Ok so the kit FINALLY came in! I should have just ordered this from Sprue Brothers, but Noooooo....I had to go and buy this thing 'on the cheap' from Flea-bay, and after the auction, I noticed it was in JAPAN. I do not know about y'all, but let me tell you, it takes significantly longer to get ANYTHING from Japan! I mean, I got the NVA stuff cast and mailed from Vietnam in less than 2 weeks...yet this took nearly 5 to get here! Lesson is this...just buy from Sprue Bros. for like $5 more at most, and be done with it.
I MUST finish the T-54 before I start on this, but I thought I would share some pics and a few initial impressions of the kit and the resin:
The kit is pretty nice, typical Tamiya, but one thing I did not care for was the lack of detail in the kink-n-length tracks. I think I may try to "whittle" out the missing center bit that separated the two track pads, note that they are continuous here (
please let me know if the kit is correct like this)
Also the tools are already attached to the hull, which is not my bag, but I think I can deal with it pretty easily...it's just not my bag. Note that typical tamiya, it is PERFECTLY cast (I put a box of milliput in there for size comparison)
The Blackdog update kit is well cast, but I think the thin side-bits may a slight warp, but nothing I cannot deal with easily. Also, although there will be a tiny bit of trimming neccessary, the hessian netter at the front appears to inter lock tightly, once properly fitted. I'll show a pic of that later
The hessian tape detail is, I think, quite good! Here is a pic of the turret as it comes, along with a comparison shot of the kit part. Note that the casting sprue still attached, along with another pic of the attachment point of the barrel (The resin barrel is notably quite straight and not warped at all):
Lastly is the stowage in the back. I am not too sure about this. I kind of doubt that it was just piled on like this. I may use it, but right now am not too sure...
whadda you-guys think?:
Other than the aforementioned issue of ‘a bit too much kit’ I think it looks really great! I will be jumping right on it, once the T-54 is ‘done & dusted!’
So I am posting this only as a link for me really, so I can remember the colors for the netting when it comes time:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1318250823/Hessian+Tape+Colours