Hi Guys,

Here is wait I have been working more off than on lately

[img[url=https://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/405710][/img]

Just trying to download the photos correctly

[img[url=https://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/405712][img]https://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/28821/thumbs/DSC04691.JPG[/img

Cheers Mike

Not working correctly and I think you need to do a different link for them (I tried to change the format and could not access the pictures).

When you click on the picture in your album to see it, right click over it and select copy link location and use that for the photo http:

Hi Jacques,

Thanks for the advice I will give it a try!!

Hi Guy's

Here are some pictures of a WIP Libyan T55 I had tried to make for the Civil War Campaign, any thought's, idea's, helps or criticism is greatly valued!!

Firstly the front HillBilly Armour




Then a bit of work on the backend

Now from the side






Cheers Mike

A few more photos









For someone who builds as slow as myself I still have a long way to go, making / converting a new front deck, making a new Polish style mantlet, extra turret armour, side schertzen, plumbing & wiring etc, not to mention figures

Cheers Mike

Hi Guy's,

Well time for a bit of an update!! I have tried to make the "lugs" were the spare track would have been on the left hand side, along with wiring up both side's of the little lights I also made up the "left over" wiring from when the lights were "ditched'!!

On the driver's side I have run hose's to the washer reservoir & the drivers periscope's.



The front end with the HillBilly Bits


Please feel free to offer any advice or how to on any corrections required.
Cheers Mike

Hi Guy's,

Bit more of an update so without further ado..
Firstly we have the side schurzen,still need to add the "lifting eye" to them!!

Now a couple of shots of her rear end



The rear fuel mounts were modified by moving them all out 2mm, the big T them all a bit close, also the reference photos seemed to show what looked likesome little "lip & bolt" & bolt thingy...
Also made up the framing to surround the polish type rear decking, still need to add an extra fuel cap, wiring & rear lights, all scratch building done on this build is my first foray into trying to learn how to scratch build bits


The rear end still needs the unditching bracket etc to be added.

Please feel free to advise & critque
Cheers Mike

This is looking great Mike.

I see Tamiya changed the engine deck for the Enigma kit, (polish version?) be nice if they started putting these extra parts in the T-55a kit too.

I follow the logic for the engine deck but not sure of the differences between the drivers hatches and the convoy lights? are the Enigma parts sufficiently different?

Otherwise it's looking great, the rendition of the Libyan applique armour is very true to the original, nice work.

My only 'critique' would be the mantlet cover, I like the affect you've gone for and the foil portions of ripped material but the putty I think is a bit thick and the overall texture a little smooth? May be too much to re-do now but perhaps some needle file work followed by some Mr Surfacer may help? I think Paul was discussing a technique using tissue paper for the same look over on the campaign thread which may be of use?

Great work though mate, keep it up!

James

Hi James,

Thank you very much for the comments!! Always nice to get some feed back & advice!!
I concur with you about the top"rip", I attacked it last night with some sand paper to thin it down as it does look chunky in the photo, I will also be using some needle files & a wrinkle or two of extra putty!! For some reason tho the polish covers aren't normally as heavily wrinkled as the soviet ones, maybe better workmanship??

I will try & post some pictures of the bottom side of the Mantlet cover tonight, as for using the enigma bits except for needing the correct rear deck, the other parts were only used as the first attempt at detailing up the original kit parts didn't end well for them.., or me !!

Cheers Mike

Hey Mike,

Ha ha, well good luck with it mate, be keen to see how it comes out.

James

Hi All,

Bit more of an update....before some more plastic time!!
Firstly some turret shots, still a lot more to add to her yet
Left hand side armour

Bit of a wider angled shot

As you can see there is a "dirty big bit missing from the rear front engine deck" LOL
The turret before the work really began, just cut in / out the hole for the fume's to escape out.
Now a view of the turret upside down, I think the bottom part of the cover looks great....biased I know!!



As you can see I have tried to also replicate the metal ribs, that attach to the "surround" that fits over the barrel & how they would look broken??

I have also chaffered the bottom of the turret as per reference photos.

Now a couple of shots from the back & front over view's




Would love to hear opinions & thoughts.

Cheers Mike

Great stuff Mike!

Really coming together, and I'll agree the underside of the mantlet cover does look great. Perhaps some thin strips of lead foil or something similar over the wires to show the re-inforcing patches on the real thing might be good too?

Interested in your choice/source of cupolas as they don't look like Tamiya parts?

Keep up the good work mate,

James

Hi James,

Lol you read my mind in regards to the strengthing ribs, hoping to get the etch bits over them tonight, after I re- add one of the ribs I broke of last night!!

As for the turret hatches they are & will be miniarm parts, beautifully cast & go together great, but I personally found their tracks to be a real pain on the
Hence using the fruils, I also have there DSHK to add to the gunners hatch.

Cheers Mike

Hadn't looked at any of their aftermarket during my build so good to know, thanks mate.

Fruil's look great BTW, never used their stuff myself, could never justify the cost and they look fiddly, but damn to they look good!

Good luck with it mate, have a good weekend.

James

Hi James,

Lol yeah I know what you mean about justifying the cost, but I can say as a first time user of them myself that a lot less clean up required than on half the for instance dragon Indy link jobbie's especially the older ones!!

They sit really great & hopefully I can make them look slightly real without stuffing up the paint job!!

Have a great weekend yourself

Cheers Mike

Hi Guy's,

Well no progess update's as yet, but thought I would show a couple of the reference pic's I am working to hopefully end up with.

Firstly the front end, I am also hoping to make a similar type of hodge podge rebels as can be seen

I find that one of the guy's in desert storm garb very interesting!!
Now a side on view, I believe that the rear sprocket is a faded green, I would love to hear other's take on that view??

Now a rear on veiw...showing i still have bits to do


Cheers Mike

Good work so far for a model you don't see at every model show !
Beware of your tracks though, you didn't put them the same direction.

Olivier

Hi Oliver,

Thanks for looking & the info about the tracks...I will need to remember that when they go back on painted.