Just my kind of modelling! Keep on posting. I enjoy your detailling skills every step.

PS: what about your other T-55s? Some progress there to show?

Cheers Michael

Thanks Michael.

Not yet - still need to set up somewhere to paint in our new place.

Now, I've hit a bit of a snag. With the first fender just about done, I compared it to the Tamiya one for interest. Note there is a big difference...



Okay, I thought, perhaps there are variations between vehicles? However, all the walkarounds I've seen show the side bar onto which the additional armour blocks are mounted is much further forward. In fact, the end of that bar should be flush with the join between the fender and the mudguard - just like the Tamiya kit.
The Voyager parts are 'keyed' so the only line up one way but perhaps I managed to make a mistake? I looked at the photo on the front of the Voyager set and sure enough, the armour blocks are position too far back. This also puts the rear section too close to the exhaust outlet too.

So, unless there are photos proving the contrary, it looks like the Voyager set may be incorrect

Gary

I think I've found conclusive evidence that the Voyager set is indeed incorrect...



The opposite fender retains the two external fuel cells. There are 3 fender support gussets which are marked in red and the fuel cell mounting points attach to these. The blue line denotes the marking etched into the brass fender for the rear most strengthening 'girder'. Note how the fuel mcells do not fit within the confines of the red lines and how much they overlap the blue line.

Not much else I can do really but consign these fenders to the bin....

Gary

Who needs PE wshen you have Evergreen styrene





I just used the Tamiya parts as a template along with reference photos.

Gary

Great work Gary.
Dan

Thanks Dan.

Washer reservoir is fixed in place along with wiring conduits...



Gary

Real nice work Gary. How different is the Tamiya fenders from what you constructed?

Thanks Ryan.

Personally I think the detail is better now - doesn't look like it's all moulded in one piece. Also, as with the real thing, the square tube supports have rounded edges top and bottom now too.


Gotta love Aber and their multiple small parts assemblies



Exhaust outlet also gets some attention with PE parts. The wading attachment flange is increased in size as the kit part is too small...



Gary

Gary you are doing some amazing work here. Thanks for sharing.

Robert

Gotcha. Thanks.

Seems aber missed the the bolt from the horn bracket to the hull bracket, unless of course the horn has two bolts but if you did that, why not a second washer.

The leading edge of the fender is added using PE from Voyager. The front mudguard tension bar is added using 10amp fusewire while the locking mechanism to keep the fender raised also comes from Voyagaer with the addition of a small spring made from .010 wire.
I'm leaving the front guards off so scratchbuilt the idler adjustment mechanism. Voyager do rovide a lump of unusable resin to depict this. They also tell you to use one each side of the mount for some strange reason? Only T54s had twin adjusters...



Gary

Forward facing fender mounted additional armour block is fitted along with convoy lights and assosciated wiring...





Gary

Neraly forgot to mention this. The Voyager set allows these armour blocks to be made from PE but they have some additional brackets (Parts Y21) which I can't see in any of the walkarounds on the net.



Whether these are specific to a certain vehicle or Voyager made them up? If anyone out there knows, I'd be interested to find out.

Gary

Wow. Amazing detail here Gary.

Thank you kind Sir

Rear mudguards are in place. Mud flaps will be added later in the build using lead foil...





Gary

Stowage bin next. I do have some PE ones from Aber, but they are a slightly different design and thus unusable in this instance. So I'm going to use the kit ones, albeit with added detail.

After assembling the sides, I trimmed off the moulded on detail on the ends and removed the latch parts all round. I then drilled a small hole where the moulded on latch parts were and recessed Aber PE parts in the holes. I then used the Aber carrying handle parts...



..the handle itself being made from 10amp fusewire. To replace the pressed strengthening ribs, I heat stretched some sprue and scraped along one side with a sharp blade to create a flat edge. The sprue was then cut to length and cemented in place...



Hoping you won't be able to tell the difference under a coat of paint

Gary

this tamiya t-55 enigma is the "ghost" tank of iraqi republican guard divisions.

Not sure what you mena by that ulises, but hanks for dropping by

Continuing with the stowage box, the lid locking mechanisms are next. I simply removed the moulded on detail from the lid and replaced each individuyal section with scrap PE and fusewire while the locking nut/handle is constructed using PE brass pipe, soldered together...



And dry fitted to the fender....



Gary

Hi Gary,

Unbelievable detail work - on both the PE and scratch. Excellent work Sir! Looking forward to the next update.

Regards,
Kobus

Helo
This clamp only rusian tanks. This stowage Polish production tank difrents clamp locking mechanism.
This photo only discusion.

Hi Mariusz

I'm building a Polish version - based on the Bovington vehicle.

Gary

Hi
Ok bulid polish wersion tank not mix rusia and polish. This stowage your handle only rusian tank.
Details amazing your models.

Cheers

Hi Gary,
She is coming along fantasticly!! Couple of questions
That letter box type flap on the rear did you work out what it was??
Also do you have any refs showing it on Bovingtons example, just asking as all the stuff I have on their one doesn't show one... That my blind eyes can see, so hoping I haven't missed something as I am getting the bits together to also try & build their one.
Hopefully I can do half as good a job as what you are doing!!
Very impressive!
Mike

Thank you Mariusz.

Mike - no, still haven't found out. You are correct that it's not on the Bovington vehicle, but have seen it on another obviuously so have added it for visual interest. Surely someone must know what it's for

In the meantime, first rear convoy light is added...



Gary

This build just keeps on astounding me with the level of detail you are putting into it Gary.