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In progress South Sudan T-55
SMT-1975
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 01:54 PM UTC
When I got back into modeling in 2002, I was all aircraft, all the time. That got boring, so here I am delving into armor (and loving it). It's been close to 20 years since I built a tank, which shows, but I wanted to put up a couple in progress shots of my first build. This is Tamiya's T-55 built as a vehicle from the South Sudan Liberation Army. The figures are still too glossy and it needs more weathering, but I'm waiting until it's mounted on the base to do that. Like the title says, in progress.

Enjoy.

-David




seb43
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:06 PM UTC
Great the camo is really a nice touch
maybe better pics
Which figs did you use???

The tracks are from the Tam kit ??
Cheers
Seb
SMT-1975
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:09 PM UTC
I'll get better pics when the thing is finished. My in-progress shots always seem to show off the workbench mess.

The figures are from ICM, but pretty heavily modified. ICM's plastic is relatively soft, so it was a good place to start. The heads are from Hornet.

And yes, the tracks are Tamiya. I came very close to getting a Fruil set but couldn't bring myself to pay that much for tracks. That said, I strongly suspect my T-62 will be getting the Fruil treatment.
cdharwins
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 03:06 PM UTC
Very cool, David. Ya gotta love a third-world T-55!

Chris
meaty_hellhound
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 04:44 PM UTC
cool subject David. you did a nice job on the figures too and i look forward to see this completed with its base. keep it rolling and stay away from the airplane section of the hobby stores... would enjoy seeing your next armour project. cheers, mh.
jphillips
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 05:14 PM UTC
That's a great looking T-55. The figures really bring the kit to life.
SMT-1975
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 11:37 PM UTC
Thanks guys.

I'll definitely post pics of my next project: Trumpeter's IS-3M in Budapest, 1956.
Karl187
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Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 01:04 AM UTC
Nice one David- I love the camo- was it from a reference or did you just go for it?
SMT-1975
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Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 03:05 AM UTC
Thanks Karl.

The scheme is real. I have a single photo that I based this build on. I'll post it tonight. I used Empire City's decals, which have a left-side profile. I used those resources as inspiration and winged the rest of it.

SMT-1975
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 03:23 AM UTC
Here is the pic that inspired my T-55.
chefchris
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 03:38 AM UTC
David,
Welcome aboard! You certainly picked an interesting subject for your T-55. I really like the paint job - it's different.

One thing you might want to change is the aux. light next to the Luna IR lamp..... its the wrong size, the lens should cover the whole "face" of the lamp, it looks like you used the one for the front glacis.

Chris
TonyDz
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 03:39 AM UTC
Nice job, for the most part. Too bad you didn't follow the instructions. Since you used the anti-radiation coaming on the TCs side, part B16, you should have used one on the loader's side, part 17 not part B18. They aren't mixed and matched on the real thing.
SMT-1975
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 10:20 AM UTC
Eh, instructions are overrated.


Quoted Text

Nice job, for the most part. Too bad you didn't follow the instructions. Since you used the anti-radiation coaming on the TCs side, part B16, you should have used one on the loader's side, part 17 not part B18. They aren't mixed and matched on the real thing.

jphillips
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 02:47 PM UTC
I can't help but wonder, how do the rebels protect their tanks from Khartoum's Su-25s, since they have no air force? Do they just drive them into a dry creekbed and pile some brush on top to hide them? Maybe the CIA has hooked them up with some Redeyes.
TonyDz
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 10:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Eh, instructions are overrated.



That's a shame you have that attitude. I guess you feel the same about research. In my opinion, what could have been an outstanding build is only fair with that kind of mistake. It's your kit, you do things as you see fit. If you post it up for comments, then be ready for them.
SMT-1975
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Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 11:26 PM UTC

No, that isn't how I feel about research. And yes, I'm well aware that this is a constructive comments board. If I wasn't looking for that, I wouldn't have taken pictures in the first place.

Here is my attitude on things like this:

a) I've seen many many builds that have slight flaws. I don't personally think those kinds of flaws automatically downgrade a build's quality. For example, there is a really nice MiG-17 on Hyperscale right now. The builder used the wrong color for the cockpit (Russian puke green, as opposed to black), but the finished kit looks great. Great scheme, well airbrushed, etc. Is the fact that the cockpit color is off slightly annoying to a MiG afficianato like myself? Sure. Does it mean I think the build is of substandard or lesser quality? No.

b) This also doesn't mean I don't respect, like, or appreciate well researched, well built models. I envy those who can put hours and hours of time into researching every detail of a vehicle before they start building, I really do. I have two kids and a job that keeps me at the office at all hours, so I personally don't have that luxury. In the MiG example, I'm not going to ding the builder for using the wrong color or call his build fair based on one mistake. Next time it will be correct, I'm sure (as with the hatch on my next T-55).

These are models, scale representations of vehicles. I personally refuse to let the perfect become the enemy of the good, as it kills the enjoyment of the hobby for me. (I have a stillborn MiG-27 conversion somewhere in a box that is a testament to that philosophy).

That's my opinion and my opinion alone. Yours may differ, which is fine with me.

Cheers.

afv_rob
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Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 01:31 AM UTC
As your first armor build its really nice, the paint job is fantastic as are the figures. Really nice to see someone tackle a lesser seen T-55 version.

I wouldnt get too hung up on the hatch issue, like you said-learn from mistakes.
SMT-1975
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Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 02:00 AM UTC
I was wondering the same thing. I'm not clear on the intricacies of Sudanese militias, for all I know, the SSLA is on Khartoum's side. Aren't third world civil wars complicated?




Quoted Text

I can't help but wonder, how do the rebels protect their tanks from Khartoum's Su-25s, since they have no air force? Do they just drive them into a dry creekbed and pile some brush on top to hide them? Maybe the CIA has hooked them up with some Redeyes.

SMT-1975
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Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 02:02 AM UTC
Thanks Rob. I'm working on a IS-3 right now and am trying to keep the all green scheme interesting. I've got a file of Taliban/Northern Alliance/Ethiopian/Ugandan armored vehicles that have some truly garish schemes. I'm hoping to build as many of them as possible.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about the hatch. Not like I can fix it now.



Quoted Text

As your first armor build its really nice, the paint job is fantastic as are the figures. Really nice to see someone tackle a lesser seen T-55 version.

I wouldnt get too hung up on the hatch issue, like you said-learn from mistakes.

afv_rob
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Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 02:19 AM UTC
I cant wait to see your next work then, I love all those third world garish camo schemes, some of the Afghan painted stuff is very odd looking, if got a few Russian wrecks from the Afgha war planned, covered in some very colorful graffiti.
SMT-1975
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Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 03:00 AM UTC
That sounds really interesting. I can't wait to see those.



Quoted Text

I cant wait to see your next work then, I love all those third world garish camo schemes, some of the Afghan painted stuff is very odd looking, if got a few Russian wrecks from the Afgha war planned, covered in some very colorful graffiti.

sapper25
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Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 03:34 AM UTC
WOW!!! When you make a come back, YOU make a come back. The figures really make the tank. The refernce pic is awesome, please post more.
SGTJKJ
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Posted: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 02:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

These are models, scale representations of vehicles. I personally refuse to let the perfect become the enemy of the good, as it kills the enjoyment of the hobby for me.



Fully agree on that one, David!!

Very nice build, David. The figures and the T-55 tie together nicely. The camouflage looks very nice, although your photos are a bit dark. Looking forward to see better photos when it is finished.

Thanks for sharing
metroman
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Posted: Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 11:07 AM UTC
One of the best 'take that' rivet counter retorts I've read...superbly worded and I could not agree more - btw, that's one darn sharp ride you made there, would love to read how you painted the figs.
SMT-1975
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Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 - 03:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text

One of the best 'take that' rivet counter retorts I've read...superbly worded and I could not agree more - btw, that's one darn sharp ride you made there, would love to read how you painted the figs.



Thanks.

The figures were primed with Tamiya's gray primer (the rattle can kind). I did the camo using Vallejo acrylics, followed by washes with oils. The faces were a base coat of generic brown (MM acrylic, I think), followed by oils for highlights and shadows.

I wish I had more progress to share. Not long after posting this I got three SP Designs kits in the mail, which have proven to be quite distracting.

-David
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