I love this odd green color.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=african+union+tanks&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS770US770&hl=en-US&prmd=insv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2o-DD6YDaAhWqxYMKHS-0AI0Q_AUIESgB&biw=375&bih=591&gws_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=F0e0WpqSDcb6jwOauIvgDQ#gws_rd=cr&imgrc=FKtNyA67YsM0GM:

Dan

Almost looks like yellowish zinc chromate used as modern aircraft primers.
The female crew is a nice touch.

Glad you are willing to try binge building. I've taken it as a norm that as modelers, we would easily say, "I buy more than I build". I have enough in my stash that I can build models even when I am in my 80s! I've decided to make a stand that, for a change, I can at least say that "I've built more than I bought"..

Looking forward to see your build binge!

The Takom IDF Tiran is on my want list. Maybe when I've completed my sixth one, I'll see if I can get one at a good price. The "Blue Steel" version would make a great looking variant in my lot. I can see it in my mind's eye. This box art is particularly enticing!


The Achzarit will be a whole different ballgame. As you can see most of my references are about T-55s.


The Achzarit will mean I'll have to be on the hunt for more references (not that it is a bad thing).

Awesome! Another binge builder! Let's unite and try to reduce our stash! I'm also looking forward to your thread. You've got more on your list of T-55s than what I have.

The color variety would certainly make the completed builds very interesting. The "stowage" on that picture would be challenging and rewarding if accurately portrayed. Just when you think scratch building tarps are a tough, this picture raises it to a different level!

Thanks for the additional references. That would certainly help in this build. One funny thing for me is that, I'm making a model of an existing model (the one that they have in themodellingnews.com) and not of an actual AU tank.

This is how far I got with my Type 69-II. Those road wheels are very tedious. Glad to get these out of the way....next are the individual tracks.


On the T-55AM2B front, I'm still in the prep process prior to application of the primer. I've disassembled it and I still have to mask where required and mount the individual pieces. I'll post pictures later.

I am both excited and nervous to try a couple of new things. First off, I'll be using the much talked about Mission Model primers. I've read a lot of positive reviews and I'm curious to try them.


Next, I have a new tool to try out. It is the Tamiya Wide Airbrush Trigger Type. I have several airbrushes and my favorite ones to use are the Tamiya ones (highly recommended). I find them easy to work with and clean afterwards. They are basically Iwatas, not as expensive though not cheap either. I found that my hands hurt after using the regular airbrushes for a lengthy period. So, I hope the trigger type would help make it easy.


Wish me luck with these tools. Please comment or share any advice if you've used them before.

Thanks!

Oh boy, I'm getting another itch! Maybe I should remove "Takom" from the title....

http://www.themodellingnews.com/2018/03/build-guide-pt-ii-135th-scale-t-55a.html

Wow. This topic has started to snowball a bit. Almost deserving of a campaign....

I think that it would be hard to binge build Miniart’s T55s...
Dan

So how does one post pics on this site?
Dan

I'm glad that there is interest. One of the main reasons I started this thread is that I have one place to track my multiple builds. Instead of maintaining individual threads for each kit. I also want to interact with other modelers globally. It still amazes me that this is possible nowadays. Thanks Internet!

You are absolutely right, Dan. For the price I paid, I can get three Takoms for one Miniart.

Someday, Miniart, someday.....

Here are the steps that I took: I created an account with Imgur https://imgur.com/. I upload pictures to an album I created. I then go to the album where I uploaded the pictures. For each picture, I select "Get share links". I will then get four "Share Options", I chose the "BBCode (Forums)" Copy link and then Paste it on my thread. Hope this helps.

Thanks-I’ll look into it.
D

looks like it worked!
Thanks!
Dan

I likes this thread, thanks for sharing! So much version/users for T54/55 , i'll follow your work!
Thanks
Stephane

Hello everyone,

I've been out for a week and wasn't able to work on my T-55s. But, I am now back and have made some progress on the Type 69-II. I don't think I've mentioned it before that I plan to build this OOB. Paint scheme is still up in the air. Anyway, I skipped the tracks for now and went for the hull and fenders. These are nearing completion. The next major obstacle to clear are the tracks. Here is how the Type 69-II looks like.


Thank you all for the interest. Hope to post some more progress pictures soon.

-Joseph

He’s back!
Dan

There are a couple from Desert Eagle and a couple from SabIngaMartin - they’re basically all you need to make a couple or three or four decent models - early, late, ambulance and repair. The Meng kits are excellent too.

Had a little bit of time working on the Type 69-II tracks last night. I decided to post a little walk through on my approach. I am making no claim that this is the best approach. I'm sure there are a lot of ways to assemble the tracks, some may be more efficient but this works for me.

What I am assembling here are the bottom run of the tracks, the straight ones. Here are the tools that I use: a miniature vise, Mission Models Etchmate (which I have had for about 15 years), a metal ruler and Tamiya Thin glue.

I would then make this setup, the vise on the table, the Etchmate on the vise.


Once the setup is secured, I would put 16 pieces of the tracks and arrange them by pairs. Tight enough to hold them in place but easy to slide around.


Glue is applied on each pair relying on the capillary action.


I give the glue a couple of minutes and then I push the pairs together into 4 sets. I glue it again on the new connections.


I repeat the process until I have a section comprising of 16 tracks all glued together.


The final step is to make sure they are all straight. This is where I use the metal ruler. With a downward motion, I push the ruler on to the tracks.


Voila! A 16 track section is completed for the bottom run in a short time.


To qualify the phrase "short time". Without rushing, I repeated the same process and timed it. It took me 4 minutes and 50 seconds to complete a section.


I stopped working after this. I'll try to post some more on how I deal with the tracks around the sprocket. I hope some of you find this useful.

-Joseph

Good ideas Joseph!
Dan

Hey Joseph.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but here is a link to my T-55 build that I will do.

Keep up the good work, T-55 buddy!

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/268019&page=1#2265641

Thanks for the shout out Dave. I will be keeping an eye on yours. Good luck!!