Two prominent features are poorly done oversimplifications. The glacis weld is not like any that I have examined on a T-55.  It is much too narrow and does not have the multi-layered and ground-down look of the real McCoy.  It should be shaved off and replaced with textured strip styrene.  The fuel tanks on the right fender are very nice and well detailed, but marred by big lumps of plastic intended to represent the tie down clamps that fasten them to the fenders.  The two rear tanks are joined at the "hip" with these lumps.  They do make for a quick and painless build as it is impossible to install these tanks in the wrong place, but they are not realistic at all and must painstakingly carved off.  It took me an hour to do this, and I am a very experienced  styrene hacker!  Those who are not will not be pleased to have to go through this procedure.  Replacements must then be scratchbuilt or added from the old On The Mark set or one of the new sure to be coming sets from Eduard or Part.  The real clamps attach to the fender braces between the fuel tanks and tighten down on brackets welded to the tanks, clamping them tightly to the right fender.  Many reference photos show this quite clearly.

 

The engine deck is a mix of T-55 and T-54 features.  In fact, if one were to replace the engine/fuel pump/air filter access hatch panel (the one with two hatches just behind the turret) with an appropriate T-54 version, one would have a T-54 engine deck.  With the inclusion of a turret vent dome in the box as well, we would have a very accurate T-54A!

The missing T-55 items on the deck are:

 

1. No intermediate gear vent on the right deck beside filler hatch.  This must be cut out and be built up with strip and screen.  It is not as easy as it sounds and it took me some time before I got it right.  A nice photo-etched part would be perfect here.
2. The armoured cover and grille over the main fan at the right rear should be slightly convex just left of centre.  As is, it represents the T-54 type.

3. The access doors with their corresponding sealing strips are well done, but the sealing mount strip around the radiator and rear grills is missing.  There is not much room to add it either, as it must go between the radiator and the hinges in front of it. There is just not enough space here, so good luck adding it!  This is a prominent T-55 feature,and will be on Chinese Type 69-II as well.

 

Other faults include :

4. Lack of larger wheel hubs on front wheels.  T-55s had larger front wheel bearings and a larger hub to match.  I made mine from a Trumpeter T54 idler hub, which is just the right size but has only 5 bolts, not the requisite 6.  This is not a well known feature but is shown in MILITARY MODELLING VOL 29 #15 JAN 2000.

5. Most T-55's had only 3 turret lift hooks, not 4 as on T-54's.  Just fill in the holes on turret rear and put one hook in the centre to duplicate this.            

6. The T-55 was built with enhanced NBC protection.  The vent on the T-54 roof was replaced with a fan under the turret rear and a vent on the lower right side of the turret inline with the front lift lug.  The kit gives no hint of either feature.  The fan would not be seen and  its absence forgivable, but not the vent as this is very visible.

7.  While the aperture for the coaxial machine gun is beautifully done, the machine gun itself, which should protrude prominently out of the aperture, is missing.

8. This final point is what annoyed me most about this kit and may not be a fair criticism.  The kit is marketed as a T-55A with DshK mount and MG, which are very nice indeed.  They also include an early flush loader's hatch with enhanced shielding and armour.  They also included an early drivers hatch of the T-54 type, with a separate piece of cladding to add to a later version.  But if Tamiya had included just one more part, JUST ONE, the large early flush type loader's hatch, an early T-55 could have been built!  The early T-55 is the definitive one in my mind and very distinctive.  The box art even suggests this early hatch, from the deceptive worm's-eye view.  This was the version I was determined to construct, so I built one from a combination of ESCI and TRUMPETER parts,Tamiya putty,strip,spit,sweat and a little blood!

 

Overall,this is a fine kit and I am grateful!  It is light-years ahead of any other kit ever made, or likely to be made.  I don't know what other variants Tamiya has in store, but from what I see in this box we will have a T-54 for sure, and maybe an early 1958 T-55. I also see a Tiran variant as well, since just about all other T-55 kit families have seen this Israeli upgraded type boxed. 

 

This is one of Tamiya's finest to date; I have purchased four to this date and will get more as time goes on.  Most faults are minor and require only minor surgery.  There is also the lack of many fine fittings ,brackets, etc., but all kits lack these.   Etched sets will soon be available for this model and they will, hopefully, address those shortcomings.  Part of me is glad the kit has some faults, as I do enjoy the challenge involved in correcting little details.  But I will build one out of the box just for the sheer joy of it.