Just got this one in, from Osaka. Got here the same day as my Aber PE for the T-55 and my RB M68 105mm barrel from my new favorite ebay store out in New Zeland.

I can see that 3 or so sprues are common to the 55A/Enigma kit. While another 3 or so are new, including a new turret and upper hull.

How much was yours? It was selling for 55,600 Won in Seoul last month (about $55) but I already had too much stuff to lug around. That figure might make it worth another look.
I'd like to see one painted up.

Robert, there are some clear pics of it here.. just scroll down.

http://blog.naver.com/PostThumbnailView.nhn?blogId=tech61&logNo=90164401745&categoryNo=31&parentCategoryNo=

It will be available in a couple of days at the two HK shops for about $38 plus shipping.. I think it will be around $50 total. I'll be ordering one for sure.

http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/mjkxzbttbwck8qfq6hfr.html

Hisham

Just checked. It cost me $40.20 plus $13.80 for shipping/insurance. So, $54 total.

got minehere in the philippines for 37.5 USD. Its a nice kit and im excited to build one.

BTW, did the South Lebanon Army used this? or did they retain the 100mm gunned versions?

thansk!

gomz

I'm really interested to see a comparison review between the Tamiya kit and the Legend conversion set.


Erik

Started on the turret. Ran in to a bit of trouble when trying to fit my RB barrel. Diameter was pretty small and nothing to anchor it in place at the right position. Comparing it to the kit barrel. It was a bit thicker around the base. So I got out a strip of evergreen and it did the trick. Not only that, the fit was snug and at the right position. Just a bit of cement and all well. Didn't need to use epoxy putty I was going to use.

Shukran! That's not a bad OOB figure at all. I think I'd use an aircraft dial decal on the watch if I get it. I'm not feeling the other one though...

As for comparisons between plastic and resin kits, I generally find the detail better on certain resin kits (such as Legend) which is why I'm always such a proponent of them Plus you usually get PE.

Love this Tank and im looking forward to this build.

Gary

Yes the 100 mm barrel was refitted to all Tirans supplied to the SLA.

So, if I want to build this as a SLA vehicle with a 100mm barrel, what AM metal barrel would I need to get?

Hisham

Well, if it has to be metal, RB Model makes one, among others. I believe theirs is rifled.

Is there a plastic option available?

Hisham

hmmm if that is the case, can we use the tamiya kit with the 105mm gun and finish it with Tiran that served during the 1982 Lebanon War?

thanks again!

I'm getting kind of confused.. let me see if I got this right..

# Tiran 5 with 105mm gun (which is this Tamiya kit) was used only by the Israeli army

# Tiran 5 with 100mm gun was used by the SLA

So, to build an SLA vehicle I would need the Tamiya kit and just replace the kit 105mm gun with a 100mm barrel.. is that right?

And to do that, do I just check the AM companies for anything that says 100mm barrel, or would it have a specific name or something?

Hisham

I haven't taken a look at the sprues. I know they've obviously undergone a change. Is it possible Tamiya includes the other barrel as well?

Nah. Pretty much just some sprues for the road/wheels etc. from the existing T-55 and new sprues with all the new bits.




From what I read, the SLA vehicles were Tiran's with the old 100mm guns put back on. Tamiya provides a nice little info page about the tiran. Says SLA changed the MG over the main gun from a 12.7 to 7.62 (not really specific..) and removed the 60mm mortar/mortar mount.

As for the gun. That would be the 100m D-10T. Example:
http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=RB-35B41

P.S.
Don't know how helpful it will be, but I came across this:
https://milinme.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/tank-memorial-in-lebanon-3-sla-tiran-55-1/

http://milinme.wordpress.com/
Scroll down about half way, and there are a few pictures of SLA tirans in service. Some seem to lack the .50 cal above the main gun and some have it mounted on the swing arm by the commander's cupola.

Hi Everybody;

Hisham; Just use the kit Stock, & just replace the kits Barrel
with one that has the Rifleing inside.
My First choice would be Model Points 100mm D10T !!


Just my two cents worth ; MIKE.

ComradeMP.. thanks a lot for clearing things up and for those link, especially the link to the barrel.. it'll make things a lot easier for me.

Mike.. thanks for making things so simple.. I believe that's what I will do.

I think I'm just going to get Legend's fuel tank set to give it a better detailed look.

Thanks again to all
Hisham

Hi;

Hisham; I purchased the set by Legend also at the Nats, last year thinking it would be an improvement over the kits set.
But too be Honest, altho they are good you can do the same thing just with the kits set. It wasent that hard, and if I Can Do It, Anybody Can Do It !!! I luv Legends stuff & have purchased a lot of there sets.

Sorry For the OT; MIKE.

Well, I've been at this modelling thing only for a short while, but I guess I'll post updates during this build (my first build log ) Might take me awhile, what with work and just not having the time, but I'll get there.

So far this is what I got.

Most of the turret stuff is on. Storage boxes have these locator pins and you "need to drill holes" but for me it made it look weird. So I did away with the locator pins and things look "cleaner".


With a bit of evergreen strip, I got the RB barrel on. PE on too, just need to dig out my resin bolt pack and add those missing bolts on the barrel collar(?).


Something I like to do now for periscopes, a little tip I picked up from a fellow modeller on youtube, using soda bottle plastic (i find this easier) and some reflective ribbon I picked up form the 99 cent store.


The formation light as per the Aber instructions. Filled in the gap from the replaced kit part with some putty.

Everything looks really good so far.

Could you elaborate more on the tip of the soda bottle plastic.. maybe with a pic.. or the link to the tip on youtube.. please?

Hisham

For the soda bottle, it's really simple. You cut one open and you have a sheet of clear plastic. Clean it off and then cut small pieces to shape for kits that don't have clear plastic for optics already included.

As for the youtube video, managed to find it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnqDgQY3XKg

And on the subject of youtube, check mine out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3KKHlbj528

You have mounted the bracket on the turret top ( the forward one, right behind the mantlet) backwards. I think its meant for a spare .50 barrel.
The Tamiya kit looks nice, but they could have thrown in a Polish deck while they were at it. The new IDF turret looks like it has new texture too!

SLA Tirans weren't REBUILT with the 105 L7/M68. They just retained the 100mm guns. The SLA had their own workshops as well. Moustaffa Assad's Book "Blue Steel" has some wonderful refs for this kit!

Chris

Whoa. Whoops, you're right it's backwards

Yes, the new turret has way better texture than the old T-55 turret.