Name: T-44M Soviet Medium Tank 1:35 Model Kit by MiniArt
Brand: SCH Models
SKU: MIN37002
Price: 51.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

T-44M Soviet Medium Tank 1:35 Model Kit by MiniArt

£51.99

Model Features

1:35 scale plastic model kit
Accurately represents the Soviet T-44M Medium Tank, a modernised version of the T-44 that incorporated improvements developed from the later T-54 programme
Highly detailed full interior allowing the modeller to display the fighting compartment and internal vehicle components
Includes a detailed V-54 diesel engine and engine compartment components
Detailed turret interior with gun breech, crew equipment, and ammunition storage
Accurately reproduced hull with realistic armour texture, weld lines, and surface details
Detailed representation of T-44M-specific upgrades including revised suspension, fuel tanks, and external fittings
Workable torsion bar suspension system
Individual workable track links for realistic track sag and positioning
Detailed road wheels, drive sprockets, and idler wheels
Accurate 85mm ZiS-S-53 style gun system and turret fittings
Includes photo-etched parts for enhanced scale realism
Clear parts included where required
Waterslide decal sheet featuring four authentic Soviet and Warsaw Pact marking options
Precision-moulded parts using modern slide mould technology for improved detail
Ideal for Cold War Soviet armour collections, post-war military displays, or advanced tank diorama projects.

Specifications

Brand: MiniArt
Scale: 1:35
Subject: Soviet T-44M Medium Tank
Material: Injection-moulded plastic
Skill Level: Suitable for intermediate to advanced modellers
Paint & Glue Required: Yes (sold separately)
Recommended Age: 14+
Parts: 853 total details
Plastic Parts: 780
Photo-Etched Parts: 62
Clear Parts: 11
Interior: Fully detailed fighting compartment interior
Engine: V-54 engine included
Track Type: Workable individual track links
Decal Options: 4
Box Dimensions: Approximately 385mm x 240mm x 90mm

What's in the Box

Plastic sprues
Detailed T-44M hull and turret components
Fully detailed fighting compartment interior
V-54 diesel engine assembly
Engine compartment components
Detailed suspension and workable torsion bars
Individual workable track links
Turret and gun components
External fuel tanks and vehicle fittings
Clear parts
Photo-etched detail parts
Waterslide decal sheet with four marking options
Full-colour illustrated assembly instructions

History of the Original Vehicle

The Soviet T-44M Medium Tank was a modernised development of the T-44, designed to extend the service life of the vehicle by incorporating improvements from the successful T-54 main battle tank programme. Although the original T-44 was developed during the final stages of the Second World War, the T-44M upgrade transformed it into a more capable post-war armoured vehicle suitable for continued service with the Soviet Army.

The original T-44 was developed between 1943 and 1944 as a successor to the highly successful T-34 medium tank. Soviet engineers sought to create a vehicle with improved armour protection, better balance, and greater mobility while retaining the reliability and simplicity that had made the T-34 such a successful design. The T-44 introduced several important innovations, including a transverse-mounted engine layout, improved armour distribution, and a lower-profile hull design.

Although the T-44 was available near the end of the Second World War, it did not see significant combat service. By the time the design had completed testing, the Soviet Union had already committed heavily to T-34 production, and the T-34-85 remained an effective and proven battlefield vehicle.

Following the war, Soviet engineers continued improving the T-44 design. The result was the T-44M modernisation programme, introduced during the early 1960s. The upgrade incorporated many components from the newer T-54 series, improving reliability, mobility, and operational capability.

One of the most significant changes was the replacement of the original V-44 engine with the more powerful V-54 diesel engine, producing approximately 520 horsepower. The vehicle also received upgraded transmission components, improved air filtration, new track designs, reinforced drive components, and additional fuel tanks that increased operational range.

The T-44M retained the original T-44 turret and 85mm main gun, which was increasingly outdated compared with newer Soviet tanks such as the T-54 and T-55. However, the modernisation greatly improved the vehicle’s reliability and allowed it to remain useful for training, reserve duties, and secondary roles.

Additional improvements included upgraded communications equipment, improved night-driving equipment, and enhanced crew systems. These changes brought the T-44M closer in performance and reliability to contemporary Soviet armoured vehicles while avoiding the cost of completely replacing the existing fleet.

The T-44M remained in Soviet service for several decades, with some examples continuing into the 1980s. While it was never as famous as the T-34 or T-54, it represented an important transitional stage between wartime Soviet tank design and the Cold War main battle tank era.

The vehicle’s influence can be seen in later Soviet armoured development. Many design features introduced with the T-44, including improved internal layouts and compact engine arrangements, helped shape the development of the highly successful T-54 and T-55 families, which became some of the most widely produced tanks in history.

Today, the T-44M is a fascinating subject for military modellers due to its unique position between World War II and Cold War armoured warfare. Its combination of wartime heritage, post-war upgrades, and distinctive appearance makes it a valuable addition to Soviet armour collections.