I really like the subject and the T-54 tanks from Trumpeter are very inexpensive. Of course, my local hobby store has the Tamiya T-55 which is very similar but the price of that discourages me.
Trumpeter’s T-54/55 kits are mediocre. It also depends on when it was made. Their original ones had screw-on road wheels (with exposed screw heads when done) and were motorized. Detail was soft and it was little more than a toy. Later versions were upgraded and the motorization features left off. The road wheels were corrected and proper hubs were included. They are no where near the detail and quality of Tamiya. They do look like a T54/55 when done, just not very detailed. Basically, you get what you pay for.
Here is a review that includes the Trumpeter T-55.
http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~TANK-GUY/KIT-REVIEW06.html
Tamiya T-55 to compare it to.
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tamiya/tam35257.htm
Well, no doubt that the Tamiya offering is the standard in accuracy and fit, but for the price of one Tamiya kit, you can probably get three Trumpeter ones. I would suggest you NOT get it from Squadron as you are going to pay WAAAAAAY too much for that kit. I got mine (the Trumpeter one) for $25 CAD. Go to missing-lynx and try to buy one there, or another online source.
Now, as to the kit. The hull is meant for motorization. Depending when it was boxed, it may or may not come with the motorization gear. The wheels are fine, only the earliest of the early have the screws, but as long as it’s a Trumpeter box, and not Minihobbymodel or whatever, it will be fine. The kit goes together rather well, with some minor fit problems around the joining of the upper and lower hull. Basically, with a little TLC it will turn into a fine model. I built their T-54, but wrecked it recently. I’ll use it as a basis for a scratchbuilt At-t tractor. However, I do have several of their T-55 models, and IMHO they’re ok kits that will build into fair representations of the real deal.
EDIT: Oh yeah, the vinyl tracks aren’t the greatest thing in the world, but again, just pin them down to the roadwheels, paint them nicely, and it’ll be fine.
Ahhh, so you’re a quantity over quality man, eh Zok? [;)][:D]
As the esteemed gentlemen have mentioned, the T-54/55 is one of Trump’s earlier kits, and is little more than a simple toy. Never built one myself, but I hear they are no joy to assemble. As Gino mentioned, however, it’ll look kind of like a T-54/55 when done.
You just have to weigh your priorities: do you want something cheap and either accept its mediocrity as is or put in a lot of effort to bring it up to reasonable scale model standards, or do you want to spend a little more money on a great kit that makes a very respectable replica right out of the box, or a magnificient showpiece with a little extra work?
It’s all up to you.
Either way, good luck, and happy modelling! [:)]
lol, well, it all depends on what shoe fits on any particular day [:p]
Back to topic, J-Hulk is correct. The T-54/55 from Trumpeter will LOOK like the real thing, but really does not compare at all to the Tamiya offering.
Have a read of this reveiw of the Trumpeter kits http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/modern/trumpt55.htm