Hello.
I'm starting with new project. This time T-54-1 from MiniArt.

The contents: 1053 parts

I'm going to paint it with this 3-tone camouflage:

If somebody is interested I did the video review of this kit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFk078f7YH0&t=1273s

I finished the engine assembly and added a few wires.

Nice work on the wiring.

Hi;

Real nice Job on the Engine; Its A pity more kits lack this kind of details & most of the details will be hidden when the hull is closed up. Looking forward to seeing more of your kit; Do they give you Color call outs for the wireing ? There should be Four Colors called out in your instructions.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Mike- I'm glad that you like my job. You're rightmost details will be invisible after final assembly but I want to install a few leds inside to be able to see altough a part of interior.
There is no paint calouts for the wires but I glanced at the pictures of real engines and paint my with similiar colors.
A little progress with the build:
I assembled the suspension. MiniArt provide us a possibility to build workable suspension, when someone will use workable tracks it is nice feature. I will use plastic tracks out of the box so I glued everything permanently.


I also did driver's position:

It's nice, that there are really small details like gear numbers on the pe part:

I also started engine painting, only base colours at this moment:

A little progress(almost everything dryfitted):


I also made the road wheels. They comes from 5 parts each, and have very good detail level on both side.

Tonight I will start paint job with the interior.

Looking good.

That engine is stunning. Amazing attention to detail.

I have never thought about building this kit perhaps I should consider it

It's such a shame that none of these latest Mini-Art kits contain a transmission. Hopefully some after-market company will come to the rescue.

Andy

pgb3476- thank you
SDavies- thanks but it's a pity than most of it will be invisible after final assembly
andymacrae- you're right but I think that T-54/55 series will be popular so the different aftermarkets it's a matter of time.
A little step forward- I finished the engine. The rust colour in real is not that aggresive.

What I'm trying to figure out is that if the T-44's V-44 engine differs from the V-54 in the T-54-1 in the MiniArt kits. (They did differ in real life.) Any thoughts?

Yes, the engine in this kit is different than in T-44 kit. In box we get sprue Ab with complete T-44 engine but you need use only a few parts from this sprue. Most of engine parts is made directly for T-54.

And progres with the build:
First, I changed engine a little bit. I talked with someone who service T-54/55s and he said that engines in these tanks are rather dry and dusty than dirty in oil and grease.


I also painted the interior:

I decided to add some grime on the engine, and it's deffinetly finish with it


In meantime I'am still working with the hull assembly:


I also decided to make a small vignette with this model. My idea is: tank during the maintenance work. I'm looking for a set of mechanics figures, I didn't find anything interesting. Anyone know which set will be suitable for my idea?

I believe TaNK has a number of Resin figures doing tank maintenance.

I don't know of any Soviet specific ones. Royal models has a set that is sort of generic.

http://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-figures-royal-models-rm590-1:35-mechanics-3-resin-figures

Great looking build!
I agree about the Transmission, strange decision, drop a dozen rounds of ammo out of the kit and add in the transmission. It is hard to even find a picture of it. Found a diagram for a T54 transmission from a 1969 users manual but not sure if that is even fully relevant for a 1946 tank

Thanks for proposal about avaliable figures, I'm not decided wich I will choose yet.
Greg- I closed all engine chatches so the lack of transmission is no problem for me. The place where transmission will be invisible even between opened engine louvers.
Slowly hulls take its shape:




Still a lot of work to finisz it, large number of parts is not conducive to a quick construction

The hull assembly is finished. Almost all parts out of the box, I only replaced the plastic wooden log to the real piece of wood, added electric wires to teh front light and horn, also mounted Eureka XXL towing cables.







A lot of work and fun with hull build behind me, now I will start turret interior assembly so stay tuned.

Work with the turret interior:

Base is painted by airbrush, now I need to paint with brush all details inside the turret.

In menatime I finished a litte base for the tank.

Was this variant ever used in combat by anyone? Was it exported?

That T-54-1 looks like a handful, nice work Matt . Love the engine

Kind regards
Steven

Jennings- This version was first "prototype" series so it wasn't exported and didn't saw combat.
Steven- Thank you
The turret is ready for some weathering.

Looking good!

Very nice.

Thank you guys
Turret interior is finished...


...as well as the rest of the model. Now time for painting and veathering (my favourite part of modelling )



This DSHK machine gun look awesome after assembly


And the final position on the stand: