Has anyone built the Takom 1/35th Scale T-55 AMV Kit No. 2042

I was wondering if it is as good as the Tamiya kit in.... detail, ease of build, etc.

Billy

I'm building it now. It has great detail - a lot of things that the Tamiya kit has cast as part of the hull or turret, Takom provides as separate pieces. So, it's much more intricate. Also, there's more photo-etch. The Tamiya T-55 is much easier to build.

Some of the thinner pieces are very soft and this makes them hard to fit together. The cage that protects the headlights was useless - I threw mine away and used one from an old Hobbycraft kit I had.
The tracks aren't rubber bands like the Tamiya T-55, they're single link, and don't snap together; they have to be glued. The good news is, if you want to avoid needless work, you need only assemble the track at the bottom, front and rear of the vehicle. The rest will be hidden by the skirts.

I think the skirts are really well done. On the real tank these are rubber so you'll want to spray on an undercoat of black, which will be visible wherever the camo flakes off. The panels or whatever they're called are smooth and almost seamless in the kit, but on the real vehicles they get a little bent and worn. These pics of T-55AMVs in the field will give you a good idea of how they actually look. http://www.forcesdz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=104
http://spioenkop.blogspot.com/2013/02/syria-and-her-fighting-vehicles_25.html

I haven't gotten to the turret ERA blocks yet so I can't say how easily they'll go together. Those on the Trumpeter T-62 were really difficult, so hopefully Takom will do better.

If I can answer any other questions, please let me know. Good luck!

I'm not to worried about the tracks, I have rubber tracks I can use

Is the photo-etch a "must use" or an "option" for some parts... IE: are there parts that are not in plastic and only in metal

Are the tires made of rubber or plastic

Are the headlight covers the only problem .... so far

Billy

[quote]I'm not to worried about the tracks, I have rubber tracks I can use

Is the photo-etch a "must use" or an "option" for some parts... IE: are there parts that are not in plastic and only in metal

Are the tires made of rubber or plastic

Are the headlight covers the only problem .... so far

Billy

There are some parts that are only photo-etch, but for the most part they're not tiny like some of Trumpeter's photoetch.

The headlight guard has been the only problem, so far.

The tires are separate parts, but made of plastic, not rubber.

I think your rubber tracks will be fine for this kit, they'll be partially hidden anyway and you won't have to deal with the sag on top.

I am partway through building the T-55AM. I have been really impressed by the fit and detail so far.

Sometimes the instructions suggest to build sub-assemblies in isolation from the kit and then install them (I noticed this for the suspension). I found it easier to build up from the place where the suspension parts were meant to be installed. I installed the part connecting the sub-assembly to the hull tub, then the next part, then the third one, and it went together nicely with all the alignment correct.

I was wondering if anyone has got further than me with one of these and can give some advice about which option will be easiest? I have two options how to proceed:

1. I can build the entire kit less sprocket, road-wheels and tracks, and also side-skirts and paint it, paint and install the road-wheels and sprocket, then install and paint the tracks and side-skirts

2. Or I can paint the area behind the road-wheels, paint the wheels and sprocket and install them, install and then paint the tracks, and then proceed to finish the entire kit

Basically, if it will be possible to get the tracks and sprocket in after the rest of the kit is built up, I would prefer option 1, but if any of the features will get in the way I will need to do option 2 . . .

Does anyone have any thoughts?

David

I chose option two. It just seemed easier.