HG3302 review
T-55A, Polish Army w/A.A. machine gun "3369"
This review is based on a pre-production model and might differ slightly fromthe retail version with the retail version being the better of the two.
I’m not going to get into anything technical about this model or any model for that matter. I’m looking for something that is visually appealing, a good paint and markings application and parts that fit well. Just the general things most average collectors will look for and appreciate. I’ll leave any technical points of view up to others. Since this is a pre-production model I received it in a plain white box so I cannot comment on the packaging or the graphics.
The model comes in the standard Hobby Master clear hard plastic covered display case. The information for the tank is embossed in silver lettering on the front left corner of the black plastic base. Two small screws hold the tank on the base and are removed from the underside of the base. The tank sits high enough that the tracks don’t touch the base because over time the tracks would begin to deteriorate if they sat directly on the plastic base.
The chassis is one that was produced between the times Hobby Master decided to make the chassis’s from plastic instead of metal and when they will revert to metal beginning in 2008. The chassis is well shaped and has the wheels attached. The wheels are plastic but the tracks are soft rubber. The chassis and suspension are all molded as one and the wheels are attached later. They are fixed in place with the track glued to the wheels to give it the track droop look. I think the entire set up of wheels; tracks, suspension and chassis really come together to make a very good-looking lower half.
The deck is made from plastic but this seems to be an industry standard so they can achieve the great detail we want. Hatches, stowage boxes and grills all look authentic. There are 2 flexible tow cable attached to the shackles, one to the front and one to the rear. They provided the 2 X 200 liter external fuel tanks and an unditching beam is fastened across the rear.
The turret and gun are metal and the gun is bored, not just a black dot of paint. The turret turns but the gun doesn’t elevate because Hobby Master added what would be the rubberized canvas mantlet using colored plastic to simulate the look. They achieved this quite nicely. All the lights and correct shaped hatches are in place as well as the handholds around the outside of the turret. Where the handholds join the turret Hobby Master has made the attachment much finer than the previous T55A. A machine gun is present on top of the turret.
This makes a very attractive piece of military history sitting in anyone’s collection.
All opinions expressed in this review and on the Hobby Master Collector website are those of the site owner and do not necessarily reflect those of Hobby Master Limited. My HMC site is a personal collection of models and opinions and is solely financed by me with no outside funds going to finance it. This is why you won’t find any paid advertising spam or pop-ups.