The Modelling News: News from Takom – T-55 Family to be released in 35th scale.

Well it’s good choice isn’t it? The news from Takom for your Xmas present is that their newest family of tanks to be released in 35^th scale is the T-55 MBT and its many permutations. Just like the Chieftain there will be a few variants and of course conversions are bouncing around our heads but for now, let’s have a look at the vehicle a little and the promised features on the kit to come…

News from Takom – T-55 Family to be released in 35^th scale..

Available from Takom distributors worldwide

Never heard of the T-55????

The T-55 medium tank has a fully tracked, five-road-wheeled chassis. This chassis has a space between the first and second road wheels and no return rollers. The T-55 has a low-silhouetted hull with a dome shaped turret mounted over the third road wheel. It is armed with a 100-mm rifled gun, which has a bore evacuator at the muzzle.

The T-55 also mounts a 7.62-mm coaxial machine-gun. Early versions also mounted a bow-mounted 7.62-mm machine-gun. The T-55 differs from the older T-54 models because it lacks the right-hand cupola and the turret dome ventilator, which is located in front of that cupola on the T-54.

Most T-55's also lack the turret-mounted 12.7-mm antiaircraft machine-gun of the T-54. All T-55's mount an infrared gunner's searchlight above, and to the right of the main gun. This searchlight, however, is not a distinguishing feature since it has been retrofitted to many T-54 and T-54A tanks.

The T-55 combines a high velocity gun with a highly mobile chassis, a low silhouette, and exceptional long-range endurance. Improvements over the T-54 include a larger V-12 water-cooled diesel engine with 580 rather than 520 hp, and an increased cruising range of 500 rather than 400 kilometres (600 kilometres with auxiliary tanks). The increased cruising range can go up to 715 kilometres with two 200-liter auxiliary fuel tanks which can be carried on the rear. The T-55 has two-plane stabilization of the main gun rather than vertical stabilization only. It also has a basic load for the main gun of 43 rather than 34 rounds.

Some great prospects for aged and damaged tanks abound...

The T-55 can ford depths of 1.4 meters without preparation. It has snorkel equipment which enables it to cross depths of up to 5.5 meters at a speed of 2 kilometres per hour. This equipment takes about 30 minutes' preparation, but can be jettisoned immediately on leaving the water. All T-55's have the PAZ radiation detection system; the T-55A also has an anti-radiation liner. Injecting vaporized diesel fuel onto the exhaust system can generate a dense smoke screen.

Takom’s new Xmas release features what will be surely a very interesting release, with a whole bunch of these planned we have info on two of the variants slated for release. What were the T-55 AM & AMV?

T-55 AMV

Manufacturer: Takom
No. 2042

Scale: 1:35

Type: Multimedia kit

T-55AMV This is the T-55AM with the same ERA protection as the T-55MV. Most of these tanks also received the same improvements of the T-55AM2PB.om’s new T-55 family is the

This kit of the T-55 AMV is Takom’s version of this iconic Medium tank used all around the world – Takom are saying the kit has:

Included in this kit are

4 markings supplied by Mig’s Ammo team

Individual track links

PE & Clear Parts

Metal tow cable

Rubber gun mantlet

Posable turrets

Road wheels can be built in a damaged condition..

..maybe even this damaged...

T-55AM

Manufacturer: Takom
No. 2041

Scale: 1:35

Type: Multimedia kit

T-55AM is the modernized version of the T-55 with improved fire controls. The Czechoslovak version uses a laser rangefinder mounted over the main gun and a wind sensor. The FSU version incorporates the KTD-2 or KDG-1 laser rangefinder. The Polish version uses a new fire control system that integrates a laser rangefinder into the gunner's sight.