This is just great! Is there a date of release?

Wow! How unexpected! ANOTHER T-54/55 variant with an interior! (Sarcasm in case you didn't get it) What's up with MiniArt and T54/55 variants? Getting rather tired of this, how's this as a shot from the blue: offer something else!

Thank you Miniart, this is the variant I have been waiting for, and thanks also for including workable individual links with the kit! With your progression through the T-44/T-54/T-55 series, will we see some of the other modernized T-55 variants, like the Slovenian M-55, or the Romanian TR-85 Bison (although the TR-85 has a different suspension, so probably not that one)? If not, does this mean we might be at the end of the T-55 series, and maybe the T-62 series is on the horizon? That would be great, I've given up trying to find the old Verlinden T-62 interior, and a Miniart T-62 should be in a whole different class of detail than a Trumppeter/Verlinden one would be anyhow.

Would you prefer a panzer "x" or Sherman?

I agree and thank Miniart! Definitely getting it!

Looks like a T-55A! OK - Will the interior stuff in this kit actually reflect any of the equipment updates and changes made in the T-55 from the rather earlier version MiniArt has previously kitted? (Not that I would actually know by looking... But I would assume that a 1981 version could have some different comms, sights, controls, and other internal equipment compared to what was seen in the first years of this type.) The T-55 series is nice, and there are a growing set of -55 kits to choose from. So my excitement over this is kinda muted. Maybe it's time for MA to explore that next big step in Russian tanks -the T-62. But I personally thirst not for a T-62 - such would certes be nice and I would get one - but for a nice T-72 / 80 / 90 with interior. Now one of those would get me just plain super-excited! Bob

TBH, I highly doubt we will see MiniArt releasing any T-62, 72, 80 or 90, not as long as there are so many good kits produced by others (Trumpeter, Meng, etc), even if those are without interior. At least not in the near future. Maybe some wheels, engine, tracks etc if those are common with some of their other kits. If you look at their catalog so far (and what was announced for this year) you can see that they tried to avoid anything that was already released by a major competitor. Anything released recently of course. 15, 20 or 30 years old Tamiya kits don't count.) There are some exceptions, like the Lee/Grant kits, but there I suspect they were taken by surprise there and anyway you can see same as with the T-54 that they tried not to have too much overlap. Also take a look at their SU-85 or 122. It's clear they have the capability to release a T-34 with interior but they haven't done so and I suspect they never will as there are plenty of those on the market already. Only wheels, engine and tracks have been released and those were things they already had tooled. SU-100 is also missing from their inventory though it would probably be easy to make one. But why bother if Dragon and Zvezda are releasing their versions? And I really would want a SU-100 from MiniArt, but oh well ...

Dan; You MAY be "right" in saying that MA appears to largely avoid doing stuff that other folks are doing or have done... but Takom has really done some nice T-55 kits, and other mfgr's have put up several "OK" exterior kits of the type, so... it's a strong "may", with some slop! And while MA has jumped into the T-55, they haven't actually broken much substantial EXTERIOR "new ground" beyond where others have externally gone - the MA stake is really in that they have provided these superb and very replete interiors - something nobody else has offered in styrene for the T-55 and its immediate predecessors. From that; Seeing as NOBODY has offered up any T-62, 64, 72, 80, or 90 type with a substantial interior in styrene, there appears plenty of room for MA to jump into these types with a complete interior kit - and there remains quite a bit of external detail variation among these types to be exploited to create a "newish version kit". I'm sure that my crystal ball is, at best, cracked, foggy, and dysfunctional, but I wouldn't be surprised to see MA someday pull something up in one of those lines. Certainly, it would sell - I suspect at least as many folks are likely interested in a T-62 / 64 / 72 / 80 / 90 with a nice interior as are interested in a T-55 with such. I would certainly buy one or more of these, if they come out fairly soon (I'm getting older!). But also, seeing as there are other companies exploring MBT kits - even of already very-frequently modeled types, such as the Panther and Tigers - with aim to provide familiar subjects with interiors... We may just be in for a pleasant surprise when someone else pops out one of these "more modern" Russians with a belly full of styrene bits! MA certainly has no sort of monopoly on being able to make up interiors! But, hey! Only time will actually TELL! Bob