IDF Tiran 5 Conversion Review by Steve Palffy (Trakz 1/35)

IDF Tiran 5 Conversion
T-67 Conversion for Tamiya T-55

Trakz
(A Division of the VLS Corporation)

S u m m a r y
Catalogue No. and Description	Item TX 0081 - IDF Tiran 5 Conversion
Price:	USD$49.95 from VLS website
Contents and Media:	Around 45 parts in pale yellow resin
Scale:	1/35
Review Type:	FirstBuild
Advantages:	Saves a lot of work; beautifully cast; comprehensive content; simple construction; excellent surface detail (cast texture etc); for the terrific Tamiya kit.
Disadvantages:	Some fairly stout casting attachments; gun barrel had to be replaced; no markings supplied
Recommendation:	Recommended.

Reviewed by Steve Palffy

FirstBuild

Click here to see Brett Green's in-box review of Trakz's 1/35 scale Tiran 5 conversion.

There is not a lot of reference material available on this tank, but apparently 200 Tirans were still in service in 2002.

My Tiran will depict a vehicle on border patrol duties on the late 1970s, finished in Sand Kakhi. vehicles from the 1980s onward were painted Khaki Drab / Green.

This conversion represents great subject matter to enhance the already spectacular Tamiya T-55, as it is an interesting mix of Soviet and Western military technology.

I will be using after-market tracks for this project, and considered the Fruil Mode, Model Kasten and the Trumpeter (Armor Track Models) offerings. I decided on the Kasten tracks, as Fruil's metal links were quite thick and the Trumpeter plastic has ejection pin marks on each link. The kit tracks are also good, but I wanted to depict a lot of sag/stretch.

Considering these vehicles were assembled from captured and destroyed vehicles, I also damaged the road wheels and put a few dings in the fenders. 30 cal machine guns were also fitted to these vehicles. The mortar was added after 1973.

I also chose late 1970s for the crew's uniforms . These uniforms were a mix of Israeli gear, American helmets and some other US items.

If you must have a Tiran 5, this Trakz / Tamiya combination is definitely the way to go. It kicks the butt of the Trumpeter Tiran Ti-67 as well!

Although I still think that an aluminium gun barrel, decals, damaged wheels and link tracks would help, it is a very worthwhile and comprehensive resin conversion.

I hope to have the vehicle painted soon, with the addition of a few extras, figures and placed in a diorama setting.

Recommended

Thanks to VLS for the review samples

These and other VLS products may be viewed at the VLS Website

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