Okay so I just bought Taking T-55AM2 and I want to do one of the Czechoslovakian camouflage schemes but I seem to remember someone saying that the rear deck is not accurate to do the Czechoslovakian or the Polish version not sure which variant they said was not accurate could somebody let me know and if the Czechoslovakian is not accurate did the Polish or the East German variance have any camouflage patterns at all thanks in advance

That's Takom stinking spell check

Sorry also how hard would it be to modify the deck to make it accurate if I need to do that

If I correctly remember the Takom actually depicts a Czechoslovakian made T-55AM2B, the engine appears to be correct for that version. However you can not built a Polish tank from this kit, as they used a different laser rangefinder.

You are GOOD for the Czech rear deck from the 55AM kit. You cannot build a Polish 55AM or any other Polish 55 from this box, as is, as the Polish 55 had a different engine deck. It is of course possible to modify the deck as desired with scratch work and surgery, or maybe put a correct polish-style deck on from some AM source. Likewise, as Michael K. pointed out, you would have to address the different laser set and a couple of other little details for to get a proper Polish out of it. But it does give you a Czech right from the box.

PS: As I understand things (vaguely, at best! ), you likewise CANNOT build a RUSSIAN T55AM from the box... Again, I think it's about that rear deck, in part. Czech, East German, and Polish production all had different rear engine decks than did the original Russian tanks. So, maybe one would need to do some work on that as well to build a Russian. ???

Cheers! Bob

Thanks a bunch I want to build the check version so awesome thanks

If the right rear grille is rectangular you have a Russian version.

If the front edge of that grille is kinked midway along with an oval inspection plate in front, then you have a Czech or Polish version. However, there were other differences in the shape of the frontmost deck hatches and the door hinges between Czech and Polish manufacture. This is a perennial subject that has been debated many times on several forums. As noted above, Czech and Polish vehicles evolved differently through upgrades.

Blast Models did a limited edition rear grille section conversion intended for the Tamiya T-55 to make the Czech/Polish version, but they didn't address the other differences. I have a spare one I'm about to put on eBay.

Don't forget the wading frame around the Russian engine deck. This was typical of Russian built T-55s.

Uh oh! OK. I looked up the sprues and that rear engine deck again...

I think that I was WRONG in my prior concerning those decks and the versions they would build to.

The Takom T55A, AM, and AMV kits all seem to share the same sprue "J" with the rear deck on it. And that deck does have the two rectangular rear-most grills and hatch-covers.... NOT what I thought it had!

And, as these Takom kits seem to have the original RUSSIAN-style rectangular grills, and NOT the "stepped" grills seen on the Czech tanks... It looks indeed like these 3 kits all would actually build the RUSSIAN-production hull (at least so far as rear hull decks go), and NOT either the Czech OR the Polish hulls. Sorry! NO Czech T55 direct from the Takom box, after all!

I have not looked at the Takom T55 AM2 kit yet.... Which has the box art purporting to be an East German (DDR) tank. IF that kit also "enjoys" the same sprue "J", it, too will actually build up as a RUSSIAN production hull, I think! Argh!

Takom T-55 frustration continues!

There IS some OK side to this, for at least some of us... The Russian tanks have been sold or given away widely across the planet, and so there are many possible minor armies and paint-schemes to consider.

Just looking on the brighter side!

Bob

I had a look on Hobby Search, and for both the T-55AM2B and the T-55A kits have a sprue H2 with the Czechoslovakian engine deck on it.

T-55A sprue photos.

T-55AM2B sprue photos.

Hopefully this helps with the discussion.

Well it kinda does as the directions do not give any directions or different part numbers for different varriants. I will look alot closer the next few days as I have planned on doing a review on this kit and posting it here. I was directed to a review done on this kit by
Fabian D.
CALLSIGN:nng-nng
http://www.panzer-modell.de/ausgepackt/archiv/takom/2057.htm
on anotehr site but would like to include a review on here. I have found some great photso on primeportal.net but i am unable to tell which varriant it is.

so i just jumped over to prime portal and the photos of the T-55AM2 were taken in Czechoslovakia but NONE of the engine deck well guess the topic continues lol

i might have found a photo
http://img.valka.cz/attachments/121/thumbs/T-54AM2_7_.JPG

Check my site. There is a series of pictures of a Czech AM2.

Could you post the address for your site for me please guess I don't know where it is

As it says on Olivier's signature, click on his banner, it takes you direct to his site.

Thanks Oliver that helps a lot and to the member who told me where to look thanks

Wow! How cool that those kits do actually have BOTH the Czech AND the Russian rear decks! That'll "learn me" to stop looking once I found that in-common "J sprue" with the Russian item and go believe that I had learned "the truth"!

Having BOTH decks opens up a lot of delightful options!

Bob