I saw a very attractive MiniArt boxart of a TOP recovery vehicle with this painting.

I could not find any information on the hows and whys but it looks good, and I would like to build my T-55A mod 1981 like that. However: when and why was this paint scheme used? Only as an eye candy for May 1 parades?

They had not started with the white trim in 1945:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hITzVSw6t18

They had white trim in 1961:

and in 1960:


Doesn't look like parade trim in 1957:


May 1958:


But in 1959 they had trim:


No date for this one but only the "hubcaps" are white, not the raised profiles on the mudguards:


Sometime in the 1960's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdF2v3t_zB4


T-55 tanks in 1962:



/ Robin

It looks really nice... although I suspect it is not very practical Thank you

I'm probably going to be masking and painting the white on after adding the green.

Practical? Hah!
Those white stripes were only for parades.
I think they have special regiments which have
the extra, or maybe even main, task of doing the parades.
I don't think they use vehicles painted in camouflage in the parades either, they look far too glossy for that.
/ Robin

You may have success with this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-89002-X-2-Gloss-White-Enamel-Paint-Marker-Plastic-Model-Craft-Tools-/351735612998

It is the 2nd Guards "Tamanskaya" Motorized Rifle Division AKA Taman Guards

This is brilliant, thank you.