_GOTOBOTTOM
Яusso-Soviэt Forum: Cold War Soviet Armor
For discussions related to cold war era Russo-Soviet armor.
VT-55 Recovery Vehicle
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Friday, September 04, 2015 - 09:25 AM UTC
This Legend set was a birthday present last month from the wife...



History from a Czech website:


Quoted Text

In the early 50s USSR started developing an ARV build on the hull of T-54 that was just entering production. A prototype vehicle was completed after a short while and was named BTS-1 (BTS - Bronirowannyj Tjagacz Sriednij). Production was launched and it became the basic ARV of the Soviet army. In 1955 BTS-1 was upgraded with a hoist and a small folding crane. This upgraded version was given name of BTS-2. It was build on the T-54 hull and later on the T-55 hull. In the end of the 60s Poland and Czechoslovakia bought the BTS-2 license. Basing on BTS-2 technical data the polish as well the Czechoslovakian army developed a ARV.

The Czech Version is called VT-55 A and the development ended 1968, in 1969 the serial production started and continued till 1983. About 20% of the VT-55 produced in CS where bought by the Czechoslovakian Army (ČSLA), export to Warsaw PactSstates was around 50%, the rest , approximately 30% was bought by capitalistic states.

Czech ARV build on T-55 hull. It was build to perform repairs on T-55 and T-55A tanks. When it entered service in 1973 it was not only the best ARV in the whole Warsaw Pact but probably in the whole world. It is still able to carry out tasks that NATO gives ARVs of its class. Unlike the T-55 the VT-55 is still the basic ARV of the Czech army uses for field repairs. It's able to perform repairs on Soviet tanks like the T-54/T-55 and T-72 but also on the BVP-2 APC. A number of those vehicles are used by Cesky Drahy (Railroad emergency respond CR)



The venerable Tamiya offering will act as the base kit...



With MK supplying the tracks....



Gary
bison126
Visit this Community
Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Friday, September 04, 2015 - 10:47 AM UTC
Nice conversion Gary. I for long have looked at the Panzershop conversion but still haven't made my mind on which one is the best.

Olivier
barra733
Visit this Community
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 03, 2015
KitMaker: 282 posts
Armorama: 255 posts
Posted: Friday, September 04, 2015 - 04:03 PM UTC
I built the Panzershop kit a few years back and it's a hard build - but builds into a beautifully detailed kit. I'm awaiting one of the Legend its at the moment and will be doing both an in-box and build review on this site. I will be making comparisons between both kits.
210cav
Visit this Community
Virginia, United States
Joined: February 05, 2002
KitMaker: 6,149 posts
Armorama: 4,573 posts
Posted: Friday, September 04, 2015 - 04:27 PM UTC
"This Legend set was a birthday present last month from the wife..."

Any chance she has a sister in the US?
grunt136mike
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: November 24, 2012
KitMaker: 1,896 posts
Armorama: 1,858 posts
Posted: Friday, September 04, 2015 - 06:10 PM UTC
Hi;

"HUH"----I Would Have TOO Pledge On The HONEY DO List For The Next Ten Years !!!!!!!!!!!




CHEERS; MIKE.
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 04:12 AM UTC
Look forward to the comparison Ian.

DJ - not in the US, but she does have one in Oz



I guess the wheels are as good a place as any to start. They are, however, an inherent problem with the Tamiya kit.



They are produced with moulding recesses rather than ridges and this is also carried over into their Enigma and Tiran kits unfortunately. You have a few options: Ignore the problem, get a set of AM wheels or go down the hardest route of all - guess which I've chosen? Yep, as I usual, I never seem to take the easy way out. Some heat stretched sprue and extra thin cement....



Time consuming, but does the job. I went down this route with the Tiran build but only had to do a couple of wheels as I used AM spider spoked ones as I was building a 4. This et will take a little longer I guess....

Gary
18Bravo
Visit this Community
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 04:18 AM UTC
Nice. Is the sprue just a filler or are the wheels actually ribbed now?
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 05:37 AM UTC
Hi Robert. They are all ribbed.



Just need to sand the outer face of the rim down and add some wear and the wheels are complete.

Gary
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 07:15 AM UTC
Another glaring omission by Tamiya is the idler tensioner unit - basic detail at best here....



A little styrene tube, filler, Meng nut/bolt etc soon changes that....



Gary
Tanksami
Visit this Community
Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 06, 2011
KitMaker: 1,314 posts
Armorama: 1,217 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 07:46 AM UTC
Hi Gary,

Will follow this closely love anything on the 55's, the best beast out there IMHO!!

P.s your wife's sister doesn't live in Melbourne by chance does she??

Cheers Mike
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 08:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

P.s your wife's sister doesn't live in Melbourne by chance does she??



She does actually

Gary
Tanksami
Visit this Community
Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 06, 2011
KitMaker: 1,314 posts
Armorama: 1,217 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 08:32 AM UTC
Ohh perfect!!

Is she ok with buying models too?? Lol
Plus I wouldn't have to explain rugby to her or teach her the better anthem!!

Mike
Tanksami
Visit this Community
Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 06, 2011
KitMaker: 1,314 posts
Armorama: 1,217 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 08:36 AM UTC
Can u tell I am a kiwi boy lol
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 01:44 PM UTC



Rear and front lower panel attached with missing welds and cast effects added where required....





Suspension arms also in place and aligned using a steel rule.

Gary
Jacques
Visit this Community
Minnesota, United States
Joined: March 04, 2003
KitMaker: 4,630 posts
Armorama: 4,498 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 07:47 PM UTC
Nice work and good discussion of details missing. Also looking forward to the comparative review...I have the Panzershop conversion (on the shelf) but have seen the Voyager conversion and wondered how they stack up.
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 06, 2015 - 01:28 PM UTC
Thanks Jacques

More progress - wheels are all done. Missing drive sprocket ring mounting nuts/bolts are added using Meng's excellent styrene offering....





Gary
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 06, 2015 - 01:55 PM UTC
Next task is to turn this little lot into a set of workable tracks....



Gary
Hederstierna
#247
Visit this Community
Nordjylland, Denmark
Joined: January 03, 2008
KitMaker: 1,102 posts
Armorama: 1,018 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 06, 2015 - 03:43 PM UTC
Superb detailing work! And what a great subject too. I'll be following this build with great intrest. Keep up the good work.
Jacob
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Monday, September 07, 2015 - 02:04 PM UTC
Thanks Jacob.

Progress with the tracks. Absolutely love these MK sets. A breeze to assemble and perfect 'dead track' sag....



Gary
Armored76
Visit this Community
Bayern, Germany
Joined: September 30, 2013
KitMaker: 1,615 posts
Armorama: 1,500 posts
Posted: Monday, September 07, 2015 - 04:31 PM UTC
Excellent work so far!
rfbaer
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,696 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 - 12:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks Jacob.

Progress with the tracks. Absolutely love these MK sets. A breeze to assemble and perfect 'dead track' sag....



Gary



Sexy.
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 - 10:18 AM UTC
And all complete...



Gary
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 - 01:36 PM UTC
Now the real fun begins. First of all, the upper hull needs to go under the knife....



The top panels need to be removed....



Details are also removed from the fenders, but it does mean a lot of holes to fill and a lot of clean up. So I decided to remove the fenders are replace them with styrene sheet and strip. Also, Tamiya got the diagonal ribs on the forward part of the fenders wrong - they should be grooves. So out with the Dremel and a burr to correct...



Replacement PE fender supports are provided in the Legend set, but I've replaced those with .010 strip styrene which is easier to cement to the fenders. Just need to go light on the cement!

Gary
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 - 11:43 AM UTC
With the basics of the fenders complete, thought I'd try a dry fit of the upper hull parts...



Gary
gastec
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 - 02:07 PM UTC
Due to the excellent casting of the resin parts, minimal filler is required and the upper hull parts fit almost perfectly....





Gary
 _GOTOTOP