JohanT

Thank you for posting the interesting review hot links.

I will look forward to your build progress pictures.

Hi Johan : )

here is another fine review http://scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/all-things-military-vehicle/135-scale/kit-reviews/1260-135-t-90-russian-main-battle-tank-by-zvezda  

I have also purchased this beautiful kit, but my recent hand surgery has prevented me from starting it yet.

I look forward to your updates and as soon as I can handle a pair of tweezers I shall join you !

My first piece of 'modern' Russian armor !

It is a well engineered model , in concept and execution.

talk to you soon,

tread

Hi Johan!

I'm jelaous about the weather! Makes me wanna move south!

The T-90 sound interesting. Gonna keep my eyes open on this one. By the way, how's it going with the T-72? Haven't seen any update for a while.

/Tony (up in the north)

Sprue-ce Goose,
Thanks for stopping by and taking interest :)
Surprisingly there are very few complete build reviews on the T-90.
Here is one more that I have enjoyed reading, the author is Mac McConnell;
http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=63907 

tread,
Hope your recovery is going well!
Please join me on this build :)

Tony,
The west coast is the ... coast :)
No matter what weather.
I am heading your ways shortly, should I drop the spike tires or not?

Thank you!
Very Best Regards
Johan 

Thanks Johan for making those links available....very interesting reading, especially the Russian site.

I also had never seen the bue,green and black camo scheme in Military Modeller...

Your T-62 is also very nice piece of work.

tread

Hi again,

tread,

thanks for the kind words,
that is the scheme I am going for :) 

Short update - no real progress...
The main issue with this release seems to be the hight of the body.
With the main tube beeing slightly oversized the T-90 seems to sit a bit high ( like a SUV someone said...).
With the overall hight being wrong the side skirts are oversized and it looks - wrong...

This picture published on Armorama by Compeador on March 11 examplifies.

You could obvioesly choose to ignore this - my personal view is that the "Star" offering still looks very convincing - but with the debate going on it seems difficult to ignore.

So here is my list of alterations;
Visually lower the overall hight by reducing the hight of the suspension with 2 mm and take out a 2mm slice in the side skirt.

Create a chin on the turrets lower front.

Change the hight and the angle of the radiator stack.

Fix the turret to body arrangement; brush guards and overall hight.

Replacements;
Road wheels

Possible replacement;
Gun tube ( I will do what I ca to salvage the 2 piece OOB )

So on with the build :)
Here is the road wheel and swing arm. As you can see the swing arm joint to the main tube is VERY fragile.

Repositioning this 2 mm without breaking seems difficult - I am concidering a replacment with brass tube;
  

The turret, my only + 4 part assembly so far

Your comments, suggestions and chritizism are wllcome as always.

Very Best Regards

Johan

So while waiting for the MENG to arrive I decided to brush off the now matured Zvezda.

Since I have seen this kit built with great results without modification I have been hesitating (for a year  already).

As already mentioned the height of the chassis seems to attract most attention and I will try to correct  that by changing the angle of the swing arms.

The fix was suggested by disur on panzer35.ru, panzer35.ru/.../45-8703-1

This picture shows the original angle of the swing arm:

First idea was to correct this with brass tubing cut to length and fitted accordingly (tested center bellow) but it turned out that the plastic is so soft that it is possible to re-position the swing arm with some gentle force.

This takes out approximately 2 mm of the overall height

Next task is the side skirt that will need to be lowered accordingly.

I started by shaving of the hinges:

And continued with cutting down the height of the side skirt 2mm.

The upper skirt is modified in hight.

I am not sure yet that the end result is going to be what I am aiming for, but I feel that I am on the way with this one now.  

One problem is that the shavings are so thin they will melt when I glue them in place again.

Maybe I will use some white glue or paint.

Very Best Regards
Johan

Edited 2013-07-19; picture 2 and 3 shows test fitting of brass tubing, this approach was abandoned.  

Hi,

Next issue is the turret to hull assembly:

There is a rail outside the outer perimeter of the turret that Zvezda don't present.

Scratched by panzer35 colleague;

LINK BROKEN...

Very Best Regards

Johan

Your T-90 is looking nice so far, Johan!

I'll watch this with interest, as I have that kit in my stash as well and it looks like you found a relatively easy techniqe for fixing the heigth issue!

I can't view the last 2 pics...

Yeah, nice looking work! Clever idea on how to fix the too high stance issue.

I too am getting an error message when clicking on your last two photos.

Hi Schatten Spartan & Gamera - thanks for stopping by and taking interest 
I am hoping to get some progress work posted this weekend, still worried that the shavings will melt - anyway - we will know by Sunday 

Sorry about the bad link, the second one is unfortunaely corrupt, please check out this link by disur instead:
http://panzer35.ru/forum/45-8703-4

Very Best Regards
Johan 

Hi again,

the weather has been so nice over the last days I just coudl not resist.

But here is an update on the fix:

This is the a view of the front fenders, the kit left side is modified to match the lower side skirt.

Very Best Regards

Johan

Nice progress on this one Johan, looking good!

Hi Bill,

Thank you for stopping by!

Looking at the pictures I have posted I need to get another 2mm out of the side skirts, not sure if that is doable.

Hmmm...

No, what you see is what you get.

Hoping for some prime time in the week-end.

Best Regards

Johan

JohanT

Hi Bill,

Thank you for stopping by!

Looking at the pictures I have posted I need to get another 2mm out of the side skirts, not sure if that is doable.

Hi Karl,

My thinking was that correcting the stance would allow for a correction of the height of the side skirts.

I hope I can manage with a correction of the forward angles of those.

In my view those are the most visual problem areas of an otherwise most enjoyable kit.

I have dropped corrections of the turret shins, the fuel tanks, the turret rim and the engine deck.

The knife is dull already although the plastic is soft.

Thank you for commenting! 

Very Best Regards

Johan

Why?, why?, why do you torture me like this?... 

So many models... Im about to start a Bradley or M113A2 or A3...also wanted to build a P47D and now this... this tank is beatiful. Liked it a lot with the black and grey camouflage.

Hmmm... 

So, far your building looks good, can't wait to see it finished.

Hi garzonh,

I am so sorry m8 :)

"So many (fill in your preference), so little time ".

I recently calculated that my stash, given my curent build rate, will last untill I am +130.

So if I am still posting in here November 2090 you will know that I am running low :)

Thanks you for stopping by and taking interest, here is a link with excellent reference pictures:

www.dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm

Best Regards

Johan

So...

here we go again, the Star T-90.

Won't tuch the Trump or Meng until this one is done!

There are a lot of clear parts included in the kit.

Trying to get them more visible by painting the inside in Tamiya Clear and supporting this with Alu Foil from behind.

The Infra disturbing light looks OK but the Range Finder is soso...

Best Regards

Johan

Off to a good start Johan!

Great idea and handling of the clear parts    

Thanks you for your kind comments guys  
Trying to complete this one over the next 2 weeks now...

Very Best Regards
Johan 

Hi again,

The 2 weeks have passed...

Finally getting some momentum,..

Since I have adjusted the angle of the wheel arms the shock abosrbers need to be adjust as well.

I split the shock absorber arms and glued them back in place.

Had to push out the side walls when gluing the tube to the top.

Here is a side view, tried to prime the periscopes before moving on to the actual paintin step:

Will try to get some primer on tomorrow...
Should be working on my travel expenses though, almost a year behind :)

Very Best Regards

Johan

Kreegah Tarzan bundolo,..

Just noticed that I managed to get the toolboxes for the Shtora Devices or rather the subassemblies with the reactive armor and the boxes switched and mounted on the wrong sides 

Some additional surgery (thank you Exacto) required - fixed now 

Very Best Regards

Johan

Hi again,

The Primer is on, I am not sure that this is necessary but the plastic feels very greasy.

Have already washed it in soap and windows cleaner but since I am worried to rip of the base layer with the masks later I decided to give it that extra day.

Still trying to decide on what colors to use.

Here is a sample:

This is XF-5 Green, XF59 Dessert Yellow, XF-49 Khaki and XF-60 Dark Yellow.

Very Best Regards

Johan

What kind of primer are you using, Johan? It looks very dark.

Those colors look good. As long as they're close, who's really an "expert"? Your model will look fine with those. :)

Hi Karl,

Thanks for commenting! I guess you are right - have seen so many shades of this camo over the last 18 month - just need a push in the right direction I guess :)

This is my last batch of Citadel Chaos Black.

It covers well and dries with an almost gloss sheen - helps me notice the sink mark on the reactive armor - should have seen that one before :(

I will start using the Vallejo range of primers after this one.

Very Best Regards

Johan

Hi again,

The green is on, decided to go with Tamiya XF-5 and expect this to darken significantly under a few washes.

Next step is road-wheels and tracks, then on with the DY and black elements of the camouflage.

Comments, criticism and suggestions are more then welcome, thank You for stopping by!

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2015!

Johan Thorsell