T54 Odd Things

For a very long time essentially all Roco military vehicles were the same black green color.

This Roco T44 tank has a black green hatch.

But the rest of the vehicle is the olive green that Roco changed to at some point, perhaps in the 1980s.  I like it a lot better, it's easier to paint over, not so glossy, and looks better for American tanks at least.

At about the same time, they started making other vehicles in other colors.  Yellow or gray for WWII German tanks for example.  This is a camouflaged T54 hull that was originally the standard black green.  Note the configuration of the large hull box on the fender.

Here is another one, note the serious mold error on the hull box.

As some of the molds got older more and more flaws began to show up.

This is the only one I have seen with this flaw, but the hole in the turret horn is common as is a mis-molded right side track.  Judging by my collection of about 190 T54 tanks this is the only one of this problem but the mis-molded right side track is about 3% of the models and the turret hole about the same.

Some of the T54 tanks have enough flash on the gun barrel, turret end, that the gun no longer fits properly.  A quick move with the X-Acto knife fixes this problem.
 

The Work Yard

As I prepare the tanks for rehabilitation, they each get their turrets removed.

Any markings, or decals get scraped off.

An inspection is done to see if any parts are missing, damaged, or deformed.

Missing hatches are replaced, and other parts are either sourced immediately, fabricated or the tank is pulled from the yard and sent to the spares pile.

My intention is to have all my T54 tanks, variants and spares back into full operation before the project is considered complete.  Right now I am waiting for a few new T54 tanks to come in the mail, and I also need some rubber and resin to cast a few missing parts.
 

Painting Turrets

I am painting these on cardboard sheets.

I use this awl to poke a hole in the cardboard.

Like this arrow.

Then I can insert the tank pin into the hole.

And the turret can sit flat on the cardboard.

It makes it easier to paint when it does not move around.

Turret with tank hull.

This shows some of the paint build up on the nozzle.

I wipe it off every few sprays.

The build up will clog the nozzle if you don't wipe it off.
 

Roco T54 Tracks and Lower Hulls

The inside of the Roco T54 tank has one road wheel that has detail on the inside.

It's very odd that they would do that because it can't really be seen once it is installed.

There are two different types of tracks, and one kind won't fit on the other unless it is trimmed.

This one has two tabs on the top of the lower side hull.  The other, picture two above, has only one.

I had to mix them on my tanks in order to field as many as I can.

Many of mine have the little wheels and many do not.

I am leaving them if they have them and not replacing them if they don't have the little wheels.

Here is a good view of the two tab lower hull.  Note the track won't fit because it has a bar on the top that won't allow the track to fit over the tab.
 

Soviet Skip Loaders and Painting Eggs

I buy a lot of little Chinese made die cast vehicles.

Many are generic construction equipment such as this skip loader.  I am no expert on skip loaders so they all look about the same to me.  So now that it has been painted, it is officially a Cold War era skip loader from the Soviet Unions' Red Army.  Along with it's comrades in the back.

More die cast vehicles, this time two decontamination trucks and a cargo truck.  Various countries in the old Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe made military equipment and sometimes it was used by the old Soviet Union.  Decon trucks are conversions from three vehicles.

More T54 tanks in for servicing and some freshly painted cargo box trucks.  Note tanks without hulls in the background of the photo.

I use this tube on the end of my electric drill motor to mix cans of spray paint.  It goes 40 seconds one way and 40 seconds the other way.  I use an old rag to help keep the paint can firmly inside the pipe.  Then just pull the rag and it drags the paint can right out.  Makes a lot of difference on mixing the paint well.  I also shake it up and down the old fashioned way a few shakes and as I paint.

I keep a bit of rubber exercise mat by the basement door and use it to kneel on sometimes if I need to be low and close in while taking photos or spray painting.  Gravel is hard on the knees.

Easter is a nice time to harvest a selection of eggs.  These formerly colorful eggs are being painted gloss white for use by Batman Villain Egghead.  They have been flipped upside down and are waiting for a second coat.  It will probably take three coats.  A couple of the sort of foam plastic eggs are not likely to pass inspection, their surface is scruffy looking when not colorful!
 

Hulls and Droopy Barrel

The Roco T54 tank often has problems with the upper and lower hulls staying together.

So I have had to use both medium and very large clamps to hold them together while they let the glue dry.

Here is a medium and small clamp.  Sometimes that is enough.

The main guns on the T54 suffer from droopy barrel.  The turret cheeks are very thin and often get bent out of shape.

So I glue a very thin plastic patch to make the space a little smaller and it seems to work.

By taking up some of that space the gun is usually no longer droopy.
 

SDV Tank Retriever Continues

The SDV tank retriever is coming along.

The machine gun port looking hole is actually for a big cable attached to a drum for towing vehicles out of the mud.  Pretty clever.

I decided to glue the crane into a semi-erect position, and here it is.  So not too high that I can't drive it down the road, and not so low that it looks like it is not doing anything.  A better model builder than I could likely make the crane work.

Top view.  There are a bunch more accessories left to go so it won't look so plain when it is done.

Side skirts and other bits ready for installation.

It's a shame to hide such nice looking wheels.

Test fit, file, test fit, trim, test fit, sand, test fit, close enough.

The construction so far.

Well on the way to completion.