Tamiya's old 1/35 T-62A

jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Tamiya's old 1/35 T-62A

Posted by jugjunkie on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 3:09 AM

The kit is certainly showing it's age but would make an ideal starter kit. For the more advanced modeller with not too much work and AM, you can get a really good result. The first thing I noticed was the very basic gun boot. If you use the kit piece it will definitely distract from any reasonable result. I have opted for the DefModel resin boot but the problem is that it is meant fro the Trumpeter kit but it is just too good for me not to use. So on comparing the kit turret with JP Model's very accurate one, you can see a big shape issue which is almost impossible to fix but I want to build the kit and I do not believe in buying a kit and throwing 90% of it away so I will do the best I can.

The problem using the DefModel boot for the Trumpy kit, on this kit, is apparent.

So using some plastic surgery, I firstly cover the gapping hole with some plasticard.

I then applied Milipit roughly in the areas that I need to shape to look more like the correct turret.

When the Milipit had properly dried, I filed the turret to shape. The kit gun also needs to now be shortened and thinned down to fit the boot. I had to remove about 3mm off the back of the gun and the base had to be thinned down almost to the same OD as the barrel. The fit was good and tight and the length is right. Roughed up the turret a bit because it is a cast item in real.

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warshipguy

Member since
September 2005
From: Groton, CT

Posted by warshipguy on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:15 AM

I just picked up the Verlinden upgrade set for this kit. It looks like major surgery is needed to correct the hull shape, but it certainly looks achievable.

Bill Morrison

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Gamera

Member since
November 2009
From: SW Virginia

Posted by Gamera on Thursday, May 4, 2017 7:45 AM

Oh wow cool JJ.

Looking forward to seeing how you do this.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

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Bish

Member since
December 2002
From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Posted by Bish on Thursday, May 4, 2017 8:17 AM

Niceto see these old tamiya kits get an airing, look forward to seeing what you do with it.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

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warshipguy

Member since
September 2005
From: Groton, CT

Posted by warshipguy on Saturday, May 6, 2017 6:58 AM

I agree about the old Tamiya kits. I like them. And, excellent job so far!

Bill

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, May 6, 2017 8:42 AM

warshipguy

I just picked up the Verlinden upgrade set for this kit. It looks like major surgery is needed to correct the hull shape, but it certainly looks achievable.

Bill Morrison

I have that one as well, long before better T-62s were available. One kit I got for a song was the Trumpeter IT-1 missile tank (T-62 with a missile turret) for a whopping $23 at Squadron. It gives me a much better base to start with the verlinden turret.

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jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Posted by jugjunkie on Monday, May 8, 2017 3:34 AM

Thanks all for commentary. I have had to add about 2mm to the height of the turret. After attaching it to the hull I noticed that it is very thin and having done some reading on it, it was suggested that adding 2mm to the height was more correct. I have roughed up the turret a bit (the real one was a cast turret).

Wheels have been roughed up and primered.

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warshipguy

Member since
September 2005
From: Groton, CT

Posted by warshipguy on Monday, May 8, 2017 7:07 AM

Rob,

I also have a Kalmbach publication about armor conversions. One of the articles concerns this old Tamiya kit. There is a template for the proper shaping of the lower hull and the correct spacing of the roadwheels. Coupled with the Verlinden conversion set, this can turn into an excellent model.

Bill

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jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Posted by jugjunkie on Monday, May 8, 2017 9:08 AM

warshipguy

Rob,

I also have a Kalmbach publication about armor conversions. One of the articles concerns this old Tamiya kit. There is a template for the proper shaping of the lower hull and the correct spacing of the roadwheels. Coupled with the Verlinden conversion set, this can turn into an excellent model.

Bill

Thanks Rob, I read about the road wheel spacing but that is just a bridge too far for me. I'll have to live with it as is.

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jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Posted by jugjunkie on Monday, May 8, 2017 9:17 AM

I have lowered the back plate by 3mm as well as the lowere hull by 1mm now and it looks a ton better with the upper hull on.

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jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Posted by jugjunkie on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 3:55 AM

Got the primer on the hull.

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Gamera

Member since
November 2009
From: SW Virginia

Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 7:28 AM

Very cool, you're making some solid progress there!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

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jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Posted by jugjunkie on Saturday, May 13, 2017 7:56 AM

Most of the actual building is done now, just need to finish the fuel cells and plumbing then it's proper painting.

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warshipguy

Member since
September 2005
From: Groton, CT

Posted by warshipguy on Sunday, May 14, 2017 6:39 AM

That looks great so far! Nice job on the lower hull as well.

Bill

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jugjunkie

Member since
June 2008

Posted by jugjunkie on Monday, May 15, 2017 1:35 AM

All the construction on the main body of the tank now complete and base primer is sealed in with an Alclad satin clear coat. I'm in two minds if I should go straight to colour now or add a red oxide primer base and do some chipping then go onto colour! Will decide on that still.