Is Tamiya T55 suited for a Suomi T55 ?

Hello, here is a very good blog about the finnish T-55 by OH:

http://www.pienoismallit.net/galleria/malli_3885/

Trumpeter
It depends how accurate model you want to build. Tamiya is OK.

Especially the pictures found behind "Rakennusvaihe"- headline on that blog MRB suggested shows well the details altered for Finnish version.

Thanks gents !

OH blog shows beautiful pics and brings many tips. But I do not understand the comments there. Any trick important to know with the kit ?

Richard

JS-models detail set for T-55, you can find it here

www.kolumbus.fi/martti.kuivalainen/engindex.html

Made in Finland by JS-models

Decals you can find in Echelon

Finnish T-72M1 D356004

Here's a short list of some conversions mentioned in the blog:

- The hubs of the first wheels are supposed to be bigger than the other hubs. OH used a JS-Model set with correctly sized hubs, but their bolts are too close to the center; a problem which he also fixed.
- Headlamps' frame is different in the Finnish T-55 than in the Tamiya kit. www.pienoismallit.net/media/kuvat/01/50/53/015053.jpg
- Loader's hatch has an incorrect shape. JS-Model set fixes this problem. Commander's hatch receives periscopes made of thin plastic sheet.
- A small angle is made to the turret's bottom.
- Only one hook is attached to the turret's backside instead of two. Also an additional lamp is attached (added to some tanks when they started using the three-colored camo).
- The turret was covered with Mr Surfacer to achieve the casting effect.
- The locks of various boxes in Finnish T-55's differ from Tamiya's (and Eduard's) versions, so OH made them too from scratch.
- Spare tracks are attached to the front part of the left mudguard.
- There's supposed to be two identical tool boxes: one on the left mudguard (as in Tamiya's kit) and the other on the right mudguard between two fuel tanks (not in Tamiya kit).

Hopefully I didn't miss anything vital.

EDIT: Got rid of some typos.

Sgt kirjoitti:

JS-models detail set for T-55, you can find it here
www.kolumbus.fi/martti.kuivalainen/engindex.html
go Made in Finland and JS-models
Decals you can find in Echelon
Finnish T-72M1 D356004

Jorma Kim kirjoitti:

Here's a short list of some conversions mentioned in the blog:
…
Hopefully I didn't miss anything vital.

THANK YOU !

I have built Trumpeters T-55 straight from the box. Trumpeters model is good to build, but i don't know what type of conversions you have to make to get real Finnish one.

Hi Richard!

Jorma Kim's list includes allmost every conversions made. Here's a few more:
- one must drill a hole for the front hull MG (the MG is not attached, but the hole is there)
- the front hooks are too short (I didn't fix this problem)
- the external fuel tanks must be slightly modified
- some of the modifications made are only for the exact tank (Ps. 262-59)

For the best outcome I would now chooce:
- Tamiya's T-55
- photoetch from Aber
- gun barrel from Aber
- JS-models conversion set
- Friul/Modelkasten tracks