1:35 Soviet T-54A

The real subject

The T-54 is a Soviet medium tank of postwar design with a cast turret and a sloped glacis on the hull, which became one of the most widespread tanks of its time and served in armies all over the world. The T-54A version is among the early upgrades of the type. It is precisely on equipment of this generation that the sheet-metal elements stand out, that is, the fenders, covers, grilles over the engine and the tie-down loops, which the crew and the model take hold of most of all.

What photo-etch can do on a model

A plastic fender has, even in the best kit, a thickness that in reality no one could lift. Photo-etched metal replaces it with sheet of a scale thickness, so the edge stays thin and a bent corner looks like a bent corner rather than a ripple in plastic. The grilles come out the same way, which on photo-etch really are open, along with the small brackets and clips. The extent of the particular set is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

How photo-etch is worked

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface and sand down the remains of the tabs. Make longer bends, typically on the fenders and the covers, over a straight edge or in a bending tool, otherwise the bend will be rounded. The metal is glued with cyanoacrylate or two-part glue; glue for polystyrene does not hold on it. On damaged fenders it comes in useful that the metal holds its shape even after being folded, so a dent can be suggested convincingly. Degrease the parts before painting and go over them with a primer.

Who it is for

For modelers who watch the thickness of sheet metal on equipment and want to take a model beyond the level of the box. The kit, paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.