RFM T-34-85 #174 - Favorite T-34 Kit 
In short, I found the RFM kit a joy to build right on par with Tamiya’s new KV-1 kit. However, the RFM kit MG is slide molded unlike the one the the new Tamiya kit.
There are a couple of hiccups in the instructions as mentioned in this thread.
Generic discuess the in his post.
Anyone Built the Rye Field T-34/85 No. 174?
I liked the kit well enough to get a set of Fruil T-34-85 tracks for it. The Fruils ended up costing about 1.5 times what the kit cost. There are a lot of parts that aren’t used and can go to the spares box for helping spruce up an older T-34-85 kits from other manufacturers.
I was delighted the turret halves fit perfectly. The first T-34-85 I’ve built that didn’t require putty or other filler work around the weld/cast seam of the halves. When test fitted the turret snapped together with almost perfect alignment.
Likewise, even the kit photo-etch was a joy to work with. The rear engine cover screen actually snapped into place after annealing.
This build was definitely the polar opposite of my experience with a first production run 1997 era DML T-34-85 discussed in another thread.
Highly Recommend - 9.75 out of 10
Thank you for looking and please feel free to comment.
Photos with cell phone no flash.
With flash
To the shelf, project #6 for the year!
After three Soviet tanks in a row, it’s Panzer time for #7 project.
I appreciate the nice comments:)
. I wish they were readily available for $30.