Hi guys

I have been working recently on detailed engine for Trumpeter´s 1/35 Russian Stalinetz S-65 Tractor. Its gonna be pretty complex piece that should bring this vehicle into life. Appearently the vehicles in service had usually engine covers removed to improve cooling, and I have seen just very few pictures of the tractor with cover sides mounted. The full engine set with additional PE parts and decal sheet with markings for 2 tractors - one in Russian, and one in German service will be available from LZ Models in a week or so time

I have done most of the masters and getting ready the molds. Some parts cannot be finished and fitted until I have final castings assembled together. Although the Trumpeter´s kit id pretty good, I have found a couple of small things which dont fit exactly to drawings available in the excellent book about various Russian tractors from Tankograd.Here some selection of masters and castings for my work







Cheers
Libor

Looks great so far Libor.
Should prove to be a popular item.

Hi Dave, many thanks

Back to work, eh...

Most of the masters and master castings are done, just a few small pipes and parts will be made after the engine base is assembled together - to get perfect fit of the parts, especially these tricky pipes all around....

Some more WIP pictures on masters, and finally my test build has started












Cheers
Libor

More details added on the right side, then checking the fit







Cheers
Libor

Looks great on the kit. Really should be popular as many photos show the S-65 Stalinetz without the engine cover.

I think you convinced me to buy this kit...

Another cracker Libor. Im sure the S-65 will be a popular kit and this will be "THE" extra to buy for it. Im tempted.

Dave, Sean, Frank, thank you very much guys. Definitely, the pictures of Stalinetz with engine cover are rather rare. Often the top cover was removed, too. I have to say the Trumpeter´s tractor is one of the best plastic kits I have ever seen, well detailed and accurate, the only issue are wrong letters. I am working onj this as well, and whole radiator with correct letters will be finished soon as well.

Just a couple of details added




Cheers
Libor

Libor,

Can you promise I can get one of the first sets?

Hi Sean, no problem, the set is available after this weekend, the engine is actually finished, just waiting for PE.
Cheers
Libor

Hello
Very interesting update kit ! as we are starting a very hudge diorama involving 2 karl morser ! plus all the vehicles and the tecnic team digging the ground space where the karl will fire so we want to place 2 stalinetz with workers in situation , eventually one with a dozer and both with engine cover removed
Your version will fit also "gazogéne" version ? is it same engine?


PS; we are also involving a BR 86 so we will need your updates and water tower probably !!!

Hi Michel, you are very welcome. Yes, upgrade set for gas powered tractor is coming soon as well, and a couple of other things.
Cheers
libor

Many thanks Libor
As soon as your work is avaible I will order all convertion to work on vehicles for the super big diorama (including railway stuff)

Would you have any pic of an Stalinetz with a dozer blade ?
and also any BR 86 pic camo to suit to one Karl morser convoy in 1942 more and less
Thanks for any help

Hi Michel
you are welcome. I will look in my references what I can find for you, please give me few days to manage. About BR86 I am not very sure I have ever seen any camo applied on her, she was mostly painted in black over all, many times with red wheels. Some were painted in grey/black scheme to take photos for propaganda purpose, then water-based paint was removed. Only one or two locos were documented having this painting scheme in service for longer time. Probably there were some locos painted in camo during the WWII, but to find any pictures could be almost impossible












Cheers
Libor

looks awesome Libor !! i wish there was an easy fix for the wrong symbol of the Cyrillic for "ye" in Stalininetz !
cheers
Mark

Hi Mark, many thanks - I will offer full radiator with correct lettering in a few weeks
All the parts assembled, just a few tiny PE bits to be added, when they arrive





















Cheers
libor

Now, here is the build finished. I will stick surfacer coat on it tomorrow, and thats the stage where my recent work on it ends at the moment :oops:













Cheers
Libor

Test build finished....thank you all for following and your kind comments











Cheers
Libor

Libor,

Are the sets shipping now? What's the typical shipping time to the USA or are any USA online shops gonna carry them?

Hi Sean
you can order through company website, shipping to USA usually takes about 7 days. There is a couple of distributors interested to carry our products soon, and there will be many more for styrene then
Cheers
Libor

Just small update for this one, I have finished the radiator cover with correct letters




Cheers
Libor

Its been a couple of months since I finished S65 engine, then I went for SG65, gas powered Stalinetz tractor. Here is a few pictures, some of them show build of my friend Adam







and recently I have almost finished another conversion, this time S60 Stalinetz, and also US Caterpillar Sixty the same time - there were some smaller and bigger differences between these tractors, and soon I will show some pictures of both.




Cheers
Libor

Libor!! You bring a smile to my face once again

Hi Jeremy, good to hear this - better than see you crying, right :-)
Some more progress on my S-60 coversion, here is a few pictures again. Also you might have noticed different frame beams on both sides or different mudguards - I work on Caterpillar Sixty conversion the same time and checking fit of all parts on the same build, no time to build another tractor right now :-)











Cheers
Libor

Here is a couple of pictures - Trumpy´s S-65 kit converted into S-60 Stalinetz




And once again converted into Caterpillar Sixty. I had no time to build fully both, so I just changed the parts different for this or the other.





Cheers
Libor