1:35 Soviet Medium Tank T-44M - MINIART

The T-44 is a medium tank first developed and produced near the end of World War II by the Soviet Union. It was the successor to the T-34, offering improved ride and cross-country performance and much greater armor. Designed to be equipped with an 85 mm main gun, by the time it was fully tested the T-34 had also moved to this weapon. Both tanks offered similar performance, so introducing the T-44 was not considered as important as increasing T-34 production. Fewer than 2,000 T-44s were built, compared to about 58,000 T-34s. Although the T-44 was available by the end of the war, it was not used in combat. Its upper front plate could not be penetrated by the German 88mm guns (KwK 36 and KwK 43) found on the Tiger I and Tiger II respectively. It was 1 ton lighter than the T-34-85 and slightly faster. Attempts were made to improve the T-44's armament with a new 122 mm gun, but the turret proved to be very cramped and the rate of fire was poor, on the order of three rounds per minute. Another attempt with a 100 mm gun seemed more promising although a number of additional changes were needed to make a truly effective design. Design work on a slightly enlarged version of the T-44 began during the war and a prototype was produced in 1945. This newer design entered production in 1947 as the T-54/55 series of medium tanks, the most-produced tank series of all time.

THE KIT:

• Over 850 parts
• Workable tracks
• Workable torsion bars
• Fully detailed fighting compartment interior
• V-54 engine included
• Photo etched parts included
• Decal sheet for 4 variants
• Full-colour instruction