Hi All!
To say that I’m a newbie turret head is major-league understatement! But coming here I believe is the best place to start…
I just won Italieri’s T55 during a raffle at a model show this weekend; if you guys wouldn’t mind sharing some advice, man, I’d be grateful!
I haven’t touched armor since my teens, and I was hoping to do this kit some justice (if possible)
Any ideas/references/recommended PE/resin sets for this thing?
Thanks in advance,
Rob
Do a search for the old Esci T-55, T-55M or Ti-67. It is a rebox of the Esci kit. Eduard did a PE set for it, 35189. I don’t know if they updated it or not.
On The Mark did a set for it as well, TMP-3510.
Verlinden did a PE set #1935. They reissued it but now state it is for the Tamiya kit. It is the same PE set as the one issued for the Esci kit though, and says so in the instruction sheet.
Armo and Eduard make a 100mm barrel for it, others probably do as well.
Should be T-55A(M) not T-55M, sorry.
http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~TANK-GUY/KIT-REVIEW06.html
Here’s a comparison review between the basic T-55 kits.
outstanding advice, Rob; greatly appreciated! The one item I noticed (almost) right away was the difference in engine exhausts and turret profile…although that website didn’t state which ones were correct, I’m guessing that there must be a variation, but do any of the kits (including the Italieri/Esci one I just got) have the exhaust and/or turret completely wrong?
Again, my apologies for not being totally informed about armor…but I’m learning! thanks again!
Rob
The Trumpeter kit was more accurate, but I preferred the Esci/Italeri kit. Another head to head article this time with the newer Skif and Tamiya kits reviewed:
http://www.treadhead.org/articles/t-55/t-55headtohead.htm
once again, Rob, thanks a TON! By all accounts, I’ve got some homework ahead of me, but it seems doable.
~Rob
If you want a photo of a real one for inspiration, go to: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/t55mt_1.htm
(That’s me in the first photo).
heatseeker,
thanks for the ref photos! Looks like that 55 has seen some better days!
If you want to add extra detail, I recommend the Friul metal tracks and the eduard p/e set for the Esci T-55. Aftermarket decals for other T-55 versions are made by Bison Decals. IIRC, Quartermaster also has some decal sheets for T-55’s. CMD makes a set of very accurate resin replacement wheels. HTH