Anyone can determine how good the T-54 conversion sets are on this page? Just wondered:
http://www.tankworkshop.com/Shop/agora.cgi?cart_id=760.1606&next=30&exact_match=on&product=Tank+Maker

hi
afaik that type of commanders hatch you pictured mauro, with the collar is not available aftermarket. Tamiyas is different and its not possible to convert to this type. Only option is to use the part from Esci kit and convert that as i have done for the type 69 conversion and T-54 model 49 turret i mastered.

Andy

hi
afaik that type of commanders hatch you pictured mauro, with the collar is not available aftermarket. Tamiyas is different and its not possible to convert to this type. Only option is to use the part from Esci kit and convert that as i have done for the type 69 conversion and T-54 model 49 turret i mastered.

Andy

Hi Mauro

No if you look closely, the bolted comb for the commanders hatch is totally different on the Esci kit , Also the part with the periscopes sits inside the comb part on the Tamiya kit. Best thing to do is compare the hatches i did and the Tamiya one...sorry no pics to hand. Will post some up later when i have a bit more time.

Andy

Just for clariifcation, is the T-54 the Afghani variant of the T-55?

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Here an interesting rarity

T-54 1946 walkaround (117 pics)

http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=2090

Pics taken by Evgeny Starobinets aka jeka-tankist for Dishmodels.ru

Cheers

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This is why the post war T-54 is regarded by many as a different subject to the T-55.

The very first T-54's had a turret that was very different from the later T-54/55's, the turret is similar in appearance to the IS-2 Stalin.

Notice that the IS-3 Stalin adopted the 'upside down' frying pan turret shape, and then the T-54/55 also adopted the same sytle of turret.

You can clearly see a progression in design as you move from the war period to the post war period, the tank designers are trying to gain the largest possible turret ring while maintaining a small hull, the battle for space inside the turret is clearly underway, to gain room for larger Guns and also for crew space.

So the T-54 with the early turret tends to be regarded as a different subject, but the T-54 with the later turret (ie a turret that is in effect the same shape as the T-55) tends to get regarded as the same subject.

Plus a huge amount of crossover because T-54's were being upgraded to T-55's