Hi guys

Was very excited initially when i saw the Soviet T-55 update set , however here is the problem with the set.
You can see here how far off the rail is. The grey plastic
part you see in the pic is from Trumpeters T-62 model 62 kit, this has perfect dimensions to use as a template to construct another 1 from plastic card.





Andy

The Miniarm set is a mystery

Thanks for the comparison. Lets us hope for a drop-in T-55 engine deck fix for 2013.

Cheers,
/E

Hello Andy,

I did a quick measure up a few days ago to try and work out the wading rail size needed to fit the Tamiya kit,

I came up with -

57.5mm wide (inside edge to inside edge), to allow it to sit flush down the hull sides, it sits at a slight angle, so needs to slide down the hull sides at the back very slightly.

32mm long (inside edge to inside edge), if I allow 7mm to do my rear hatches, that puts it part way down my rear upper angled plate (which seems to match most pictures), and my hinge bars sits snug inside the wading rail.

How does that match up to the Miniarm rail, and the T-62 pattern rail ?

Hi Matt

The measurements i have is width 57.5mm
and the length is 31.5mm. These are to the inside edges.
The engine deck needs some surgery to get everything to fit!

So yes, your calculations etc seem pretty good to me.
Its a shame Miniarm still got this part wrong, even after there initial alterations?..

Andy

Thx for that Andy,

It is a puzzle yes, but I think Miniarm were just trying to do an upgrade kit that requires little or no alteration to the base kit, because these upgrade kits tend to sell better, and they hit a problem with the wading rail because there is very little room to fit it in between the engine hatches and the hinge bar, not helped by the fact that Tamiya's hinge bar is dreadful.

I think a better option would be to supply PE wading rail sections that can then be cut to length, allowing the buyer to in effect make his own wading rail to fit whatever combination of alterations he has made to the base kit, ie none, or major surgery, doing it in sections would also allow certain parts to be L shaped with a simple bend line.

Hi Matt

The part still doesnt fit the deck even without any alterations, also the fuel cells supplied with the set dont have any brackets or fuel stubs etc molded on. I understand the inclusion of these cells as they are of a different type, Legend offer a set of fuel cells of this type with fittings etc moulded on. A few parts are usable, turret hatches etc pretty good, mantlet cover etc. I am not sure i would purchase any more sets.

Andy

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the update as I was thinking of ordering the Miniarm update set.
I will have a look at the set from Legend.

Cheers

Patrick

thanks for solving this one for us Andy !

Are the fuel cells a straight copy of the Tamiya mouldings ?, and yeah the hatches look quite nice, plus the bolt plates (with rounded stubs), which I think are Russian only, but not sure, not really enough in the kit to make it worth buying tbh.

ps, sent you a PM

Yes they seem to be Tamiya fuel cells reworked slightly to depict the different type. Not sure what plates you refer to Matt?

Andy

pm sent

Ooops, sorry,

These little plates/lugs for bolting attachments on the front, I tend to call them bolt plates.



All the Russian built T-55's seem to have these rounded lugs,(is that correct ?) instead of the small rectangular plates, not sure why they swapped to rounded lugs, it kinda hints at weight saving !?, but that seems kinda comical tbh.

Not specific to Soviet built T-55 Matt, i have pics of both style on Russian built examples.

Andy

Ahh, thx for that,

That means I can refer to it as a 'factory thing', (giggle)