|
|
Modeller Build Logs
T-54 Model 1949 |
| By Scott Dimmick | | Started: | May 11, 2007 | | Updated: | Jun 29, 2007 |
|
When the T-44 came into service in 1944, it was beset with technical issues that prevented its wide scale production, with the major issue being the lack of turret space to fit a larger caliber gun into it. The T-44 was further developed into the T-54 MBT, which entered production in 1946/47 time frame. It incorporated a new turret and a 100MM gun from the SU-100, which solved the shortcomings of the T-44 Turret Design. The problem with the T-54 Model 1946 was the shape of the turret; the front of the turret provided a shot-trap due to its shape. The T-54 m1949 introduced a new dome shaped turret which was the basis of the now classic T-54 M1951/T-55 Series tanks turret shape which is a further simplification of the Model 1949 turret on the T-54.
I will be using Tamiya’s T-55 kit as the basis of this conversion. The turret is from Modelpoint and the road wheels and engine deck are from The Tank Workshop. I will also be using an Eduard Photo etch set, bits from the spare parts box and scratch built details to further accuratize the kit.
|
|
|
|
| Rear Engine Deck | Jun 29, 2007 |
In this chapter, I'm showing the modifications done to the rear engine deck. When I first started this project I didn't purchase TWS T-54B full conversion, which gives you a new rear engine deck hatch plate with hatches and other bits along with the Spiderweb type road-wheels. Jay from TWS hooked me up with the engine deck from that kit for a small fee, so I could continue with the project.
The first thing I noticed about the TWS plate and the photos I had is that the T-54 M1949 had different style hinges on it. Luckily, the Tamiya kit had the proper style and after shaving them off the Tamiya kit and removing the resin hinges I was good to go for having the proper hinges and location for them which differed slightly.
Another modification of the Tamiya kit was the removal of the brace for the engine cooling slats. The T-54 M1949 lacked the center brace found on later models. I removed the brace.
I rebuilt the engine slats using different lengths of styrene. Going by memory (did this back a couple months ago) I used different lengths of .30 and .20 thickness to recreate the engine slats. Basically the longer parts made up the slats and the shorter ones made up the "openings" to space them properly. I made up a rough assembly of these slats, then proceeded to cut it into three parts using another .30 strip to recreate the separators in the middle of the grill.
I still need to add mesh to the engine slat grills and add additional stripping around the engine deck itself, that looks to have been used to install a cover for cold weather operations.
|
 |
|
|
