Is there a large visual difference btwn a standard T-72 and a T-80? I tried google and all that and just couldn't get a definitive picture. Now I'm talking about a major difference like btwn a T-34/76 and a T-34/85. I'm trying to do a general Soviet Armor collection of major types as in the 2 T-34's mentioned, a T-55, a T-62....etc I have a Tamiya T-72, now if there are a few sublte differences btwn it and a T-80 I don't want it If it is major like the difference btwn a Henschel and a Porsche turret on a King Tiger then I'll look to pick one up. If that is the case, what is a good kit?

I don't think there is a huge difference off the top of my head. However you could check JED-site or maybe Prime portal to see if you could find some better pictures or a tank recogintion site or poster. Even try images instead of just vehicle description when googling or try images and BING for a search engine. Normally BING has alot more images. Last but not least if this does not answer your question, I know an expert I can probally ask. So if no luck otherwise, P.M. me and I will check it out. Good luck - Bobby

Huge differences...one cannot really be mistaked for another the same way a German Leopard II and a US Abrams are the same and different.


T-72 (DML kit)


T-80UD (SKIF kit with SP Designs conversion)

Completely different hulls, suspension systems, engine decks. Turret layout is similar but not identical. Best T-72 out of the box in 1/35th is Tamiya, though the turret is a bit too round (the frontal armor alongside the mantlet needs to be reshaped a bit). It's a good basis for many T-72 variants. The Revell/Zvezda/Dragon T-72 kits are based on fuzzy Cold War era photos, and are a mass of errors (the Trumpeter/Wasan/Minihobby kits are poor copies with electric motors thrown in). Ditto their T-80 kits.
The Skif T-80 kits are not exactly good, but they are more accurate than the Revell/Zvezda/Dragon items. If money is no object, there are substantial resin upgrade kits available.

Thanks a lot for the info

Jacques really appreciate the photo's which enabled me to pick out the major differences. So I'll add one of these to my wish list.