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Takom T-55AMV
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Sunday, July 08, 2018 - 04:26 AM UTC
I plan on a Syrian tank that was captured by rebels, in the civil war. I used the hairspray technique for chipping(current photos to come). Ran out of Tamiya NATO Green and don't have the right colors to mix my own. There is a light missing that calls for part "L-2". Unfortunately, there is no sprue "L" and I can't locate the part, on those provided. The drawing is to vague to scratch build the aperture.









This kit is a real pig, as parts don't fit as shown and some finer pieces don't line up, with each other. While prepping for a pin-wash, a large brown recluse visited me. I found another one that was dead. So, no more modelling till I have my garage fumigated.
m4sherman
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Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
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Posted: Monday, July 09, 2018 - 09:28 AM UTC
Looks good.

Too bad about the spiders, did you check their nest for your L sprue?
panzerbob01
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Louisiana, United States
Joined: March 06, 2010
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Posted: Monday, July 09, 2018 - 11:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I plan on a Syrian tank that was captured by rebels, in the civil war. I used the hairspray technique for chipping(current photos to come). Ran out of Tamiya NATO Green and don't have the right colors to mix my own. There is a light missing that calls for part "L-2". Unfortunately, there is no sprue "L" and I can't locate the part, on those provided. The drawing is to vague to scratch build the aperture.









This kit is a real pig, as parts don't fit as shown and some finer pieces don't line up, with each other. While prepping for a pin-wash, a large brown recluse visited me. I found another one that was dead. So, no more modelling till I have my garage fumigated.



Matt N.;

Hi! I have this very kit well under way... about 95% of the hull and turret done (still have the MG to do, plus some bits on the turret, the fuel drums, and wheels to complete working-up and detailing for final assembly). I'm curious as to why you find it a "pig" - I thought it mostly went together very well (if a little fiddly in some details) and most bits seemed to fit (though some stuff, like some of the turret ERA, needed some careful thinking and fitting before committing to cement... ). And there were some turret bits that frankly needed much better location guides...

But all-up, I thought it a pretty fun build... The most challenging part, for me, was to get those road wheels cleaned and fit so that they have the correct "step" on the inside of the rims and have no seams or gaps therein. That took some time and fiddling around...

Maybe I've somehow missed some of the "fun" that you seem to have had!

Recluses I seem to have none of at present. B' widows, on the other hand, seem to love my garage, and my closets, too! So I empathize with you on the concern. Each time I explore my stash, I pause and check for the spiders before I pull boxes... It adds an element of adventure!

Bob
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2018 - 03:31 AM UTC
I failed to check the nest. lol

The fit problems and poor instructions are why I call it a pig. Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed the build and am quite pleased, with the result. I have lost a few era bricks, due to the weak connections. The light guard was a test of my skill. I finally carved a jig from wood. It failed to line up, didn't want to glue and I had some issue fitting the lights. Other problems had to do with part locations not lining up(namely fender boxes) and era brackets being sloppy. This is my second attempt, at the hull and it is going much more smoothly. I highly recommend this kit and plan on building at least two more. Next, will be a Miniart T-55. I haven't decided on which one.
panzerbob01
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Louisiana, United States
Joined: March 06, 2010
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Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2018 - 07:45 AM UTC
By me, these Takom T-55 kits are pretty fantastic - loads of details, lots of "modeling pleasure" for the buck, and mostly seem to clean up and fit together without too much fuss. I did find the instructions to have a few confusing moments in them (but I sort of expect that occasional flub and confusion on the paper when one has so many parts to work with! ) and some of the connection points and joins are a bit meek and flabby... But some of these may well come about because the designers are trying to keep the parts fine - something which confounds forming robust joins in some cases.

Based upon doing this AMV, I am thinking that I'll try another Takom -55. I do also think that I want to give one of MiniArt's -55 kits a run... I am curious as to which is ultimately a better build overall.

Cheers! Bob
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Monday, July 16, 2018 - 06:48 AM UTC
I am very pleased, with progress, on the hull. I will be repainting the turret to match.



BravoTwoZero
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California, United States
Joined: June 11, 2009
KitMaker: 461 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 16, 2018 - 07:02 AM UTC
Looking good Matt! The ERA blocks are a pain but they are worth it when you see them all installed. I have mine in an AU UN scheme. If I see this kit at the right price, I might have a go at it again either in Russian camo or one of the Syrian Civil War schemes. Keep on truckin'!

I have a healthy respect/fear of recluses after seeing one of my co-workers get bitten by one. The big guy had to be taken to Emergency and he couldn't go to work for almost three weeks. Be careful!
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Monday, July 16, 2018 - 08:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

If I see this kit at the right price,



Spruebrothers is the cheapest I've found($39.99). I just checked up, on your build. The AMV is looking great! Fumigated my garage, myself. Braved the spiders, only to find out that a colony of ants had moved in.
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Monday, July 16, 2018 - 02:34 PM UTC
Nice job Matt, bad about them 8 leg critters, I watched one walking around years back that thought he was king. LOL
Also you get any Black widows,had a bunch of them here a few years back set up in the garage, another not afraid of squat critter.
My Mom got bit way back in time, took almost a year for her leg to clear up.
Bad deals they are, and not to taken lightly.

But that is looking good indeed.
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Monday, July 16, 2018 - 10:07 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice job Matt, bad about them 8 leg critters, I watched one walking around years back that thought he was king. LOL
Also you get any Black widows,had a bunch of them here a few years back set up in the garage, another not afraid of squat critter.
My Mom got bit way back in time, took almost a year for her leg to clear up.
Bad deals they are, and not to taken lightly.

But that is looking good indeed.



Thank you for the kind words. The black widows have relegate themselves to my backyard. Found a baby scorpion, on my patio a couple of days ago. I don't know what is attracting all these arachnids. I'm finishing up chipping, on the lower hull. I plan on respraying the turret and finishing the running gear, today. Will post pictures, when I remember to take a break.
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, July 18, 2018 - 09:50 AM UTC
The only left to do to the turret is to install the periscopes.
I should have that done, this evening. I'm not sure about the mg.
It looks a bit too shiny. Unfortunately, it is a little late for a filter and the show must go on.



Tonight, a beer. Looking forward to finishing, Friday. Also, it will earn me a bourbon.
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 03:25 AM UTC
I have left the tracks and running gear and a few details. Unfortunately, my Chinese rotary tool has died, after three years of service. So, the road wheels will have to wait; until my new tool is delivered, on the 25th. The side skirts are tacked on, with blue tack. I almost forgot the detrenching log. I will be cutting that out of the brackets as it doesn't fit. Should I chip the drums? Here are the photos:



panzerbob01
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Louisiana, United States
Joined: March 06, 2010
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Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 04:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have left the tracks and running gear and a few details. Unfortunately, my Chinese rotary tool has died, after three years of service. So, the road wheels will have to wait; until my new tool is delivered, on the 25th. The side skirts are tacked on, with blue tack. I almost forgot the detrenching log. I will be cutting that out of the brackets as it doesn't fit. Should I chip the drums? Here are the photos:






Matt N.

Hi! I have done several image-searches on Russian tanks being used in Syria... Among a couple thousand frames with T-55, -62, -72, and -90 tanks under various managers in that benighted land, there may be one or 2 which actually showed drums mounted! I would say that drums would be an absolute rarity. It makes a LOT of sense in terms of the Syrian civil war.... Distances traveled are typically very short, and a lot of action (and tank casualties) occur in urban areas.

Extra fuel drums would serve no practical purpose in much of the Syrian context - tanks are not going far, and they have other pressing concerns that likely over-weigh fuel issues. The drums are fitted by the Russians to provide long-range travel capabilities and to increase unit / tank freedom from supply columns and depots in a mobile battle scenario). In fact, given what often happens to tanks in Syria (bombed out in urban settings by infantry), external fuel drums may simply pose more hazard then benefit. And it appears that the Russians themselves understand this, as Russian units apparently also don't carry fuel drums around in Syria...

So... My suggestion is to batter those mounts and skip the drums!

Bob
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2018 - 10:48 AM UTC
I had intended to start the tracks, today. However, the link-to-link fit is terrible. I've ordered a set of Miniart tracks. I will continue weathering the running gear, this evening. Any how, on with progress photos:







Some "light" stowage I can't help but add:
Scarred
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Washington, United States
Joined: March 11, 2016
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Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2018 - 09:20 PM UTC
Now all you need is the appropriate rebel applied camo with graffiti and slogans.

Some good examples here
http://sturgeonshouse.ipbhost.com/topic/754-syrian-tanks-at-war-some-pictures-and-words-between-them/
retiredyank
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Arkansas, United States
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Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2018 - 12:36 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Now all you need is the appropriate rebel applied camo with graffiti and slogans.

Some good examples here
http://sturgeonshouse.ipbhost.com/topic/754-syrian-tanks-at-war-some-pictures-and-words-between-them/



Thanks for the link, but I've decided this won't be a captured vehicle. Maybe the next one will be.
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