So I decided to get out of my comfort zone and venture into a conversion which will hopefully end up in a vignette in collaboration with Ivan Cocker.
There actually IS a T-59b kit around, courtesy of trumpeter, but the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Suffice to say that the hull has motorisation holes :-X.



Not being a Russian AFV buff ( and especially of the myriad of T-Types around) it was Mr Cocker who suggested converting the excellent Tamiya T-55.



The conversion is not straight forward and the subject is pretty much obscure and that's where cus Alex aka Gimli came into the picture with a vintage military modelling mag with some excellent technical drawings! Thx again cus xxx :-)

Main differences are in the turret configuration. The dark turret is trumpeter's while the other is Tamiya T-55. Close inspection reveals I might have to lIve with some Engine deck differences but it won't matter much for the scope of our vignette.



Aftermarket I will be using include a Voyager PE set and Friuls. Still trying to source a substitute metal barrel for the abysmal Trumpeter 105mm supplied with the kit...



Let's get on with it!
Dottore

Better do so before that lovely machine gets here. I guess you will be spenidng a lot of time with it then.

Mat

Resin I found for you ... http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?manufacturer=0&category=11&subcategory=186&product=1683

If not mistaken I have a turned metal barrel for an M60but not sure if it is similar to the British L7 ...

The tank I intend to model had part of the fender off...so I decided to use some PE fenders from the polish company PART. First however..some major surgery is due...and the plastic fenders had to be removed. Out comes the Dremel and the fenders were soon history!

The plastic barrel will be replaced with a gorgeous barrel from RB. RB barrels as lovely as they are however come with no instructions whatsoever so I will have to figure out how it goes together...

The resin turret is from Panzershop...not ideal and I still hope to use a Legend one I ordered but 5 weeks in waiting and still no sign of it...hope it gets here in the end...

Dottore

The tank I intend to model had part of the fender off...so I decided to use some PE fenders from the polish company PART. First however..some major surgery is due...and the plastic fenders had to be removed. Out comes the Dremel and the fenders were soon history!

The plastic barrel will be replaced with a gorgeous barrel from RB. RB barrels as lovely as they are however come with no instructions whatsoever so I will have to figure out how it goes together...

The resin turret is from Panzershop...not ideal and I still hope to use a Legend one I ordered but 5 weeks in waiting and still no sign of it...hope it gets here in the end...

Dottore

Nice project Doc. Love the tank and also your work.

Fenders ready and soldered...the difference between the sawed off plastic fenders and the PE to scale fenders is obvious. After learning how to solder I think I'll use PE fenders with every tank. Was not difficult after some practice...

Next up...finishing off the turret and attaching the fenders...

All comments welcome...
Dottore

fenders looking the part. excellent work

Sweet!

Fantastic work well done what great soldering.