I'm really sorry that my pic resulted in your addiction

Joking aside, I'm happy that you've re-started this long therm project

What did you mean exactly when you spoke about the Tamiya T-55 front? In my humble opinion it looks great but I'm curious to know what are your thoughts.

Unfortunately I think that most of the T-55 drawings which you can find on internet, are completely wrong or unreliable

However,I've found this Russian site which shows some original blueprint made by Russian engineers. They're not too large and ufortunately the site is written in Russian

It stats from the T-54...

http://ser-sarajkin.narod2.ru/ALL_OUT/TiVOut10/SuT5455/SuT5455105.htm

...it continues with the t55

http://ser-sarajkin.narod2.ru/ALL_OUT/TiVOut10/SuT5455/SuT5455153.htm

(you should click on the arrow on the right. But you've already undestood)

Well Matt. I think you're ready to scratch build your T-55

I'm not joking... if you read below my comments you can understand it. I love so much this tank and I have so many references about, that I was wondering to scratch build a 1/16 (or even a 1/24) scale model. However, I think that it would take me too much time and money to complete such a kind of mad project.

And of course, if you love a specific subject, no donor kits seem to be good enough...

Anyway, it's perhaps a matter of personal taste... As i told you, I like a lot this kit because its shape looks quite perfect and I think there's nothing wrong in its front glancis...but its engine deck really gets me upset! (And that's the reason why, In spite of the fact that i've already assembled, I've decided to modfy that detail on my "endless" Russian made T-55 )

Now, I'm eager to see your job.

So...let me change my mind about the shape!

Cheers and have a great job

What happened with the old hull and all of the work you did? Are you going to just strip the interior out of it? Alternatively, you could send it across the pond to me and I'll make good use of it. Hell, I'll cover the shipping!

Let me know about

I'll show you the job that i'm trying to do on mine

These are the T-55 armor angles. That's an original drawing so it must be accurate. I haven't verified yet. It seems to me that the rear plate of the Tamiya model is too sloped

I have a dimensioned T-55 drawing in 35 scale. I don't know if it would be useful for your needs, but anyway, let me know if you'd like to get it

Really intersting job so far

It must have been a mistake probably due to the plastic thickness.

I have an old Esci kit in my stash and a Trumpeter one. I was wondering to use their details and scratch build the whole hull. If I have enough time, I'd like to make a pair of ARV vehicles derived from T54/55. That's the reason why this thread is quite interesting indeed

Yes, you're right

Tamiya prices are too high indeed considering what they offer.

Regarding the "great big 1 piece mouldings" well as you probably know, the biggest companies nowadays use the "slide mould technology" which can awoid the "undercut" problems.
Anyway, I think that it's good not to struggle with all these alignment problems that we used to have assembilng our old kits...

Well of course, if you need to deeply modify the kit that could be a disadvantage...But kit companies make products coinceived only for lazy modellers!

It would be nice if you collected some drawings or schetches that you're using for this job. That could help some guys to make something similar

You underestimate the craziness

I don't know anything about the turret ring. An issue which I've noticed and I've corrected on the kit turret is that the lower edge actually is chamfred. Sharp edge which you find in the kit part is correct for a T-54 rendition

Yes, I've noticed and so I did

Me too, I don't know why. Perhaps the sharp edge sometime interfered with the oil tank on the right fender, or maybe it just depended on a different way that they adopted to cast the turret

I've made some modifies on the engine deck to obtain enough room for the wading rail



It hasn't finished yet but I'm quite satisfied

Well it is. Pictures aren't close enough

However, I haven't glued yet so I could try to meke also a metal frame. The smaller metal thickness would allows me to lower more the rail at the back of the engine deck

Thanks for the comment