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T-34/85 (for Academy) 1:35 Eduard Academy's new kit is reviewed here, and these two sets from Eduard have been released to add some extra detail if you feel the urge, and to simplify the painting of those wheels, that test your patience or line-cutting skills to some measure. Both sets arrive in the usual Eduard flat packaging with instructions under the protective white backing card, in a re-sealable envelope. Update Set (36319) This comprehensive set doesn't take the easy way out and replace the bed-frames, but instead it takes two full frets of Photo-Etch (PE) brass to upgrade the styrene aspects of the kit in some useful ways. At the front there are new fenders with additional detail and scale thickness, detailed shackles for the towing cables, a bracket for the horn, driver's hatch detailing, a replacement tool box on the front fender, and a replacement two-man saw. On the turret there are additional tie-down brackets with load-bearing straps, plus handles and hinge detail for the crew hatches. On the engine deck there are additional louver covers and a replacement to the flat area around the engine intake, with the filter box also being covered by a new grille and surround – the only duplication of the kit PE, which improves on the OOB part, so is worthwhile. On the rear of the vehicle a new stowage box is made up with detailed clasps, while the rear rack gets a set of new scale-thickness tie-down loops, into which a set of grousers are lashed with some PE straps. New rear mudguards and other brackets on the rear bulkhead, plus a comprehensive set of curved brackets for optional additional fuel tanks that were often carried by the T-34, although not the kit I referred to above. These are used in conjunction with the kit drums, which have their moulded-in straps removed and are then lashed to the brackets with new PE straps, and have a carrying handle and detailed filler-cap added. These could be used with any other T-34s you have if you have the above mentioned kit, so don't consign them to the bin if you're not using them this time. Wheel Masks (XT214) Whether you can't cut a good line between rubber and metal wheels, or you just don't have the patience or time to do it, these mask sets are a godsend. Inside are ten pre-cut masks in black vinyl, not the usual yellow kabuki tape as the picture suggests. This is because you'll need to re-use them if you're going to paint each wheel separately, as there are ten pairs in the kit with two sides each, and vinyl is much more hard-wearing than kabuki tape when it comes to reuse. You can approach the task from either end, and spray the tyres first, using the outer toruses to mask the tyres while you paint the hubs, or paint the hubs and use the centre circles to mask off while you paint the rubber tyres. Whichever method you use, you'll get better wheels much quicker than you would without masks – what's not to like? Review sample courtesy of