Wade’s World 
Review
Tamiya T-55A #35257
BTW - See above, we added a new graphics package after an exhaustive E-Bored meeting.
5 Price ~$66 MSRP (wow!) (I paid ~$34 on sale back in the day) If you’re willing to make a deal with Beelzebub, I mean Bezos, to your door in 2 days for ~$43. However, most Wade’s World shopper’s will seek out Black Widow Model’s for a ~$25 to $30 deal on the kit.
Excuse me may I get a spare just in case from Beelzebub Prime, in two days baby!
Two days!
5 Instructions - The instructions convinced me to try this model in 2017 when attempting to get back to the hobby. Clear, concise and excellent.
5 Molding Quality - Perfect
5 Plastic Quality - Perfect
5 Parts Clean Up - Well designed for easy parts clean up
1 Ease of Build - Out of the box an easy 5 but realistically most folks, myself included won’t be happy these days (or even in 2002) OOTB with this kit. That natty mesh screen detracts from any model it’s installed on instead of PE screens in my opinion. It’s OK for dedicated OOTB but otherwise Lame with a capital L.
Ditto the rubber band tracks. Adding aftermarket complicated the build significantly as none of my three aftermarket sets of T-55 tracks aligned well with the Tamiya sprockets. A know issue since ~2002 but unknown by me until 2023. With much tweaking to the sprockets, the Sector35 tracks fit to an acceptable standard.
The model greatly benefits from PE details and minor scratch work adds like fuel lines etc.
There’s a lot of seam work as well, main gun, snorkel tube etc and two fuel drums. I cursed one drum like it was an airplane kit a couple of times.
4 Accuracy - Looks like a T-55A! No references etc and don’t want any. Yet look hard and you’ll see room for improvements on the kit parts like the DShK MG etc.
4 Fit - The model fits together perfectly with kit parts. It doesn’t play nice with aftermarket tracks. I believe a kit with rubber band tracks should have on spec sprockets to make track replacement hassle free.
2 Doesn’t Require Aftermarket - in 2002, the kit is a 3 or 4. Now, however this excellent kit greatly benefits from after tweaks like PE screens, fuel line kit & aftermarket tracks.
2 Details Built Out of the Box - pretty strong (3 or 4) in 2002 but lukewarm (2) today.
This is an extremely good foundation to build on and detail. Time can be spent mostly adding detail and improvements with a minimum amount spent fighting with the kit. New sprockets from Mini-Art wheels set can reduce the hassle of aftermarket tracks.
** 38 points out of 50 **
38/50 => 76%
Recommended for those wanting a great canvas to detail. If one stop shopping, “everything in one box” is what you like this might not be the kit for you.
My old phone that died, had the bare plastic before painting pictures on it.
Very pleased with the Tamiya T-55A kit as it built into one of my favorites! Tamiya made a T-55A fan out of me. I’ll snatch another for $25 on a vendor table soon…
Cheers 