Modernized T-55

[Captain Canada]

As I was saying in my blog, I dug up this half started Lindberg T-55 during my cleaning. It was gifted to me by a friend in the early 90s. Might as well finish it eh ?

Just going to be a quick knock up with some styrene and spare parts. Might add a crew as well.

As I found her :

52426847_10218843286899494_2359554603202117632_n by Todd Pomerleau, on Flickr

Had to halve one of the road wheels as one was missing. I'm planning on adding skirts so it will all be ok in the end. Boxing up my turret or whatever the technical name is for that

52115615_10218848770556582_5060531451141816320_n by Todd Pomerleau, on Flickr
The pic off the web that got me thinking. Apparently it's a T-85 ? Has one more road wheel as well so no idea what it really is.
51936898_10218848770636584_6787400559478439936_n by Todd Pomerleau, on Flickr

[Ramba]

The photo of the real one is pretty cool. Can't wait to see yours done.

[rickshaw]

TR-85 actually - a modernised Romanian T-55 with new suspension.   An interesting albeit limited production vehicle as only used by the Romanians.

[Captain Canada]

I was thinking about up gunning her, but I want to retain the Russian/ T-55 look so I think I'll just leave it. Made some good progress last night.

Another one of those half built kits that I got from buddy back in the day.
52394582_10218856068899036_2160042853928009728_n by Todd Pomerleau, on Flickr

Hacked it up and am stealing the reactive armour etc.
52141274_10218856068739032_242859290824540160_n by Todd Pomerleau, on Flickr

I'm about to trim up and scratch some smoke dispensers.

52047683_10218856068579028_4524108018899484672_n by Todd Pomerleau, on Flickr

[Vorcha]

beautiful so far

[Captain Canada]

Thanks !

[Weaver]

Nice one! Few points:

1. Russian reactive armour looks different to Israeli/US reactive armour, so consider that when choosing who it belongs to. Interestingly, the panels on that TR-85 are NOT reactive armour: they've just applique armour which is fitted in angled, segmented sections in order to make it easier to fit and replace.

2. You can up-gun a T-55 without changing the gun barrel by retrofitting it to fire 9M117 Bastion missiles (NATO: AT-10 Stabber). All you need to do externally is fit the correct box for the laser-beam-riding guidance system above the gun (for reference, the whole "complex" is called 9K116-1 Bastion). Another externally invisible upgrade is Israeli APFSDS ammunition.

3. The box on the back of the turret is a "bustle". Apparently the one on the TR-85 is open to the turret on the inside face (i.e. it's not just a stowage box, but it's used to house all the extra equipment associated with the post Cold-War upgrade of these vehicles.

4. The TR-85, as pictured, is not just a simple copy of the T-55, however much it might look like it. The original TR-77-580 had a similar but different turret and an extended hull because Romania, for some reason, thought they'd be able to get Leo 1 engines from West Germany. When that turned out not to be the case, the tanks were originally put into production with T-55 engines but still had the longer hull. The TR-85-800 eventually got a reversed-engineered version of the the Leo 1 engine which was allegedly made possible by a mixture of espionage and under-the-table assistance. Post Cold-War, the tanks were extensively upgraded with Western systems and are known as the TR-85M1 Bizonul.

[nighthunter]

Thanks !

Check your PM's, lol

[Captain Canada]

Cheers Weaver ! Interesting stuff.

Saw the PM I'll check it out when I get home.

[nighthunter]

Cheers Weaver ! Interesting stuff.

Saw the PM I'll check it out when I get home.

Get back to me when you can, my friend, no rush.