Battle of Lake Khasan and the Battle Khalkhin Gol fought by Soviets and the Japanese Imperial Army. Koshkin named the second prototype A-32, after its 32 mm (1.3 in) of frontal armor. It had an L-10 76.2 mm (3 in) gun, and the same Model V-2-34 diesel engine. Then the tank received the famous designation T-34 as Koshkin chose the name after the year 1934 when he began to formulate his ideas about the new tank. The tank impressed both Stalin and the Soviet High Command during the trials. Unfortunately Mikhael Koshkin died of pneumonia he contracted during the T-34 winter tests from Kharkiv to Moscow, on September 26, 1940; with drivetrain developer Alexander Morozov being appointed as Chief Designer of the T-34 after Koshkin's demise. On 22 June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union - starting Operation Barbarossa. The existence of the T-34 was kept in secrecy from the Germans. Most of the Soviet factories moved to the Ural Mountains, only to regain the pace of production in late 1942. After the initial encounters with the new Soviet tank, including the KV-1 and KV-2, German forces were shocked as their anti-tank guns and Panzer rounds couldn't penetrate the T-34's sloped armor - deflecting the rounds in long distances. Its tracks were wider than the German Panzer, making the T-34 excellent to travel even in muddy conditions while most vehicles would get stuck - especially during the Rasputitsa. However, a considerable number of T-34s were lost during the Eastern Front. The major reasons were the lack of proper training, mechanical issues and the quality of the materials used to build new tanks (some featured brittle steel plating, bad welding fixtures and missing components). In addition to this, the tank suffered from ergonomics, forcing the crew to operate it in cramped space; and the radios were limited to commanding tanks - with a majority of T-34 commanders communicating via flags. As the German Tiger I, Tiger II, StuGs and Panthers became a threat in the Eastern Front, even the modern versions of the Panzer III and Panzer IV, new variants and models were designed: highlighting the T-34-85 with a new turret, radio system, a powerful 85 mm D-5T gun and new engine; and the SU-85 and SU-100 tank destroyers - both designs were based on the T-34's chassis while carrying powerful guns to take down German tanks at long distance. These tanks were designed to face these new opponents, forcing the Axis forces to assume the defensive role. After WW2, the T-34 was replaced by modern tanks like the T-54/T-55 while the surplus of Soviet tanks were delivered to Socialist countries like China, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria, Romania, North Vietnam, Yugoslavia, East Germany and other nations associated with the Warsaw Pact. Even though the production ceased in 1945 in the USSR, the T-34 saw combat after WW2, highlighting the Angolan Civil War (1975–1988); the Bay of Pigs Invasion (Cuban Revolution) in 1961; and other modern conflicts. There was one T-34 that was spotted in Ukraine during the Russian Invasion in 2022.
Here's the images of the T-34. The model selected is the T-34-76 model 1941:
Amazing, huh? The T-34 received its chassis, turret, the 76 mm tank gun M1940 F-34, the Degtyaryov DT-29 machine guns and the wheels. Although I noticed the turret being full of details and a bit weird, I need to find more images to remodel it.
One thing I want to highlight about the T-34 is the variants. The initial models had the name T-34/57 and T-34-76 due to its main gun. Some tanks were armed with 57 mm cannon while others received the 76 mm F-34 gun. During the German invasion of the Soviet Union, many factories moved to the Ural Mountains and to far regions from Leningrad and Stalingrad. This led to the reduction of the production quality as the order to build more T-34s for the Red Army were expressed by Stalin and his Commissar Officers. The later variants received the designation T-34/85 after its 85 mm gun M1939 (52-K), a redesigned turret - capable to accommodate more crewmen; a new radio system and three external fuel tanks.
After these renders, I made new components for the T-34.
The T-34 received a new top plate on the chassis with a spacing for the engine cooling port and its metal grid. In addition, I added its engine exhaustion outlets, the top plate to protect its tracks and wheels, a front wheel and the base for the F-34 gun. So far, it's looking good.
While I was working on the T-34, I tried to make its tracks after its rear wheels and the engine exhaustion outlets. After I imported the Bezier Curves and the simple object to attach the track pieces into it as Parent, I found some bizarre results when some pieces didn't fit with the others. One thing I found about the T-34 tracks is: there are two different pieces instead of one like I found in most tanks like the Panzer I, Panzer III, Panzer IV, Tiger I and the M4 Sherman. I need to figure out how to make the T-34 tracks without rellying on using the Array and Curve modifier on the tracks itself.
Still, the next components to make are the turret hatch, the chassis sights, extra components to the turret, the lights, the holding bars, the gun mantlet and the tracks.
Before I plan to conclude this Blog, there's one last thing to share you. While I was looking at ArtStation, I noticed some people share their works in Sketchfab and Thingiverse. My brother occasionally search for some 3D models to download from Thingiverse to print. Also, I usually visit Sketchfab to have some base for my 3D models, especially for the Panzer I, the Panzer III and the Panzer IV. Or on War Thunder since there are lots of planes, tanks, vehicles and ships.
The point I want to talk about is: I plan to add some of my works to Sketchfab. I know some people sell their works. Although I have PayPal, I'm still limited to receive payment in Brazilian Reais. I need to see at the bank how I can receive in foreign currency if I come to buy anything or pay commissions on works of art. Still, this won't prevent me of uploading my 3D works to Sketchfab. I hope.
Well, that's it for now my friends. I hope you like this Blog. In case I have some spare time to enjoy, I'll be working on other things aside from Blender projects and my personal things. Until the time comes, you will be surprised to see them. See you next time.
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