Hello, I ran across these photos of NTC tanks in the Libyan civil war:





I was wondering if anyone had any better photos of this logo.(I have enlarged it, but it is too fuzzy for me to make out). In addition, does anyone know what it says?

I would really like to do a version of this T-55, but the markings have me stumped.

OOPS...I forgot the enlargement, here it is:



Gosh, Imgur is so much smoother than PB!

The modelling book, "Soviet Armor in Foreign Wars" gives you a set of those markings.

It's put out by Inside the Armour Publications.

Thanks a TON Jimmy! This site and others like it are such a wonderful resource, I really would never have found that information otherwise.

I think this may actually be a T-54 because I can see a vent on the turret roof located exactly where the T-54 had one.
Hope my mentioning this does not mean I've peed into your cornflakes!-
Geoff Steer

The tank in the pics looks like a T-54B. The decals that come in the book have a serial number of 01020 though, not the 01019 shown.

The colour pic with the crowd all over it is definitely a T-55. Can't see a turret vent but it has the larger front wheel hubs fitted to T-55s from 1959. I believe the others are all T-54s. T-54B was only built for 2 years ('57-58) and only by Russia, so it would seem unlikely that they are B's. T-54A production continued in Czechoslovakia and/or Poland into the 1970s, ceasing in Russia in 1958.

Well you are very correct about those pictures.I think that first T-55 in the photo is a Czech built model.

Thank you very much for the help guys! Geoff, no problem at all, That's how we learn, but where do you see the vent? The tank in the first photo seems to have the reinforced hub on the first roadwheel, doesn't that make it a 55? In the second photo, I thought that style loaders hatch was a 55 detail also. I'm not arguing, just trying to get my details right.

The vent is below the tank commander's left hand. T-55s replaced this vent with a small slot on the right front of the turret near the bottom. I thought the photos were all of the same vehicle. From the other replies it would appear that more than one T-54/55 is being represented. As for any feature being exclusively that of a T-55, I'd be careful of such thoughts. The Russian production of any vehicle was not bound by any rules. In this example, old stuff would be used up before switching to the new and new stuff could be retrofitted to an older vehicle. So, I would not think a latter feature is solid proof that you're looking at a T-55.
HTH-
Geoff Steer

Geoff, I see what you were talking about now, but here is a better photo, that's just the light hitting the cupola under his left hand, not a vent:

Hi John-
You're right. This is a great example of how easy one can be fooled! The shadow cuts diagonally down and to the outside of the cupola creating the appearance of the vent.
My mistake-
Geoff Steer

a rather interesting find on the internet, i do hope someone builds this, it would make a magnificent subject matter i think.

I guess this could be another tank with similar markings... :


H.P.

Thanks Henri-Pierre, I do have that photo also. There are quite a few photos available of the Black T-55's, just start by googling NTC tank Libya and go from there, when you see a name of a city in the caption, do another search with the city and "tank". I found even more photos that way.

I'm working on collecting the materials needed David, waiting for the Blast models conversion, for the loaders hatch, and other bits. I am on the fence about spending $45 on the book Jimmy pointed out, it has the decals needed, but I was actually considering doing them by hand. I just can't find a clear enough photo of the logo to do it. I'm not really that interested in the book (I'm sure it's great, but I'm only really interested in this black tank.) so $45 is a lot to spend on the decals for 1 tank. I was thinking of contacting ITA about just purchasing the decals, but I do not want to offend Mr. Meddings, he is trying to run a business after all.

John,
I have the decals and they are yours.
PM me.
Dan

Thank you very much Dan, PM sent.