The Modelling News: New plastic for the new year - Miniart's new T-54-2 in 35th scale (full interior kit)

In the race to provide the breakthrough Medium tank to her armies, the Soviet union provided a few stages of development before launching the T-54 as we know it. MiniArt continues to go through the family, with this new, full interior kit in 35^th scale of the T-54-2 variant. We take a look at the tank, the sprues, the CAD and markings in our preview...

Miniart's new T-54-2 in 35^th scale (full interior kit)

T-54-2 Soviet Medium Tank. Mod 1949

1/35th scale

Kit No #37004

This kit includes full interior - Everything You Need For An Accurate Model In One Box

Total Details 1007

899 Plastic Parts

92 Photoetched Parts

16 Clear Plastic Parts

Decal Sheet For 6 Variants

Full-Colour Instruction

Fully Detailed Fighting Compartment

Fully Detailed Driver's Compartment

Interior Of Turret Accurately Represented

V-54 Engine Included

Cast Steel Surfaces Are Accurately Represented

All Hatches Can Be Posed Open Or Closed

Box: 385x240x80Mm

Product Link:

Not familiar with this variant of the T-54?

The evolution of the initial T-54 came in three stages before the real production tanks were made. It looked pretty much like the T-44 tank, but notably different in the new turret with a new mantlet.

The model 1948 was the first production series, also called T-54-1, and was substantially different from the previous prototypes, with increased protection (80 mm/3.15 on the sides, 30 mm/1.18 on the roof and 20 mm/0.79 in the bottom of the hull) and better ammunition (BR-412 series full-caliber APHE). About 1490 were made, all fitted with the early turret type, an improved version of the T-44 turret, but soon quality problems emerged. In 1949 the first modernization phase came with the T-54-2.

In 1949 the first modernization phase came with the T-54-2 variant (Ob'yekt 137R) or T-54 Model 1949. According to statistics stating that 90% of hits were taken a meter from the ground, the thick frontal upper plate was decreased to 100 mm (3.94 in). The turret design and AA mount were also modified. The new turret was inspired by the one fielded on the heavy IS-3, but with a characteristic overhang at the rear and shorter bustle.

An advanced powertrain comprised a multi-oil bath air cleaner and dust ejector, and a nozzle oil preheater reduced the warming time of the engine in cold weather. The tracks were expanded to 480 mm (18.9 in), reducing ground pressure. The fender machine-guns were removed in favour of a more conventional bow-mounted model. Only 423 were delivered by the Stalin Ural Tank Factory No. 183 (Uralvagonzavod) in 1950, followed by 800 more in 1951.

The T-54-2, designed by Morozov, during manoeuvres. It is recognisable by its “pig snout” mantlet instead of the T-44 style early mantlet.

this variant fought in many wars right across the globe up till modern times

Several of these models still exist in museums despite their age...

The Kit

MiniArt are taking us through a journey on this popular series of tanks with full interior kits like this one – or simpler kits with no interior later to be released. This kit will leave you with absolutely everything you need to make a T-54-2 in the one box.

The sprues (some of these like the road wheels are in duplicate: