Thought I’d share my completed build for the Lockdown group build. Built Tamiya’s kit as the Soviet version with the DShK heavy machine gun mounted on the turret. The kit out of the box is the typical Tamiya quality you know what you are getting an easy build. Replaced the 100mm D-10T gun barrel an aluminum one, the poor mesh engine deck screens with photo etch and tossed the string meant for the tow cables for copper wire ones. The tank was painted with Tamiya acrylics and used various washes by Ammo to weather the model.
All in all I’m very happy with how the T-55 turned out and is probably the best tank I’ve built since starting the hobby. Thanks for looking.
Nice one GreySnake! It’s great that Soviet-era armor kits are so readily available today. When I was in middle school in the late 1970s, I would have done anything to get my hands on that kit!
Thank you Stik! It is a great kit. It is a great kit OOB. My biggest complaint against it is the log on the back being mostly hollow.
Rob, thank you sir! I agree it’s one of the best modern armor kits Tamiya made. It’s defiantly a lot better than the M113A2 that came out a couple years after.
Thanks, RBear.
Thank you Gamera! Are you planning to do some different markings other then Soviet?
Thanks RG! I’ve always been a big fan of post war Soviet armor and I’m really happy with the amount of kits that are available now. Back in the early 2000’s I had to settle for the Tamiya T-55, 62 and 72. Along with the old Dragon kits which are “interesting”. Now if more figure sets could just come out.
Very nice job! I’m currently going through a “British tank” phase, but I’ve always liked Soviet armour, especially from the Cold War (and especially the T54/T55 series) - you may have planted a seed!
Glad you like it Hutch. If you decide to do a T-55 the Tamiya one is a nice easy build. I’m already planning out my next T-55 build which will be a Miniart Polish version in Rhodesian service. There’s probably more parts to the lower hull in that kit then the entire Tamiya kit.
Thanks for the tip, GreySnake - I have a few Tamiya tanks under my belt now & am nerving myself up to tackle the AFV Club Centurion lurking in my stash. Miniart sounds like a similar proposition! A Rhodesian subject seems a bit off the beaten track - do Miniart supply markings or will you have to obtain/provide your own?
I know what you mean about the AFV Centurion kits. The Sho’t Kal Dalet is in my stash and it looks to be a very involved build. I’d say the Miniart kits are about as involved as the AFV Club maybe even more so if you go with one of the kits with interior. I have one of Miniart’s T-54’s with interior which is going be a very long project.
As for the Rhodesian T-55 it doesn’t have any markings on it at all. From every picture I’ve seen of Rhodesian Security forces they never bothered give the T-55’s and T-34’s they had markings. Markings seem pretty rare on the other armored vehicles they fielded as well. Soft skins on the other hand seemed to get markings pretty regularly.
Nice work GS. the color is perfect in my opinion for a Soviet main battle tank following World War II. Are the tracks rubber, plastic or metal? They have the characteristic sag of metal tracks which I think look very realistic.
Harold, thank you glad you like it. The green was Tamiya XF-58 misted very lightly. I used the black and white technique before applying the base color. It gives a lot of variation without having to lighten the base color to highlight spots on the model. This is the fifth model I’ve done it on and the first time I’ve gotten it right.
The tracks are the kit included one piece. I just used some five minute epoxy glue to hold them down.
