Hello.

I am working on a Skif T-55A, kits not bad and it was cheap, and I need some advice on scratch building some things. This is my first time trying to scratch build something, it's even my first time working with PE parts. Basically I want to do two things:


1. Scratch build gun mantlet bits. The little arm thing, sand cover, and ring around the barrel. Have some strip styrene I'm going to try and work along with some thin brass sheets, not sure what to do about the sand cover. Maybe try some fabric, I think I even saw someone use aluminum foil?

2. Fuel lines & electrical wiring.
This one should be easy, I already have some brass wire.


What it looks like

What I want it to look like.

Thanks for your input guys.

Wow, Skif made it very basic !
Concerning the gun mantlet, you'd better use some putty than any kind of foil. You can remove the excess if need be and carve the various folding in the fabric before it dries.
For the ring around the gun, a disk cut from a plastic sheet should do the trick. But the most difficult will be to create the various holes on the circumference.

Good luck!
Olivier

Well....just my opinion, but Skif T-55 is simply awful, for sure the worst T-55 kit, so I really admire your braveness






As you can see, you don't have just to reproduce the gun mantlet, you have to correct the MG hole and completely rebuild the headlight. If I were you I'd buy an aluminum gun barrel


For the gun mantlet in this case you should use a plastic structure covered with epoxy putty

Reproducing fuel lines & electrical wirings could be less difficult. You should see reference pics

http://www.primeportal.net/apc/t-55.htm

http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=1790

http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=1511

http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=1042

http://www.fotovalkirumodelism.com/page.php?page=382

Skif t-55 starfish wheels are completely wrong




That's a flaw which is very hard to correct

Engine deck has PE parts but very poor details.
The smallest rectangular hatch is correct for a T-54 wrong for a Russian made T-55A






Anyway if you need other reference let me know

Have a good luck...

Thanks for the replies. The worst T-55 kit? I don't think so, I did build the Lindberg offering , which had really bad tracks and lacked big time in detail, guess they can't all be winners. Wanted to get the Tamiya kit, but Skif was there and way cheaper. I'll eventually do up a Tamiya kit, just because I love me some Tamiya.

Wondering if off the shelf epoxy putty from the hardware store would work? As I have a bit of that laying around. As for rebuilding bits, I guess I give a shot. This is a learning experience after all!

Well, of course, Lindberg kit it's so ugly that I can't consider a T-55

A while time ago I tried to improve the old ESCI kit. I worked on it about 3 months, but, although I was trying to do my best, it seemed to me too wrong indeed so.... eventually I bought the Tamiya kit

Tamiya kit has some minor flaws, but in my opinion has perfect shape and dimensions, its biggest issue is that is quite expensive but it's worth the payn. I reaaly like improving old unperfect kits, but if you have to rebuild more than a half of them, I think it's better getting the better models...(if there are better alternative available ) Just my opinion

Anyway, I think that Hardware epoxy putty could work. After all you have just to scratch a small part.
Let's try and share with us if you don't mind

Cheers