Is anyone making an aftermarket transmission to put in the Miniart T-54 kits? I haven't seen anything in my searches.

I don't trust anything Verlinden, but this might work for you:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Verlinden-1-35-Russian-T-55-Tank-Engine-and-Engine-Compartment-Set-Tamiya-2186-/170828892413

I never purchased the above set, but unfortunately I did buy this one below way back in the day. It was of a one piece tub design. It sucked so bad I never used it for myself.


https://www.ebay.com/p/Verlinden-Productions-1-35-Scale-T-55-Engine-Drop-in-for-Tamiya-Resin-Kit-1936/661311673?iid=180602767799&_trkparms=aid%3D333201%26algo%3DCOMP.CARDS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D52475%26meid%3Db87974db70c646d2935a13653e155ce2%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D170828892413%26itm%3D180602767799&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

Now, don't laugh at what I'm about to tell you: You could use the transmission from a Skif kit. That's right. The kit sucks.
But I read the review below once and thought, okay, I'll give it a whirl. It turns out the transmission is about the best part of the kit, simply because you don't have to scratchbuild the entire shape. I added LOTS of linkages, bolt heads, and other details, (I had to scratch the brake units as well) and posted photos of it here which are long gone. But with a little work you can make a reasonable facsimile.
I saw one last year at a show in Texas going for $8, but I bet he'd have taken $7.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/9

CMK #3046 "T-55 Engine set" contains the transmission.It is casted for the Tamiya kit, but should fit MiniArt's and other kits as well.

Thank you both for the suggestions. I may try to see if I can find the kit next time I am at a show for cheap. Basic shape with a bit of detail is all I need as the hatches don't show much.

Cool. Basic shape is what you'll get.

The basic shape of the Skif assembly looks very much like that of the Maquette kit of a T-34 engine and transmission that I bought back in the 1990s. While I can’t tell you if either is accurate for a T-54/55 as I’ve not trawled my references, that might afford you another option to investigate.

Hi;

If your so Inclined, you could use Trumpy's type 89 120mm anti-tank gun kit or there Chinese MLRS as Both kits give you the Engine & Transmission ! Also these can be sourced for little money on ebay ! And are not all that bad; and FYI the set in the pic, while correct, shows the Tranny to far Forward, as it should line up with the Drive Sprockets on both ends.

CHEERS; MIKE.

So I managed to find an old photo of the Verlinden "tub" I used for a commission. I guess I wasn't too irritated with it as you could barely see anything through the open access hatches. The biggest problem I had with it was that the distance between the cylinder heads was too great. I'd stay away from it. Of course when the Tamiya kit first came out you had to scratch build everything else.



"The basic shape of the Skif assembly looks very much like that of the Maquette kit of a T-34 engine and transmission"

Close enough, as these photos bear out.




As you can see, I actually take my own advice sometimes, and still work with old Skif parts when necessary.

"If your so Inclined, you could use Trumpy's type 89 120mm anti-tank gun kit or there Chinese MLRS as Both kits give you the Engine & Transmission"

Those are nice, however, the engine is fine (for reasons I can't remember I chopped some length off of this one) but the transmission is far too wide - no room for the brakes.