See here:

http://www.www-legend.co.kr/01_afv01.html

Isn't Legends great.?

Yes Legends products are really top drawer, nice to see these being made, now for a proper T-54 1949...



cheers

ecuse my ignorance, which armies used the T-55AM2B?

East Germany NVA used it :
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/ulrich_wrede/t-55am2b/

HTH

Frenchy

Nice!!!

Hopefully the hatches on the AM2 engine deck can be built open as well.

Cheers,
/E

Both conversions are looking good. We need to see them in flesh or at least have a review of them.
From the pictures, I think the AM2B has better details than the CMK and the Real Models conversions. I can't speak for the Panzershop one. The laser rangefinder housing, the side skirts are much better than those of the two previous sets. Erik, the engine deck looks nice but in my opinion, it is definitely closed or Legend would have shown at least one picture of it open.

Olivier

Yeah,great.....only if they're willing to solve the shrinkage problem........

Having almost finished building the CMK conversion I can say that this is definitely superior. I saw this kind of rear side skirts on NVA AM2Bs.

Hi Arpad,
I have the CMK myself and found that the laser rangefinder was a bit undersized which generates a gap between the Tamiya turret and the resin part. Another issue is the skirts that are too short.
Maybe those problems are due to some shrinkage on my model but I fear it is common to all kits. I remember having seen the same problem in the Osprey book "Modelling the T-55".

Did you encounter such problems ? If yes, how did you fix the skirts ?
I consider the CMK kit a good one and better than the RM one. The PE sheet is a great addition even though it looks a bit tricky to shape (for example the engine deck mutli-parts covers). Any building feedback on this conversion would be appreciated. I intend to build a Czech tank not a NVA one.
TIA
Olivier

Great to see how Legend is jumping into this market.
I'm just suprised that they don't include the chinese style IR gunner's sight in both their Type 59 and Type 69.
See here for an example:
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/djiti_power/t-69/index.php?Page=5

Ditto for the chinese Type 54 machine gun. This can be ID'd by the lack of ribs on the barrel:
http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/greg_smith/t-69_iraqi/

Olivier,
The CMK kit can be built up to modern standards, it just needs some work and a lot of love. The sensor size is almost correct, I think the master maker just did not care to make a good canvas cover. I dont consider myself a good modeller but was able to make something much better in one hour. Unfortunately I dont have the model with me right now, so no photos, but I will try to explain.

First, find a good reference photo where You have a view of the rangefinder, the barrel and their position compared to each other. Like this http://svsm.org/gallery/T-55AM2/IMGP4909 and this http://svsm.org/gallery/T-55AM2/IMGP0188. Here You can find a small walkaround for the Czech Kladivo http://modelari-cheb.valka.cz/pages/rokycany_modern.htm

Then shave off the resin canvas part off the rangefindef part, leave the box sensor part only.

Now assemble the Tamiya canvas acording to instructions.

Then make a corresponding hole on the TOP of the plastic Tamiya canvas part. Dry fit the resin sensor part into the hole just to get an idea of the proportions.

Now mix some epoxy putty, I used Green stuff, stuff it into the hole You made on the Tamiya canvas part, push the resin sensor box into it.

Now You have two hours to get the proportions right, remove the excess putty and shappe the folds on the canvas cover.

Add the remaining rivet details and so on.

Sorry for writing like for a retard, I have no photos. I made up this correction myself, it will look close enough, I was satisfied with it. Still, Legend got it nicer.

Anyway, I made up a cheap method for fixing the Tamiya barrel as well, if intersted I will explain.

And, I will not put side skirts on it, I will use some workable AM track. Now Trumpeter is releasing t72 tracks, I am interested about it.

Happy modelling,
Arpad

Thanks for the answer Arpad. I understand how you fixed the issue with the rangefinder housing. That would be great if you posted some pictures of your build too.
Could you also check on your model that the skirts are the right length or too short like on my model ?

Olivier

Olivier, I will send You some pics, but not before the easter holidays. Im busy with school and Im not going home for some time...

Hi Guys

We have, well i have always wanted a good conversion to build a Type 69. It seems with this release from Legends we now will have 2 to choose from. Not including the awful one from AEF a few years ago.
However it seems quite a few incorrect parts and details are included or emitted from the Legend Type 69 set....not sure what Legend deem a Type 59....it certainly isnt the the one they are passing off on their site..
A few things i have noticed that are incorrect on first glance...

Zip boxes
commanders gun sight
Mantlet
Main search lamp bracket location where it is attached to mantlet...and unit sat too high
Commanders cupola
Antenna tube depicted....this is for command tank
No generator or comms box on rear plate[ if depicting command tank]
AAMG wrong type
Not sure what the boxes are on the boom shields
Front lifting hooks on turret in wrong position
No glacis plate mg hole present

Good points
Boom shields around turret look pretty good
Engine deck from what i can see looks correct, although exhaust part is incorrect

I am sure this set will yeild other usable parts and although would be quite expensive to possibly utilize both this set and another one soon to be available from a Major aftermarket company...

Andy

I guess thats the Verlinden one you are referring to Andy? (your kit reworked by Charlie Pritchett) That to me looks to be the best so far, based on Charlies pics and of course the initial Airdale castings kit.

Perhaps I can post up some more photos soon, but here are the instruction sheets for now. I can answer a few questions though. Olivier, you are correct, the rear engine hatches do not open. As for the side skirts, there appears to be no shrinkage problem at all as they fit perfectly.
As I have not built the CMK version, I can't say much about it, other than I've found their other kits very pleasurable to build. The Legend kit does come with their fuel line plumbing parts, and yes, a few of the hoses diamaters are a little off. That's what modelling is about.
I can't wait to finish this particular conversion. I've always loved NVA armor, having spent about 10% of my life surrounded by it.

Well, what I see in your pics looks much better than the CMK-kit (which is in its age by now). Not that the CMK-kit is bad (because it's not), but this one looks just way better!

It looks simply amazing!

More photos: http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=1166&lng=E

Thanks a milion Dmitry!

I LOVE that site!

I really dig Legend's conversions, but have never really had the chance to work with them. Based on all of the comments I've seen on this site, I'm guessing that I'm in for a treat?

I'm interested in the Enigma. I have seen that Verlinden is releaseing a Type 69-II conversion also and the rumor is it is the Airedale molds for most of the parts and added some P.E. If true this is the one I will be getting as those were mastered by Andy Taylor I believe. But it appears they too left out the Type 54 HMG. Oh well I'll still get it if the price is right.

Roy