Opinion on italeri tank

That Lindberg T-80 was terrible. The tracks were so stiff that they broke off the sprockets after a few days on my kit way back when. Their third kit, a BMP-1U that came with a vacuformed base was incomplete; several parts called out on the instructions were not present.

What a coincidence, was in the local Hob Lob last nite and wandered thru their plastic kit section, sure enough - the Lindy T55 kit in what looks to be the same boxart as my old Squadron-kit-of-the year boxing. Was $23.00 bucks.

Wonder who the Danish model company was that originally squirted this and the T80 kit for Lindberg as the moldings were clean...

nfafan

You kids are spoiled rotten today!!

I recall when the only "common" T55 kit was the original Tamiya kit of the 60's with motorization and REAL rubber tracks. 

When the Danish-molded Lindy T55/Tiran kit hit, it was so badly wanted by all that was deemed Squadron Shop's Kit of the Year. At the time it was nirvana for Soviet armor fans. Then the ESCI T-series kits popped out.

These kits still have a purpose: if you were building a battlefield dio of a T5x wreck, don't waste Tamiya money on a "wreck" when you can destroy a Lindy or ESCI/Italeri T-5x for the dio.

 

Yes, I bought two of the Lindberg T-55 kits when they were Squadron's kit of the year. One I built as a Soviet tank and gave to my company commander as a going away gift. The other I built after Desert Storm as one of the Iraqi Type 59s we encountered. I left that one in my office in the motor pool when I left to become a company commander.

I knew those were poor kits when I was building them, but other than the Tamiya T-62, it was all the readily available modern Soviet armor we had until Esci and then DML arrived.

As late as 1997-98, a close out store near Redstone Arsenal had a bunch of 1/35 scale Esci kits on sale for $4.99. I bought a bunch of the M60A1 IDF Blazer kits and IDF Ti-67 kits. Around 4-5 of each. Wife wasn't happy with me that day, spending over $50 on a bunch of the same tank kits.

Esci kit was much nicer than the Lindberg, just as the Esci M60A1 was nicer than the Tamiya old M60A1. I still have several of the old Esci IDF kits. They just don't seem worth building with the Tamiya T-55 and other newer versions. I got a Miniart T-54 in a trade and it is a very nice kit in a box full of plastic.

Any way, I was just trying to warn folks that the Lindberg T-55 is out again and not to expect a good kit.

You kids are spoiled rotten today!!

I recall when the only "common" T55 kit was the original Tamiya kit of the 60's with motorization and REAL rubber tracks. 

When the Danish-molded Lindy T55/Tiran kit hit, it was so badly wanted by all that was deemed Squadron Shop's Kit of the Year. At the time it was nirvana for Soviet armor fans. Then the ESCI T-series kits popped out.

These kits still have a purpose: if you were building a battlefield dio of a T5x wreck, don't waste Tamiya money on a "wreck" when you can destroy a Lindy or ESCI/Italeri T-5x for the dio.

Today, at Hobby Lobby, I saw the old, and very bad Lindberg T-55/Tiran kit for $22.99. Even with the 40% off coupon, I would not recommend this kit. I am surprised it was reissued.

HeavyArty

Esci / Lindberg -- both were pretty bad.  

I'd equate the Lindberg kit to the old original Tamiya M4A3E8, the Esci kit to the original Dragon M4A3E8 and the Tamiya kit to their latest M4AE38. Esci was light years ahead of the Lindberg T-55 kit, which I think was on par with their Lindberg T-80 kit and their BMP-1U. Three clunkers to round out their subpar armor line.

The Tamiya kit is far superior to the Esci/Italeri kit, but I've seen so many good modelers make stunning models out of those kits to put it on par with the Lindberg kit.

Heavy arty thanks for the diagram of the fuel lines I was looking for a diagram I had on my computer lastnight it dispeared. Thanks again. GMORRISON Rob thanks for the information and replies much appreciated.

GMorrison

I could never figure out how Tamiya screwed up the T-62.

Similar story to the Lindberg and Esci T-55s.  It was originally released in 1979.  That was at the height of the Cold War and these things were still Top Secret.  They probably didn't have access to an actual one and most likely based it mainly on photos.   For the time, it was still a pretty good kit.  It looked like a T-62A.  When measured against an actual one, it was way off.

GMorrison

Another nice Italeri kit is the Panzer 4 with 75mm gun.

And their Marder 3.

In my opinion, Italeri's best kit is their M47 (6447).  It is really finely detailed and includes a partial engine/transmission.  It still holds up well to current kits.  Its only downfall was the really stiff vinyl tracks.  They could be worked with, but were a b!t@h to get to sit right.  Here is a review of it from PMMS:  https://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/italeri/it6447.htm

I could never figure out how Tamiya screwed up the T-62.

Another nice Italeri kit is the Panzer 4 with 75mm gun.

And their Marder 3.

Esci / Lindberg -- both were pretty bad.  You should be pleased with the Tamiya kit.  It goes together easily and looks good when done.  If you want to add a bit of missing details, you can plumb the external fuel tanks.  Since the Enigma doesn't have the forward (right side of diagrams) tank, you would need to eliminate the forward lines.  Simply reroute the lines so they come out of the hull, into the right tank, across between them, out of the left tank, and then back to the hull.

armor 2.0

Rob and stikpusher you are correct it is a rebox of esci.I found a Tamiya t55 enigma  on ebay for 35.00 .Gmorrison Stik and Rob thanks for the replies. Greatly appreciated.

 

The Enigma is the same kit with new sprues. You should be pleased. Italeri has been robbing people blind with their reissued kits using World of Tanks tie ins and other "special" releases. The vast majority of their kits are from the 1980s and 1990s.

They can do some nice kits though. Their soft skin Italian kits and the Staghound are pretty nice.

Rob and stikpusher you are correct it is a rebox of esci.I found a Tamiya t55 enigma  on ebay for 35.00 .Gmorrison Stik and Rob thanks for the replies. Greatly appreciated.

A couple of years ago I built the Tamiya Tiran 5. That is one of the nicest kits I've ever built. I probably paid $ 50 for it, but it was worth it.

I see where all of their T-55s are on Amazon Prime for around $ 35.00.

armor 2.0

I' thinking about buying a italert t-55 tank kit itloooo6540 gulf war 25 anniversary.I look for reviews online found a couple they didn' tell me much of anything. Will the kit make a decent t-55. I can get it for 30.00 that' with shipping. All opinion wanted good or bad.

Thank you

 

It is a rebox of the ESCI T-55, not the Lindberg kit. For $20 or less, (the cost when it came out) I’d say try it out, but for $30, no. You can find the far superior Tamiya T-55 at around $30. I just built one recently  that kit is a dream to build. And as shown, there are also the new T-54/T-55 family of fancier kits from Takom and Miniart if you have the budget for them.

The basic Italeri/ESCI kit is not horrid, bit it certainly could use help. I’ve built a few back when they were the best game in town before Tamiya released theirs. 

HeavyArty

Stay far away from it.  It is a rebox of the ancient Lindberg T-55.  It was the first T-55 model and model of the year at the time it came out, about 1989.  It was based on a few fuzzy pictures and a couple captured Israeli T-55s.  Since it's release more info has come out and it has proven to be very inaccurate and missing lots of details. 

Unless they changed something, the Italeri T-55 series is a rebox of the Esci T-55 kits and not the old Lindberg T-55. The Lindberg kit was the only one around when it came out, the Esci ones came a little later and were much better. Lindberg was a 3 in 1 whereas Esci boxed all three variants separately (Soviet, Middle East, IDF).

Regardless, there are many T-55 out there that are much better than the Italeri one.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

I found this through scalemates.com website

Cyber Modeler Online review:

https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/it/kit_it_6540.shtml

 

Bookmark this site : www.scalemates.com .

 

 

Thanks heavy arty for recommendations much appreciated. Griffin appreciated thank you.

You can't go wrong with the Tamiya T-55A. Great kit. Not as involved as MiniArt but you wont be pulling your hair out either. You can get the Tamiya T55-A from Japan with free shipping on Amazon. About $35. Takes a few weeks to get here but best price and money back guaranty from Amazon.

Stay far away from it.  It is a rebox of the ancient Lindberg T-55.  It was the first T-55 model and model of the year at the time it came out, about 1989.  It was based on a few fuzzy pictures and a couple captured Israeli T-55s.  Since it's release more info has come out and it has proven to be very inaccurate and missing lots of details. 

If you want a great T-55, go with one of the newer MiniArt kits. 

You can even get one w/an interior.  I am building this one now and it is awesome.  You can see my build here:  https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=266608#2254392

For a decent T-55 at a lesser price point, the Tamiya one is pretty good too.

If you want a Gulf War specific version, Tamiya also offers the Iraqi T-55 Enigma with added steel and concrete armor.

I found this through scalemates.com website

Cyber Modeler Online review:

https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/it/kit_it_6540.shtml

Bookmark this site : www.scalemates.com .