xilef

Syrian Warrior, 

Deir Ez Zor, 2017 

This diorama is inspired by a TV report broadcasted  by Russia Today showing  the takeover of the western part (west of the Euphrates) of the city of Deir Ez Zor by the Syrian army in 2017. A part art of the city, mainly the central districts and the airport remained for year Under government control,  surrounded by  Islamic state fighters. 150,000 inhabitants of the city and military personnels were under siege and could only be resupplied (fuel, food, etc.) by air. Taking advantage of the advance of the Arab-Kurdish coalition east of the Euphrates, the Syrian army managed to reach the pocket and push back the troops of the Islamic state.

The tank showed in RT broadcast, looks to be a  T55  AM or an M, ( or a mix) equipped with a KMT 5 M demining device. It is supposed to be the first to have made the junction with the Syrian forces besieged in  the city, entering the base of the 137th Mechanized Brigade .

Revell  T-55 

The Revell Kit, a T-55 A, will have to be modified to match the model that will be represented, a T-55 AM. The changes presented below are on the one hand intended to transform this model A into an AM model, but also to improve the Revell kit which suffers from some defects, or simplifications. the few modifications made to the Revell model, reflects more a concern to stick to the photo and "over-detailing" than a criticism of the original model. This being said, the Revell model is not perfect ! First of all, it is a rather late T55 model, equipped with sprockets to support the T72 type tracks that appear on the late T55. Retro-dating this T55 would therefore require, in addition to numerous modifications, the purchase of sprockets and tracks specific to the T55. Secondly, the model Revel wanted to reproducel (most likely like their T 72) is a tank used in the past by the East German army, probably manufactured under licence in a Warsaw Pact country, with equipment that is not (or not identically) found in Soviet production models. 

  • The front fenders were removed, which meant that the front plate had to be re-done 
  • the non-moving part of the fenders were rebuilt in aluminum foil. 
  •  The upper part of the front hull received a usual treatment: change of the lights (those of Revel are not usable) making of the protection of the lights in copper wire, 
  • wave breaker redone and the cable sheaths redone. About the wave breaker, the one of  source picture was made of metal, so rather thin, so I used a E.P piece from a Part set. For those who would be tempted by another T 55, very often this wave breaker is in two parts, including a wooden part therefore thicker to be made with plastic card rather than EP. 

 

  •  The big job on the front  was the  devices allowing to set up the KMT-5 on the lower and upper part of the front hull, the whole being redone in plastic card.
  • The KMT-5 mine roller  is taken from the Trumpeter T-55 Kit and was improved 
  •  The mudguards have been detailed (fuel supply pipe etc...) brought to T55 AM standard and some elements have been moved or added to match the layout seen on the source tank, which is somewhat "customized", if I dare say so.
  •  The rear of the drive axle has been completely redone, as it is quite fanciful on the Revell kit.



  •  Anchoring  plot of the box (missing) on the left side.
  •  Smoke pot launcher Added on the Right side 
  •  Search light support, search light, and linking system redone because too thick and not conform in the kit
  • Luna Search light detailled 
  •  Gun replaced by a longer tube and equipped with the thermal protection system.
  •  Welding of the reproduced "turret roof".
  •  KTD 2 (range finder) sighting system added to the barrel
  • Handles on the flanks: they are of an unusual design probably localy done. 
  • Protection of the  guner sight added 


  • Snorkel River : often placed at the Hull rear on T55 manufactured under licence, and on the turret left side on models manufactured in the USSR, as it is the case of the source vehicle. 
  •  Trace of inking plot of a box on the left side.
  •  DSHK (transport mode) fixing device rebuilt because too thick and badly oriented in the kit
  •  Replacement of the convoy light at the rear of the turret (too basic on the kit).
  •  the hatch on the right of the turret is of a particular model (semi-spherical and non-spherical, production modification quite rare) + Doushka anchor point
  •  Welding of the reproduced "turret roof".
  •  KTD 2 (range finder) sighting system added to the barrel
  •  Plus a series of small, indispensable details.