Hooben T-55A

[Kurtz]

UPS just dropped it off... What troubles am I in for?

The plan is to build it out and finish with HL 6.1 electronics..



Tamiya Flakpanzer Gepard
Torro M4A3 (76) Sherman
HL M4A3 Sherman
Torro Late Tiger 1
Torro Panther G
HL Jagdpanther
HL Early Tiger 1
Hooben T-55A
HL King Tiger
HL Panzer III
HL T-34/85
HL Stug III

[Rubicon99]

UPS just dropped it off... What troubles am I in for?

The plan is to build it out and finish with HL 6.1 electronics..



Tamiya Flakpanzer Gepard
Torro M4A3 (76) Sherman
HL M4A3 Sherman
Torro Late Tiger 1
Torro Panther G
HL Jagdpanther
HL Early Tiger 1
Hooben T-55A
HL King Tiger HL
Panzer III
HL T-34/85
HL Stug III

It is actually not a bad tank. By far Hoobens best offering. With a 6.1 it will be a good handling tank.

[Sureshot]

A friend of mine has one of those and it looks like a good kit. The HL 6.1 system is a good economical choice for it. They were used all over the world so lots of choices for color schemes and countries.
Just out of curiosity did you buy it directly from Hooben and if so how long for shipping?
Steve

[RichJohnson]

I’m told the plastic is very tough to glue, plastic solvents don’t seem to melt the parts together like a usual plastic kit, Try plastruct abs cement, or gulp, the old testers thick glue in the orange tube. MEK might work if it’s available in your state.
good luck and please post a build progress of it.

[Kurtz]

A friend of mine has one of those and it looks like a good kit. The HL 6.1 system is a good economical choice for it. They were used all over the world so lots of choices for color schemes and countries.
Just out of curiosity did you buy it directly from Hooben and if so how long for shipping?
Steve

bought it off Amazon.. had never seen one offered there, just popped up one day in my searches.. paid around $300.. arrived in four or five days...

[Kurtz]

I’m told the plastic is very tough to glue, plastic solvents don’t seem to melt the parts together like a usual plastic kit, Try plastruct abs cement, or gulp, the old testers thick glue in the orange tube. MEK might work if it’s available in your state.
good luck and please post a build progress of it.

I happen to have all three.. a couple bottles of plastruct cement.. a tube of the ole faithful testors... and a can of mek..

Thanks for the heads-up on the plastic..

As I get into it this weekend I'll post pics..

[Timbo68]

I have the T-55 with the HL 6.1. It took some work to build (there's advice online) but is a great tank when finished. The barrel recoil was probably the most difficult part. With smoker and barrel smoke the hull is pretty full, and I use a small 2S lipo. It's definitely worth the effort. The comments about glue are correct - polystyrene solvent cement definitely does not work.

[Sureshot]

Do you think medium CA would work on the Hooben plastic?

Steve

[Rubicon99]

Do you think medium CA would work on the Hooben plastic?

Steve

Yes. I use CA almost exclusively on model tank plastics and have for a very long time.

[Barmonkey]

I picked up an older version a while back that has the Tamiya style recoil and elevation rather than the servos. Looks like it should be fairly easy to put together despite having a lot of parts. I have not had the time to start it yet.

Are you going to do a build log?

[Kurtz]

Are you going to do a build log?

I had planned on starting a build thread last weekend... unfortunately, Covid had other ideas. (positive test on Saturday)
as soon as I get past the fatigue I'll do a 'box opening' of sorts with plenty of pics.

I was able to locate a set of metal tracks and they were delivered today...

[Sureshot]

Get well soon!
I bought my friends T55 kit a couple days ago but won't be building it for a while after other projects. Can't wait to see your build.
Where do you find metal tracks?

Steve

[Kurtz]

Where do you find metal tracks?

Steve

From what I read the company that was making them quit..

I found them three places: the Hooben website, another site in Germany, and the Hooben store on Amazon..

The Amazon option seemed the easiest and was a few dollars less than the other two.. took around ten days to receive..