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The prototypeoftheT 54tankwasdesigned in 1945. In Poland the productionoftheT54Atank, underthe Russian license, was launched in 1956 and lasted until 1964. Anewupgraded version ofthe vehicle designed in the 1950s featured modern armament, amourand propulsion. Significantly modernised and redesigned tanks were also fitted with the crew protection in the nuclear battlefield conditions. This new version was known as T 55. In 1946 a serial production of T 55A model under Russian license began in Poland. The chassis ofthe model was later used to design and produce many variations ofthe vehicle for special purposes, including the armoured recovery vehicles WZT1 and WZT2, armoured vehicle launched bridge BLG-60M, orthe engineering tank IWT. These tanks were widely used by the armies ofthe Warsaw Pact member States. Technical details:

Total weight: 36,5 - 37t; max. speed - 50 km/h; rangę - up to 500 km; ground clearance: 43 cm; crew - 4 Dimensions: total length - 9m, hull length - 6.2m, height-2.35m, width -3.27m.

Four-stroke V 12-cylinder W55 diesel, 426.6 kW

Armament-1 x 100 mm D-10T2G rifled gun, 2x7.62 mm SGMT coaxial machinę gun, DShK12.7 mm antiaircraft machinę gun.

WORK DESCRIPTION:

Start the construction ofthe model from itsfuselage, parts T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T6a, T7, T8, T9. Reinforce the parts with 1 mm cardboard. When the framework is ready, coveritwith part 1. Glue parts 1a, 1 b, 1c, 1d to the hull tub. Form the boxesfrom parts2andgluethem to part 1 in the marked place. Glueparts3 in a similar manner. Complete the hull tub with parts 4,5,5a, 5b, 5b1, and 6. Insert parts 7c and 8 in the openings in part 1, as shown in the assembly drawing. Glue parts 7, 7a, 8a in the marked places. When part 9 is formed and glued together, fasten itto hull, as shown in the drawing. Cover part 10 with stripes 10b and then fasten part 10a. From parts 11 and 11 a assemblethesuspension unitof tracktensioners and then glue it part 1 inthe marked place. Use parts 12 and 12a to make thesuspensionofdrive wheels. Fasten part 13 to the hull as shown inthe drawing. Coverthe tub with part 14 and add parts S14,15P, and 15L. To part 14 glue parts 14a and 14b. Close the hull with part 16, to which then fasten parts 12b, 12c, 16a, 16b, and 16c. Fasten part 17 to the armour 14 and then assemble the wires according to the X5 template. Complete the hull with parts 18,18a, 19, and 19a, as shown in the assembly drawings.

From parts 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, and T21 make the driver's hatch. Use parts 21,21a, 21 b, 22, 22a, and 22b to make the headlights. Fasten them to part 23 and then glue the whole piece to the armour 14 in the marked place. Using wire, make the basket according to the templates X4, X4a, and X4b, and assemble them as shown in the drawing. Glue part 24,25,25a, 26,27 to the rearsidewall ofthe hull 14. From parts 28,28a, 28b, 28c assemble the hooks and glue them to the hull in the marked place. Part T18 reinforced with 1 mm thickness card insert into part 29. To the ready part now glue parts 29a, 29b, 29c, and attach the hinges madę from parts 29d, 29e. Now attach the piece to part 14.Reinforce parts 30 and 31 with previously reinforced parts T19, and then glue them as shown in the drawing. Glue parts 32 in a similar manner. From parts 32a, 32b and X8 template make the hinge and fasten it as shown in the assembly drawing. Hinges -locate parts 33 as shown in the drawing.

Use parts 38R, 38L to make the mudguards. Complete the piece with parts 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d, and glue to the model. According to the template, make the framework X12, and glue it to the model, as shown in the assembly drawing. Make the rear mudguards from parts 39.From parts 41P, 41L and 41 a make mudguards reinforcement and fasten it as shown in the assembly drawing. Using parts 42, 42a, 42b assemble the exhaust and insert when ready between the mudguards 35 and 36. Glue parts 43 as shown in the drawing.

The suspension of the tank is based on rockers 44, assembled according to the drawing. Referring to the drawing glue the ready parts to the hull (the arrows on the hull - parts 1 and 8). The arrows marked on the hull allow proper positioning ofthe rockers. Make the track tensioner from parts 45,45a, and 45b. Put it on a bushing madę from parts 45c,45d, 45e, and then glue parts 45f and 45g. Fasten the wheels to part 11.

From parts 46, 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d make driving wheels. Now add parts 46e, 46h, 46k, and place parts 46f and 46f1 on the bushings. As shown in the drawing fasten parts 46m, 46n, 46a, and fit the whole part in part 12a. Use parts 47 (reinforced with part T22) to make the road wheels. Insert parts 47d and 47e inside, and 47f outside. Assemble the inside ofthe wheels from part 47a and then attach part 47b. Insert the whole piece into the rings 47d. Assemble the rings from parts 47c and glue to the wheels as shown in the drawing. Glue parts 47h, 47g together and glue as shown in the drawing. Finally fasten part 47k. Now mount the ready wheels to the rockers 44.

Use the stripes 48 and 48a, and part 48b to make the tracks. When ready, mount the piece on the wheels. From parts 49,49a, 49b, 49c, 48b make the track plates. Using part 49d, attach the ready part to the mudguard. Assemble fuel tanks using parts 50.Insert part 50c to part 50.Form parts 50 and 50a attach them topart50b. In similar manner assemble the oil tanks from parts: 51,51a, 51 b, and 51 c. Make the tank boxes from parts 52, 52a, 53,53a, 54, 54a, 54b, 54c, 55,56, and 57. NOTĘ: boxes 55,56 and 57 have additional parts, which should be glued as shown in the assembly drawings.

From parts 58,58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d assemble the barrels and glue them to the hull in the marked place. Make the barrels from parts 60,60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d. Cover the whole piece with stripes 59 and fit the wire brackets madę, according to template 59a. Mount the whole part on part 58, as shown inthe drawing.

To make the wooden bar glue parts 61 and 61 a. Coverpart61b with the stripes and glue the whole piece to part 58, as shown in the drawing. From part 62, make the air intake pipę. Cover part 62c with the stripe 62b and glue the whole piece to part 62, as shown in the drawing. From part 62a farm a pipę, to which glue parts 62d wrapped with part 62e, and insert the whole unit inside part 62.Now, when the part is ready, glue parts 63, 63a and the wires madę according to templates 64 and 65. Glue the whole unit to part 58 as shown in the drawing. Make the turret using part 66.When part 66 is formed and glued, attach the upper part of the turret 66b. The parts glued in such a way mount on the turret framework madę up from parts T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, and T15. At the bottom glue parts 66a and then T20, which should be painted the colour ofthe rest ofthe tank.

Refer to the ready template on how to make a cardboard bearing ofthe turret. Glue together parts 67,67a, 68, and 68a and fit inside the turret, as shown in the drawing. From parts 69, 69a, and 69b, assemble hooks and glue them in the marked place. Make the gun mount from part 70.The gun mount should be movable. When the gun barrel 71 is ready, mount it with parts 71 e and 71 f, and pierce it and part 70 with a pin in the marked places. After the gun is madę moveable, replace part 73 with a piece of cloth. Then glue the parts 72, 71 a, 71 b, 71 c, 71 d, 71 g, as shown in the assembly drawing. Finally fasten part 70a. Glue part 74 as shown in the drawing. Assemble the box 75, 75a, 75b and fasten it on the left side, on the turret handrail madę from wire, according to template X2a. Now glue all remaining handrails ofthe turret (templates X2, X3). Glue parts 76,76a, and 76b at the rear of the turret as shown in the drawing. Glue together parts 77, 77a, 77b, 77c, and 77e to have lights, which are then glued to the turret, as shown in the drawing.

The commander's hatch consists of part 78, to which part 78a is then glued. In theopening glue part 78b, and cover the whole piece with part 78c. Now attach the piece to the turret and then add part 78b. Make the loader’s hatch in a similar manner to the commander's hatch from parts 79, 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d. To make the cover ofthe loader's hatch, glue part 80, on which part80a is mounted. The hinge is madę upfrom parts 80b and 80c. Using parts 80d, 80d1,80e make the base ofthe machinę gun as shown in the drawing. Make the base ofthe commander's hatch from part 81, to which glue periscopes - parts 81a, 81 b, 81 g, and 81 h. Now attach the dome 81 c and glue parts 81 d, 81 e, and a template-based handle madę from wire 81f. Glue the cover on the part78c. Complete the turret with parts 82,83,83a.

Now assemble the searchlight from parts 84,84a, 84b, and 84c. Glue the handle - parts 84d, 84e, and then attach the whole piece to the place marked on part 81 g. From the parts 85, 85a, 85b, 85c, 85d, glued together make the commander’s periscope, which is then glued to the turret. Referring to the assembly drawing, localise the position of parts 86, 87,88, and 89. The loader's periscope is madę form parts 90, 90a, 90b, 90c, and 90e. Assemble the base ofthe antenna from parts 91,91 a, 91 b, 91 c and then glue in a piece of wire madę according to template X6. Attach the whole unit to the marked place. Using parts 92, 92a, 92b, 92c, 93, 93a, 93b, 93c make the headlights and then glue them at the base of parts 93d and 93e. The whole unit should then be glued to the turret and connected with a piece of wire madę from part 72 according to template X1.

Make the contour light- parts 94,94a, 94b, 94c, 94d and place them on the bases 94e and 94f. The lighton the base 94e is installed on the turret. Refer to the assembly drawing on how to place the remaining light. Assemble the machinę gun from parts 95, 95a, 95b, 95c, 95d. The barrel is madę up from parts 95g, 95h. Wrap it with a spring as shown in the drawing and cover with the stripes 95e. Refer to the drawing attaching the muzzle 95f. Roli parts 95m to obtain tubes. Now glue parts 95n, 95o and a piece of wire (template 95K). Complete the piece with installing a spring as shown in the drawing. Assemble the machinę gun handle from parts 96,96a. When the parts are assembled, embed them in part 96d and then place the remaining parts 96c, 96e, 96f, 96g, 96h, 96k, 96m, 96n, 96o, 96 as shown in the assembly drawing. Install the machinę gun with its mount on part 80e. Assemble the machinę gun box magazine from parts 95r, 95r1 and glue them at the left of the gun. Locate and glue parts 97, 97a, 98, 99,100 on the turret, as shown in the drawing. NOTĘ: Gluing the camouflage netting, parts S66, S66a, S66b, S66c, S66d, S66e, S66f, S66g, S66h can be used.

Constructing theformer East Germany version ofthe model, assemble the boxfrom parts N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7 and attach itto the handle on the left side ofthe turret.

Finally make the fuel system according to templates X9, X10, X11, and two ropes - template X7. To give the model morę realistic view, the wheels can be fitted with wire rims, madę according to template 47m.

Enjoyyour worki