Got these today
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I got mine around 10 days ago; still undergoing troop-trials but looks like it’ll be very useful for figures which is what I got it, primarily, for.
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These came from Sprue Bros, first order from them:
Really pleased with the packing and shipping time, shipped on Tuesday.
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Well, not exactly the postman, but I picked this up today at the Salisbury show:
Thank you O Modelling Gods, thank you!
60 quid since you ask (that’s pounds sterling - apologies for the vernacular)
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But can you get it done by the MAFVA Nats? 
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Well wanted a Mack Bulldog to carry a 6Ton M1917, seem to have a thing for tank transporters, so anyway couldn’t have one box rattling around in the parcel.
The Gigant will be towing a Sonderanhänger Sd.Ah. 115 with the Pz-38(T) loaded on.
And
A FuSE 62D Wurzburg radar
Found this second hand and have a plan based on a photo in the recent Chally 1 book.
Also second hand and cheap as there are no decals.
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Assuming that’s for me Tom - piece of cake!
Nah, not really, though having had a rummage through it all, it looks quite simple, sans a huge part count. The problems with what is almost an identical weapons system, the M53 have been well identified within such a thread on here; I’m not too sure I’ll tackle much more than the wheels, but we’ll see. When? No idea.
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In fairness Brian, I never said which Nats! Could be 2030… 
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Now that might be achievable; might be .
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Had this book arrive today to add to my personal library.
Vietnam War : The Illustrated History of the Conflict in Southeast Asia
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Pete and I were most impressed at the speed with which you acquired the M55, once we’d persuaded you it was in fact really there! 
There was a second one there which I resisted for now … but it’s just a matter of time.
I’ll look forward to seeing that on the display table, one day!
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Well, I did manage to accidentally haggle, so I thought the price was worth it. I’ve had a brief look. 'Not too sure what reported errors I’ll actually tackle; the rather clunky vinyl mantlet cover might have to go, we’ll see. I don’t see wheels being too much of a problem (to replace). Plus I’m not sure if the driver could drive with his head stuck out - I suspect not having looked at these images:
I do like to populate my models, but this is all in the future for the moment.
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The seat rises to hold the driver in an almost-standing position with his head out, but what I cannot see is any means by which he can steer the vehicle regardless of seat position!
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That’s what I thought; seat can be raised but the instrumentation not. Hmmm. The thing is it all impacts on how I end up displaying it. The ideal would be in a firing position, but given the scarcity of hardly any detail whatsoever (I Love Kit could have done so much better perhaps) then that’s a lot of work, and I mean a lot!
There’s also the problem of crew members; unless one is an actual Gunner/Artilleryman or ex of the species, then identifying who goes where and what they’re doing at any one given moment is a nightmare. Then there’s the ammo. Fuses, what are they kept in? Rounds, how are they stored/stacked - vertically or laid down? the charges, colours, how many, where? What sized groundsheet/tarpaulin does all this stuff lay on? And so on and so forth. Whilst I’m sure the Kitmaker membership would rise to the challenge if asked, that’s an awful, awful lot of work.
Anyway, the only option for me is to have it trundling along - track/road, and therefore finding out what one would see of the Driver is quite important. I suspect, having looked at his seat etc. that he did indeed just peer through his vision blocks. I’m sure we’ll find out in due course
The other option is to just have it parked up in barracks I suppose, perhaps with some figures about to clamber aboard, open it all up? In any event, given the well known paucity of Cold War figures, more sanding and conversion work!
That said, by the time I tackle all this - given my ever-growing list of models - the resin/3D fraternity will doubtless have made available a full interior for the fighting compartment, which will probably cost as much as the kit!
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Looking the wall in front of the seat, are a few mounting plates missing items, that could fit hydraulic steering.
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If y’all knows what a “wobble stick control” is, how it works et.c
then it should be possible to figure out.
Comparing with M47/M48 driving (they shared many components) could also provide som clues.
More info here: 8" SPH M55
“Improvements in the medium tank series were grafted onto the M55 as they appeared; the AV-1790-7B engine and CD-850-4B transmission were introduced, and a steering wheel replaced the wobble stick control.”
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/pics/m47patton/m47patton.html
" The manual control lever (also called a “wobble stick”) served to steer the tank as well as select transmission gear ranges. Four gear ranges (from front to rear: neutral, low, high, and reverse) were available, and shifting to low or high from high or low could be accomplished by simply selecting the desired gear range. Shifting into reverse from low or high required using the finger lift trigger or hand grip handle. When in reverse, the rear of the tank would swing to the right when the lever was pushed to the left, and vice-versa. Pressing the hand grip handle was necessary to shift to or from neutral. (Picture from TM 9-718A 90-mm Gun Tank M47.)"
The M48 tank is here, has photos of the steering wheel …
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/pics/m48patton/m48patton.html#M48STEERINGWHEEL72
The experimentally inclined could do this simple test:
Sit down on a chair.
Pretend to grab that control stick, drivers right hand.
While holding your right hand in that position, slowly stand up. Grabbing an object helps, an umbrella should be readily available in all British homes.
Can you still hold that umbrella while almost standing up?
I’m 6 foot 4 inches and it almost works in a fully standing position. I presume that the head out position is not fully standing up, more like sitting on a bar stool, have to have the feet free to work those pedals …
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Dang! Now i have to go to a bar to test it… 
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I hadn’t thought of the wobble stick - I assumed the M53/55 series would have something more traditional. But now you mention it the stick is hiding in plain sight!
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Usually the perfect hiding spot …
Many of my tools have learned that trick,
Curse them …
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