Hi everybody!

I just finished work on Trumpeter's T-54A Model 1951. It was a bit of a love-hate kind of build. I added Masterclub tracks, Hudson&Allen tow cables, an old Jordio Rubio barrel about half a dozen parts from Eduard's T-62 set and Archer Dry Transfers. I added alot of stuff from scratch, including a brush guard I made with brass, the front Z-shaped weld bead and foil exhaust cover. I think if I had to do it all over, I would kitbash with the Tamiya T-55. I still had alot of fun building it though. I welcome your comments.






Thanks for looking.

Chris

Chris, that looks pretty darned good. I wouldn't be able to tell what parts were kit/AF/scratch if you hadn't spelled it out for us. Nice finish too, just a little too clean looking for my taste.

How were the Masterclub tracks to work with?

Hi Jeremy, Thanks!

It's true, I'm a chicken. I'm afraid to dirty up my models. Even my wife told me it looks too clean.

As far as those Masterclub tracks go, I liked them. The detail is great and they were a breeze to clean up. When I got them I thought they were injection, but they're resin so you need superglue. I used the "clickable" ones (as opposed to the "workable" ones) and built a whole run at a time. They were a little finicky, but I eventually got them to do what I wanted. They didn't fit the Trumpeter drive sprockets so I cheated and cut off some teeth. I should have used a couple of extra links for better sag, though. I think they look as good as Fruil tracks, but they were quicker (no pins) and 10 bucks cheaper. I'll definately use them again.

Chris

Hi Chris. As much as I like the look of this I have to agree with Jeremy. You have the perfect base for some weathering. At the end of the day its your choice ... but most into armor will have this opinion .... we like ´em dirty!!

Look like I may be picking up a set of these tracks in the future. I'm going to be building a T-54 conversion using the Tamiya kit.. at least that's what I'm telling myself

Thanks guys.

@Frank; Someday I'll man up and sling some mud, dude.

@ Jeremy; Stay away from that Trumpeter kit and you'll keep your stress levels down. Don't forget to post pics. I imagine you'll want to finish that resin beast first!

Chris

Chris: Good grief, you know I walked into the resin monster of a kit thinking it was going to be straight forward build... yeah, nothing like a little naivety to make life interesting

And thanks for the advice on the T-54. I actually have been gathering the conversion parts for the Tamiya kit. I think I just need the wheels and I'll be set. And I'm going to try to post pics of all my builds here on Armorama. Feedback is such a wonderful thing

There's nothing saying it has to look like it was driven through a Barcelona gravel pit or a Belarussian bog to be valid. It does look wet, but if you're satisfied, that's what matters.

I like it too.

Thanks alot, Kevin. Here's the thing: I'm a heavy equipment operator with the Army, and I HATE cleaning mud out of the tracks of the 'dozer. I don't want to subject my 1/35th scale tankers to that torture!

Chris

This one looks very good!

I have the same kit sitting in my stash, waiting to be turned into an North Vietnamese vehicle during the Easter Offensive.
Did you replace the m.g. on top of the turret, too? Any other pitfalls I should be aware off?

Thanks for the comments, Ron.

I'm not going to lie to you, Ron, this is no Tamiya kit. I didn't replace the MG but I should have. The tracks definately need to be replaced. They're made of really stiff plastic and have poor detail. The road wheels had a raised tread pattern on them that needed to be removed. I replaced the undiching log with a wooden dowel. There's pretty heavy flash on some parts, too.

If you do a search about these Trumpeter T-54/55 kits you'll find plenty of complaints. The details and fit of the parts aren't up to 2010 standards, but in the end, it looks pretty much like a T-54 to me. IMHO it's not such a bad kit, it just needs a little love. I had fun building it. I enjoyed the research and correcting what I thought I could handle. As always, in the end, it's up to you as a modeller. So open up that kit and have FUN, bro!

BTW...I'm interested to see the halftrack w/ Danish troops you have listed in your signature, so post pictures when you're done!

Chris

@ Chris; Theres no time like the present! What are you waiting for!!!!! Time to "man-up"

Hi Chris, thnaks for the heads up.
I already managed to get hold of a set of Tamiyatracks and another set of wheels; the later version.
The machinegun will be replaced too.

If you're interested in my M3A1 with Dutch troops, here's the link: Dutch M3A1