UniModels 1/35 T-55AD1, "The Beast"

[trekfanj]

In my last post (almost a year ago ) I mentioned this was a in-progress project. It was after watching the film, "The Beast," that I decided to finish it. It's not a bad kit; the parts fit very well and glue together with no problems, but it took a lot of putty to get rid of some seams and places where the fit wasn't so great. Also, the detail is virtually nonexistent, but it does have a basic full interior; engine, turret, and driver's compartment.

I bought a whole stockpile of aftermarket parts for it; an Aber aluminum barrel, Voyager resin roadwheels, and a set of ModelKasten T-72 track links (they can be used on late T-55 tanks, too!). In the end, though, the tracks were all I ended up using.

I also did a bit of scratchbuilding here. The unditching beam is a wooden dowel I cut to size and the mantlet cover is Tamiya gray putty. I don't really like how the mantlet cover came out; it doesn't look right to me, but it was my first time, so I can cut myself some slack.

I painted the model with Folk Art acrylic craft paints. I've been using acrylic craft paints for about six years now; they can be brush painted or airbrushed very easily, and they're cheap, too.

The decals aren't that great, but they're not totally awful, either. Testors setting solution was applied liberally to help them snuggle down against the surface. It didn't really seep under the decal; I had to cut slits in them and reapply the setting solution, which took care of the problem.

The dusty look is pastel pigments. I plan to put this in a diorama set in Afghanistan in the 1980's; I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

And on a final note, the tank in the movie was numbered "531," and my tank is numbered "513," so if I had done a bit more research I could have made the actual tank from the movie!

Till next time!

[PaulAyrey]

Looks great, but would like to see more photos!

[trekfanj]

Yeah, I'll post more photos as soon as I can; this was all I had available at the moment. And thanks for the compliment!

[Coen]

Oh what a tease!! Haha. More more more!!!

[trekfanj]

As promised, more photos (with captions!)

[trekfanj]

Here's a few more photos.

If anyone has any suggestions, compliments, insults, etc. feel free to say them. Life is a learning process, after all, and I know absolutely nothing about modern Soviet armor.

[Coen]

That's freaking excellent work dude!!! Damn fine stuff.
Are you planning a dio for her or is she a stand alone?

If it makes things easier, here's the link for posting photos.
It would allow you to post more than 3 at a time and it makes them all the same size.



http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=22

[PaulAyrey]

Thanks for the photos, great job.

[trekfanj]

Thanks for the compliments, guys!

Coen: She's going in a diorama, eventually. I have ICM's "Soviet Tank Crew 1979-1988" figure set to place around her. I had an idea of a stop by a waterhole or river or for the scene.

For some reason, the link wouldn't come up. Can you try posting it again?

[Coen]

http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=22

It's because I forgot to paste the link.... Haha.

[trekfanj]

Thanks for the advice, Coen!