Kit guide · Soviet Union

T-34/85 medium tank kit guide

An honest guide to the Warlord Games plastic kit: what's in the box, the build decisions to make early, painting, and what it pairs with on the table.

Nation

Soviet Union

Role

Medium tank, 1944-45

Scale

28mm (1:56) plastic

Price at Warlord Minis

$47.99 CAD
as of October 25, 2026

What's in the box

From the manufacturer's product page. Check the box when you open it.

• One plastic T-34/85
• Stat card
• Damage markers
• Instruction leaflet
• Decals

The real vehicle, briefly

The T-34/85 mounted an 85mm gun in a larger three-man turret. Warlord's page notes that more than 21,000 of the roughly 57,000 T-34s built during the war were the 85 version. That makes it the right tank for a Soviet force from 1944 to Berlin.

Build plan

1. Wash and sort the sprues

   Wash the sprues in warm soapy water to remove mould release, let them dry, then check the parts against the instructions before you cut anything.

   Build photo slot: Wash and sort the sprues
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

2. Lower hull and running gear

   Clip parts close to the part, not the gate, and clean the nubs with a sharp hobby knife. Dry-fit the lower hull and tracks, then glue. Let the running gear set fully before you handle it.

   Build photo slot: Lower hull and running gear
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

3. Upper hull and details

   Add the upper hull, then the small details: tools, lights and machine guns. Leave the most fragile parts until late so you don't snap them off while handling the model.

   Build photo slot: Upper hull and details
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

4. Turret and options

   The commander's figure is optional. Decide on hatches open or closed before you glue the turret.

   Build photo slot: Turret and options
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

5. Prime and paint

   Soviet green over a dark base, kept fairly plain. Slogans and turret numbers were often hand-painted, so slightly irregular freehand looks authentic. Winter whitewash is a good weathering exercise.

   Build photo slot: Prime and paint
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

6. Decals and finishing

   Gloss-coat the decal areas, apply the decals with a setting solution, then seal everything with a matt varnish before weathering.

   Build photo slot: Decals and finishing
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

Tools that help

Sprue cutters, a fresh hobby knife blade, plastic cement (thin and thick), tweezers, and a decal setting solution. That's enough for this kit.

What it pairs with

T34/85 Medium TankThis kit.View at Warlord Minis →Soviet InfantryPlastic Soviet infantry.View at Warlord Minis →IS-2 Heavy TankHeavy support for late-war games.View at Warlord Minis →Red Army Winter Assault - Soviet Army DealBundle that already includes this tank.View at Warlord Minis →

Unit profiles and points come from your game's rulebook and army lists. We don't reproduce them here.