This same kit is basically going for $40 right now. http://www.italeriusa.com/product-details.php?id=ITAS3508

Esci issued three versions of this tank. The one you have is 5044, the next one is 5045, T-55(M) that included updated hatches and an AA machine gun. The third one was 5048, the IDF version called the Ti-67 by model companies. It was upgunned with a NATO 105 mm and US style machine guns and other IDF fittings.

I believe the WOT version is the second one (5045). Obviously outdated with Takom and Tamiya versions, but still a fairly decent kit with a lot of aftermarket stuff out there. I'd build it OOB; any money on AM would be better suited towards a newer kit. I scored a few of these in the mid 90s for $4.99 a pop at a closeout store. Ten bucks is a decent price, but I've see the excellent Tamiya T-55 for $30 on forums recently.

Here is an old review of the T-55 models BEFORE Tamiya brought out their kit (one of their best modern armor kits when it was released).

http://tankguys.sitemix.jp/KIT-REVIEW06.html

I've built a couple. The Tiran/Ti-67 and the T-55M. They are decent kits and can really look good with some extra effort. Yeah, I think they are worth it. Just don't pay too much for them...

Yup, it's old, but still a reasonably good kit.

A few areas could do with a little love though. See if you can find a plumbing diagram for the fuel tanks and deepen the exhaust port, as it's a little shallow. You may also consider embossing a bit of foil to replace the heat shield over the exhaust port too.

There were three companies that put out BMPs at the same time. Esci, Dragon and Lindberg with Esci and Dragon putting out -1 and -2 and the Lindberg one coming out at the same time they were going under and while it was released, it wasn't truly completed and was missing items from the instructions.

The Esci BMP-1 is the better of the kits. Both the Dragon and Esci -2s are simplified by just adding a -2 turret onto the -1 hull. Dragon's kits have oversized hinges to make hatches that can open. Esci's hatches are separate, but designed to be glued open or shut.

Italeri released the Dragon kits in the 90s (#256 & 257), but ever since they got the Esci molds, later releases are the Esci kits (#6520).

The BTRs are probably the Dragon kits with their infamous splitting vinyl tires.

I know for a fact it was this one: I remember asking about the box art... I'll see if I can find at least one of the others.... Rudy

edit: looking aT the box art, I believe he had either all three of the ESCI BMP boxings (or box art offerings) of the ESCI BMP 1's or two boxes of BMP 1's and one BMP 2,  all ESCI's . If they were cheaper i would have bought them all, but $10 each for such ancient kits I knew nothing about seemed a bit steep. I can probably get a second chance to grab them in the future.....

Rudy 

Be careful you might start enjoying yourself with these old kits

The Esci soldiers in their larger kits are similar to the toy green army men. Had the modern US troops and my son used them. Not worth trying to paint the soft tan vinyl. They were the perfect color to lose in the sand box.

That BMP-1 is a decent kit, designed when most of the Soviet armor were grainy intel photos. We didn't get a real nice BMP series until the last few years.

$10 is probably an okay price on eBay, but at a show or from a vendor, it might be a tad too much. Maybe two for $15, but not $10 a pop.

Well, you bought 'em- might as well build 'em... If nothing else they're great practice for a newer more detailed kit. 

Rob is right about the 'rubber' style plastic figures. I tried to paint some years ago. You can't sand off the seam lines since the rubber type stuff 'gives' and you end up with big chucks ripped out of them. And then since the plastic flexs the paint chips right off. 

I guess I'll be the lone dissenter here. 

To me, those old kits (T55 and BMPs) are not worth the effort to bring up to modern standards of detail.  I would rather buy a more modern kit.  Tamiya's T55 is really nice and Trumpeter's BMPs are very nice as well.   Additionally, if you end up buying a bunch of AM resin and PE to add to them to correct or bring up the level of detail, you end up spending more than a modern, updated kit of the same subjects.  

The only thing they would be even remotely good for to me is to make a burned-out hulk out of.  Even then, I would still rather start with a more detailed, updated kit.

I recently. Hilt the Tamiya Tiran 5. I spent the whole AM budget on Friul tracks, well worth it and the whole deal came out well.

HeavyArty

I guess I'll be the lone dissenter here. 

To me, those old kits (T55 and BMPs) are not worth the effort to bring up to modern standards of detail.  I would rather buy a more modern kit.  Tamiya's T55 is really nice and Trumpeter's BMPs are very nice as well.   Additionally, if you end up buying a bunch of AM resin and PE to add to them to correct or bring up the level of detail, you end up spending more than a modern, updated kit of the same subjects.  

The only thing they would be even remotely good for to me is to make a burned-out hulk out of.  Even then, I would still rather start with a more detailed, updated kit.

 

Lone dissenter? Seriously? Probably didn't read my first post that said, "I'd build it OOB; any money on AM would be better suited towards a newer kit. I scored a few of these in the mid 90s for $4.99 a pop at a closeout store. Ten bucks is a decent price, but I've see the excellent Tamiya T-55 for $30 on forums recently."

Or my third post regarding the BMPs, "$10 is probably an okay price on eBay, but at a show or from a vendor, it might be a tad too much. Maybe two for $15, but not $10 a pop."

If you have the kits, they are worth building. Neither kit is worth putting any AM into because the price will push the project over a better kit.

Ah, but kits like these are good test mules for scratch work techniques. And if you happen to have some AM for another project that no longer exists, why not use it? I tend to have more fun nowadays adding stuff of my own creation and what I can dig out from the spares bin that looks right for the part.

HeavyArty

Easy Rob, I was just joking. I was pointing out that I wouldn't even build them if they were in the stash. I definitely wouldn't pay anything for them. To each their own though.

 

But if you're a modeler that has to ask about these old kits, they are probably in your range and level of interest. Many modern armor modelers would already know the better Tamiya and Takom T-55 and Trumpeter BMP-1 which has rendered the Esci kits obsolete even though Italeri still sells them at prices similar to that of the newer versions.

Bottom line, while I think $10 a piece might be a little steep in the secondary market, it is better than the current Italeri prices that come with maybe better decals but otherwise is the same model kit. I've seen the WOT Type 59 (the ex-Esci T-55M) on the shelf at nearly $50 and the Italeri/ex-Esci BMP-1 at just under $40.

stikpusher

Ah, but kits like these are good test mules for scratch work techniques. And if you happen to have some AM for another project that no longer exists, why not use it? I tend to have more fun nowadays adding stuff of my own creation and what I can dig out from the spares bin that looks right for the part.

 

I totally agree with you Stik.

Rob Gronovius

But if you're a modeler that has to ask about these old kits, they are probably in your range and level of interest. Many modern armor modelers would already know the better Tamiya and Takom T-55 and Trumpeter BMP-1 which has rendered the Esci kits obsolete even though Italeri still sells them at prices similar to that of the newer versions.

I just wouldn't recommend them to be built by anyone, no matter what skill level they are at.  Stretching your skills a little is good.  Save your money for the better, more up to date kits.  These are just not worth it to me. 

What Italeri is charging for these old dogs is criminal.  That is why it is best to ask here or at other sites before buying a kit you are not sure of.

HeavyArty

 What Italeri is charging for these old dogs is criminal.  That is why it is best to ask here or at other sites before buying a kit you are not sure of.

 

Now that I agree on 100%

HeavyArty

 

 

Rob Gronovius

But if you're a modeler that has to ask about these old kits, they are probably in your range and level of interest. Many modern armor modelers would already know the better Tamiya and Takom T-55 and Trumpeter BMP-1 which has rendered the Esci kits obsolete even though Italeri still sells them at prices similar to that of the newer versions.

 

 

 

I just wouldn't recommend them to be built by anyone, no matter what skill level they are at.  Stretching your skills a little is good.  Save your money for the better, more up to date kits.  These are just not worth it to me. 

What Italeri is charging for these old dogs is criminal.  That is why it is best to ask here or at other sites before buying a kit you are not sure of.

 

I agree that there are kits out there not worth building, especially when they have some sort of collector's value. These old Esci kits do not have any such value. I think it is insane when I saw the WOT Type 59 on the shelf and Googled to find out what was in the box. I suspected the old Esci kit and the internet confirmed it.

You could easily buy the Tamiya T-55 for less money than the WOT kit. The Takom kit from lucky model can be had for less money as well. Amazon carries the Tamiya Enigma for about the same as the WOT Type 59. It's really crazy to think they all run about the same price.

I've seen some gamers build the kits online and have done very good jobs even though they are not experienced modelers. While not contest winners, they certainly would give our resident modeling maniac a run for his art instructor's money. 

While I would not devote time to constructing the old Esci kit, based on seeing online gamers produce some nice builds, I say it is a decent kit to build for a casual modeler. Much like the old Tamiya M41 still gets recommendations for those wishing to get their feet wet, the Esci T-55 can serve as a second step. I haven't built one of the Esci kits since the late 90s (the Ti-67), I do remember it built easily, fit well (much better than the Lindberg kit I built right after Desert Storm) and the link and length tracks show new modelers something different than traditional vinyl tracks.

Not familiar with the particular boxing but if it needs a lot of tlc then you can try to build it as a wreck, abandoned on a field somewhere. Great way to experiment different weathering techniques like hairspray, salt, oil washes, etc.