Hi all.
I'm working on a Tamiya T-55A and while I have some idea of what I want to do with it, what things do I need to do to the kit to make it represent a Soviet T-55A? A check list would be nice, would make combing through pictures easy.
I have to do something to the engine deck no?
Thanks.
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Tamiya T-55A
ComradeMP
#0
Joined: July 31, 2011
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 03:43 PM UTC
dvarettoni
Joined: September 28, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 04:47 PM UTC
Have you read thought the how to build a t-55 ? On the main page yet it will be your best bet
Dave
Dave
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
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Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 06:12 AM UTC
Tamiya kit has the engine deck which is rather good to depict a Soviet made exemplar, anyway, although the kit is very good, it has some inaccuracies
As you can see in these pics, around the engine deck there's a rail which isn't provided by the kit
Here you can find a quite exhaustive WA of a "mid-early" Russian exemplar (so turret hatches don't have anti radiation liner, but the tank is provided with a 12,7 DSKA MG)
http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?np=1&p=1511&vmode=T#blockpre
Here another WA of an exemplar with AR liner
http://www.fotovalkirumodelism.com/page.php?page=382
Another minor flaw is on the fender
As you can see there's an impressed reinforcement. In Tamiya kit that reinforcment is embossed
A necessary improvment which you can make is about the pipe lines of external fuel tanks
Anyway, if you need references let me know
Cheers
As you can see in these pics, around the engine deck there's a rail which isn't provided by the kit
Here you can find a quite exhaustive WA of a "mid-early" Russian exemplar (so turret hatches don't have anti radiation liner, but the tank is provided with a 12,7 DSKA MG)
http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?np=1&p=1511&vmode=T#blockpre
Here another WA of an exemplar with AR liner
http://www.fotovalkirumodelism.com/page.php?page=382
Another minor flaw is on the fender
As you can see there's an impressed reinforcement. In Tamiya kit that reinforcment is embossed
A necessary improvment which you can make is about the pipe lines of external fuel tanks
Anyway, if you need references let me know
Cheers
clay_cliff
Joined: April 07, 2008
KitMaker: 375 posts
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Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 06:53 AM UTC
Hey! I took those three last pics... They're good right?
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
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Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 07:08 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hey! I took those three last pics... They're good right?
@ ComradeMP
I've found them on primeportal site
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/jose_luis_silva_chang/t-55/
Is a Peruvian exemplar
@ José Silva
Yes they are incredibly good, thanks a million!
ComradeMP
#0
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Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 05:29 PM UTC
Thanks Fellas.
Didn't notice the rail around the engine deck. For sure I want to do the fuel lines, going to do them before I put on the turret base extensions as someone once said they would.
On the bottom left is a screened opening, this is absent on the Tamiya kit. Would I be correct in re-creating it? A bit of cutting, some strip styrene and mesh. Have to remove and re-do on of the lift handles that is where the opening would be. Going to have to do that anyways as on the Tamiya kit, that lift handle is at an angle rather than straight.
Didn't notice the rail around the engine deck. For sure I want to do the fuel lines, going to do them before I put on the turret base extensions as someone once said they would.
On the bottom left is a screened opening, this is absent on the Tamiya kit. Would I be correct in re-creating it? A bit of cutting, some strip styrene and mesh. Have to remove and re-do on of the lift handles that is where the opening would be. Going to have to do that anyways as on the Tamiya kit, that lift handle is at an angle rather than straight.
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
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Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 07:09 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Would I be correct in re-creating it?
Yes, you would
Russian and Czech made T-55s have that small grill, Polish t-55s don't have nor the rail nor the grill. Furthermore they have rectangular engine hatches of the T-54
Anyway applying a small grill without drilling the Tamiya hull, could be enough in my opinion
Here another Wa which could be useful for you
http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat.php?cid=110&orderby=date%20ASC&show=12&min=0
I'm sorry, I didn't understand what are "lift handles", would you like to explain me?
Cheers
ComradeMP
#0
Joined: July 31, 2011
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Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 - 05:37 PM UTC
Okay, this is what I did so far today.
There is an extra "bump" and the lift handle is at the wrong angle
Did some cutting and sanding
Did the fuel lines, added the vent/lift handle (I could have done these better...) and I added some extra bits where the gas tanks are screwed down.
There is an extra "bump" and the lift handle is at the wrong angle
Did some cutting and sanding
Did the fuel lines, added the vent/lift handle (I could have done these better...) and I added some extra bits where the gas tanks are screwed down.
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
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Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 - 08:18 PM UTC
Ok, now i've understood
Good improvments, especially on fuel tanks supports
If you are going to add the rail around the engine deck, you have alresdy noticed that unfortunately there isn't much room for it
The biggest rrear hinge and the engine hatches are too close indeed on Tamiya kit
Good improvments, especially on fuel tanks supports
If you are going to add the rail around the engine deck, you have alresdy noticed that unfortunately there isn't much room for it
The biggest rrear hinge and the engine hatches are too close indeed on Tamiya kit
ComradeMP
#0
Joined: July 31, 2011
KitMaker: 472 posts
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Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 - 09:29 PM UTC
Yeah, I was looking at it and there's too little room. I guess I can leave that out.
except for few things on the front of the hull, I think everything else will be as is.
except for few things on the front of the hull, I think everything else will be as is.
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
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Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 - 10:25 PM UTC
Well, that's one of the reason why I've stopped my T-55 build
Anyway, i think that eventually I'll add the rail on mine. Probably i'll have to modify the hinges
Anyway, i think that eventually I'll add the rail on mine. Probably i'll have to modify the hinges
bison126
Joined: June 10, 2004
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Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 - 11:38 PM UTC
Concerning the rail, I just can't understand why it is not available as a part of a PE set. It would be easy for Eduard or Aber to do a small set with only the engine deck grilles and the rail.
I guess this kind of set is called zoom in the Eduard ranges.
Olivier
I guess this kind of set is called zoom in the Eduard ranges.
Olivier
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
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Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 - 11:57 PM UTC
Hi Olivier
In my opinion they haven't done because, indeed, it would be almost impossible to assemble it on Tamiya engine deck
In my opinion they haven't done because, indeed, it would be almost impossible to assemble it on Tamiya engine deck
zapper
Joined: October 18, 2005
KitMaker: 745 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 12:00 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Well, that's one of the reason why I've stopped my T-55 build
Same here...
Quoted Text
Concerning the rail, I just can't understand why it is not available as a part of a PE set. It would be easy for Eduard or Aber to do a small set with only the engine deck grilles and the rail.
I even sent pictures to Voyager. A year later their T-55 set came out... without the rails.
In the pictures above a few more easy fixes to do a more accurate T-55 can be seen:
The lower edge of the turret should have a chamfer from about one o'clock to five o'clock position and from seven to eleven. A ventilation hole should also be added at two o'clock.
Further, regarding the turret lifting hooks, you should only add one hook centered at the rear of the turret and not two as per the Tamiya instructions.
Cheers,
/E
bison126
Joined: June 10, 2004
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Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 02:35 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Olivier
In my opinion they haven't done because, indeed, it would be almost impossible to assemble it on Tamiya engine deck
Mauro,
as you know I made one on my Enigma. You have to sand a fictional (for a Russian tank) hinge first and any PE maker could cheat a bit so their part fit the engine deck.
PE parts are there to enhance the model look and they often are not totally dimensionally accurate when the donor kit is not itself.
Olivier
clay_cliff
Joined: April 07, 2008
KitMaker: 375 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 04:42 AM UTC
I heavily-modified a Trumpeter T-55 turret a while ago... I added that ventilation hole:
I used Tamiya's turret as reference for the overall turret's shape, including the roof plates. Gun mantle and bolted parts are resin copies of Tamiya parts. Best regards.
José.
I used Tamiya's turret as reference for the overall turret's shape, including the roof plates. Gun mantle and bolted parts are resin copies of Tamiya parts. Best regards.
José.
kampfy
Joined: December 19, 2010
KitMaker: 198 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 08:31 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Concerning the rail, I just can't understand why it is not available as a part of a PE set. It would be easy for Eduard or Aber to do a small set with only the engine deck grilles and the rail.
I guess this kind of set is called zoom in the Eduard ranges.
Olivier
The Eduard set for the SKIF kit does include the rail but it is a moot point, as I and many others have found out as the Tamiya kit's engine deck will not allow it to fit.
junglejim
Joined: February 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,728 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 08:51 AM UTC
It is possible to add your own, difficult perhaps, but possible 
. If you haven't seen it before, check out this excellent Finnish T-55 build (text is Finnish, but photos should tell the story):
http://www.pienoismallit.net/galleria/malli_3885/rakennusvaihe_49/
Jim
. If you haven't seen it before, check out this excellent Finnish T-55 build (text is Finnish, but photos should tell the story):http://www.pienoismallit.net/galleria/malli_3885/rakennusvaihe_49/
Jim
Emeritus
Joined: March 30, 2004
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Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 10:04 AM UTC
Indeed, a truly phenomenal build.
Btw, that's a single entry from a build blog. If someone's interested in the rest of the build, it can be accessed from the "address bar" above the headline, just click on the "T-55" link, or just click HERE.
Google translate doesn't seem to do a very good job on that, thanks to the amount of non-standard expressions and idioms used, as well as all the modeling jargon loaned from English, but it still beats struggling with a dictionary by oneself.
But anyway, as Jim mentioned, the photos themself tell very much on their own.
Btw, that's a single entry from a build blog. If someone's interested in the rest of the build, it can be accessed from the "address bar" above the headline, just click on the "T-55" link, or just click HERE.
Google translate doesn't seem to do a very good job on that, thanks to the amount of non-standard expressions and idioms used, as well as all the modeling jargon loaned from English, but it still beats struggling with a dictionary by oneself.
But anyway, as Jim mentioned, the photos themself tell very much on their own.
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
Armorama: 3,543 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 11:43 AM UTC
WOW!
Jim and Eetu... That's the best t-55 Tamiya which i've ever seen, for sure is the best Russian made!
Thanks a million for the link. I think that following it I'll do some modifications on mine
cheers
Yes, tinking better about, you're right indeed Olivier
Anyway, I think that we are less lucky than Aircraft modellers...they have for exemple Quickboost A company which allows them to buy just a payr of needfull resin sets to emprove their models whitout spending a fortune in exhaustive and far more expensive extra sets...
Jim and Eetu... That's the best t-55 Tamiya which i've ever seen, for sure is the best Russian made!
Thanks a million for the link. I think that following it I'll do some modifications on mine
cheers
Quoted Text
Mauro,
as you know I made one on my Enigma. You have to sand a fictional (for a Russian tank) hinge first and any PE maker could cheat a bit so their part fit the engine deck.
PE parts are there to enhance the model look and they often are not totally dimensionally accurate when the donor kit is not itself.
Yes, tinking better about, you're right indeed Olivier
Anyway, I think that we are less lucky than Aircraft modellers...they have for exemple Quickboost A company which allows them to buy just a payr of needfull resin sets to emprove their models whitout spending a fortune in exhaustive and far more expensive extra sets...
ComradeMP
#0
Joined: July 31, 2011
KitMaker: 472 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 03:59 AM UTC
okay, this is what I did yesterday:
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 04:39 AM UTC
Really well done so far
ComradeMP
#0
Joined: July 31, 2011
KitMaker: 472 posts
Armorama: 453 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 12:58 PM UTC
Thanks everyone. Learned a lot during this build. Will come in handy when I get my Tamiya Enigma. Also want to give the T-55AMV a try but will definitely get another Tamiya T-55A with a Tiran-5 conversion
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