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Hosted by Richard S.
Scratch Builders Campaign
robw_uk
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: June 22, 2010
KitMaker: 1,224 posts
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 01:11 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I'll be using this....
scratchbuilders-2018_01

to try to make something like this...
scratchbuilders-2018_02

That's Trumpeter's T-55 model 1958 with BTU-55 (#00313) in 1/35th scale.

The plan is a what-if assault tank designed for the hypothetical Soviet assault on Western Europe. I'll probably use a 122mm gun from Dragon's old ISU-152/122 kit.

I want to use the kit's dozer blade. I could see this being used to assault fixed positions, using the gun to blast bunkers while the dozer is used to clear razorwire and barricades. I just need to make sure the main gun will clear the blade.

I need to finish up one or two other builds before starting this one. I look forward to watching the other builds in the meantime.



nice, similar concept to me - taking a kit and WHIFFING it... i am starting from a TAS 44-M heading twoards a Hungarian designed T-54/T-55 equivalent (toyed with the idea of actually mounting the turret on the rear a la SPG but as a medium tank (World of Tanks does some like that)) but think I will go more conventional - well for now anyway, my mind keeps changing!!!!

look forward to seeing progress
stsankov
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 24, 2017
KitMaker: 46 posts
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 05:18 PM UTC
I started the cab.
Primer & preshading:
stsankov
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 24, 2017
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 05:19 PM UTC
And painted in Olive drab:
stsankov
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 24, 2017
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 05:23 PM UTC
Couldn`t resist and installed the windows and the headlights
stsankov
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 24, 2017
KitMaker: 46 posts
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 05:26 PM UTC
And a little bit fun - it`s imperative in the USSR every truck driver to have a picture of Stalin in the cab.
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: September 22, 2016
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 05:37 PM UTC
Alex,Robert,
I'm glad there are 2 similar concepts taking part-each of you can benefit from the other build.
I've never done WHIF, but your projects might change this.

Looking forward to see more
robw_uk
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: June 22, 2010
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 05:53 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Alex,Robert,
I'm glad there are 2 similar concepts taking part-each of you can benefit from the other build.
I've never done WHIF, but your projects might change this.

Looking forward to see more



me neither ;-) well I have in terms of paint job but not having to look at plastic and imagine variation... but will do me some good
Bluestab
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South Carolina, United States
Joined: December 03, 2009
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 11:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Alex,Robert,
I'm glad there are 2 similar concepts taking part-each of you can benefit from the other build.
I've never done WHIF, but your projects might change this.

Looking forward to see more



I build as many WHIF subjects as I do real vehicles. I tend to use older builds as the basis of my WHIF builds. These what-if builds are a pleasant break from serious builds. Plus, it gives a second life to old builds and older kits in the collection that may never get built. I find them a pleasure and I enjoy working out their designs and their backstories.
Anyway, I look forward to starting this project and watching the builds of others. I've got to finish up my halftrack for the Dragon Campaign and my Sherman for the Workhorse Campaign before starting this one. Though I might try to get some planning done.
robw_uk
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Joined: June 22, 2010
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 01:20 AM UTC
got a T-54 plan & dimensions to try to work out how my TAS would evolve... time to do some maths first... hope to get some photos of the kit and bits & bobs i have to go with it soon....
petbat
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Joined: August 06, 2005
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 02:12 PM UTC
Looking good Svetoslav. Noting like having Uncle Ivan looking over your shoulder all day long...
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: September 22, 2016
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 02:26 PM UTC
So the greatcoat you sticth to the button is olive drab with Uncle Joe lining?


Impressive build so far, Mr.Tsankov!!!
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: September 22, 2016
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 02:35 PM UTC
I'm working on the engine's radiator:

Need to add the front mesh,filler cap and cool water pipe.

Then comes engine detailing and wiring

robw_uk
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 07:02 PM UTC
box and contents...

extra are the T-55 barrel and the Hungarian markings....

IMG_20180505_145329 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

IMG_20180505_145436 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 08:29 PM UTC
Angel - I am excited and looking forward to your scratch work on the construction of that V4 air compressor unit for this build!
robw_uk
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: June 22, 2010
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 09:29 PM UTC
started on the turret... split the mantlet to give a central moving portion only, t-55 gun fitted (mantlet just resting on the turret) and then curved the front. I have the lower silhouette for the rear done, need to work out the upper now. The hatches will move back a bit and am considering a slightly curved roof

IMG_20180505_171507 by Robert Worth, on Flickr

IMG_20180505_171457 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 10:59 PM UTC
Thanks Mike!
I see 4 challenging parts- the 4 piston housings and piston heads.
Am still considering the most suitable way to build them...

Robert-nice start.

165thspc
#521
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2018 - 11:08 PM UTC
I know this may be cheating but how about looking at some 1/32nd or larger radial aircraft engines? I'm thinking to steal the cylinders and cylinder heads to use for your compressor?

Or motorcycles for that matter.


p.p.s. Someone makes a resin air-cooled boxer engine (a flat four) for the Krupp-Protz that might serve if altered into a V configuration.
petbat
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: August 06, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 01:25 AM UTC
"Cool" Radiator Angel

Off to a good start Robert.
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: September 22, 2016
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Posted: Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 01:04 PM UTC
Thanks for the suggestion,Mike!

The early ZIF-55 has 2 stage air compressor, so there are 2 sizes of cylinders/heads-bigger ones on the left side(1st stage) and smaller ones on the right side(2nd stage).
Have looked around but found nothng suitable, so i'll scratchbuild them.

Peter, thanks!

I've done a bit of wiring.


"Married" the engine to the chassy:



Next comes transfer box and air compressor,


robw_uk
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England - North East, United Kingdom
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Posted: Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 01:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks for the suggestion,Mike!

The early ZIF-55 has 2 stage air compressor, so there are 2 sizes of cylinders/heads-bigger ones on the left side(1st stage) and smaller ones on the right side(2nd stage).
Have looked around but found nothng suitable, so i'll scratchbuild them.

Peter, thanks!

I've done a bit of wiring.


"Married" the engine to the chassy:



Next comes transfer box and air compressor,





very nice work on that engine.....
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
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Posted: Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 02:42 PM UTC
Thanks Robert!
ayovtshev
#490
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: September 22, 2016
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Posted: Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 09:47 PM UTC
Compressor



I've built one of the small cylinders, but it lacks the cylinder head.
Testfit:


So far so good.
robw_uk
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: June 22, 2010
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Posted: Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 11:23 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Compressor



I've built one of the small cylinders, but it lacks the cylinder head.
Testfit:


So far so good.



holy moly thats good... dont feel like putitng my botch job up....

but here we go

erm... no going back now..... turret slowly taking shape (need to "skim" it really but the basic shape is coming on) and attacked the upper hull.. want it vertically sided rather than the slope the prototype came with... all edges are rough - think there is a lot of sanding/filling ahead,

next steps

1) carry on with the turret - need to add some "furniture on the top"
2) look at the fneders
3) split the upper deck - need to move the rear louvres back, remove the mid louvres, move the turret slightly back and add a spacer at the fornt (or make the glacis shallower IF it wont foul the front wheel



IMG_20180506_190618 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180506_190520 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
robw_uk
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: June 22, 2010
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Posted: Sunday, May 06, 2018 - 09:35 PM UTC
bank holiday afternoon... suspension on (swapped the rear to the middle to allow me to lower the return rollers and moved the drive wheels to the rear (think they are level).... also started building up the turret. Stug "slope" and A13turret ring starting me off)...



all very cack-handed I know but....



IMG_20180507_172034 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180507_172050 by Robert Worth, on Flickr



IMG_20180507_172056 by Robert Worth, on Flickr
stsankov
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 24, 2017
KitMaker: 46 posts
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Posted: Monday, May 07, 2018 - 11:34 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Looking good Svetoslav. Noting like having Uncle Ivan looking over your shoulder all day long...


Order and discipline!!!