This might be an dumb/obvious question but are all T-72 & T-90 variants gun barrels the same length? Reason I ask is that I got an Eduard barrel today and its considerably shorter in length than the RB models barrel.

I think lengths are not the same, I've found this info in another forum:

"Russian tanks have been upgraded with the 2A46M-1, and quite a few have the M-2 and M-4 (T-80UM1, UM2). But basically, it should follow this pattern. T-64A/B-----2A46 (48 Calibres). Later models have 2A46M T-72A/M-----2A46 (48/52 Calibres). The 52 Calibre 2A46 entered widespread service in Soviet times, and by the 1980s nearly all tanks were being built with the 52 cal. T-72B---2A46/2A46M (52 Calibres) T-72BM---2A46M-1 (52 Calibres). Many also have 2A46M-2 (51 Calibres) T-72BU (a.k.a T-90)---2A46M-2 (51 Calibres) T-80B/BV/U---2A46M-1 (52 Calibres) T-80UM/UM-1/UM-2---2A46M-4 (c.55 Calibres). Understand that the 48 calibre 2A46 is nowhere near as numerous as the 52 calibre 2A46 or 2A46M, and the only tanks (to my knowledge) that would have mounted the shorter gun would have been the original T-64 and the early model T-72s. But even these tanks had those guns replaced by their longer siblings. Nowadays, Russian tanks can mount a variety of 2A46M guns, so one T-80U may have a 2A46M-1 whereas another will have the 2A46M-2"

I used to had bookmarked a page with pics, but I lost it due to a hardware problem. Consider that a T-72 barrel has more brackets in the thermal sleeve than a T-80U/T-90 so you can't simply use a T-72 barrel on a T-90 (without proper pics to prove it). Hope this helps. Best regards.

José.

*EDIT* No additional info, but a few pics to see some of the differences between barrel "looks":

Clicky

The rumor is that Eduard screwed up by taking measurements from a museum tank that had the barrel in full recoil.

I would go with the Eduard barrel on a kit not for competition and use RB barrels for the future.

Jacques, everyone,

The Eduard barrel is meant to be the same length as the Tamiya placky original which it is designed to replace, so that would mean that Tamiya messed up and Eduard just copied them without checking the real thing. See this Missing Lynx review
http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/modern/ed34002.htm
There's also this page from Vasiliy Fofanov http://fofanov.armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/ARM/2a46.html which gives the same gun and barrel length for all 2A46 variants. Help - can anyone provide a definitive answer, before I junk various barrels?

Andy

Hi

I also was searching about this matter, what I found is that the early T-72's and Poland, Yugoslav,Czech and Indian manufactured tanks has the 2A46 L/48 gun that eduard suppose to reproduce, it was a bit shorter and less quality production run (here the origin of the myth that soviet barrels have short life capacity) the soviets change to L/52 2A46M family on early eighties and all tanks receive it at manufacturing or reconstruction (except export tanks) thats seems to be the RB,MINIARM barrels with some small diferences between them. So in sintesis

with eduard/armo barrels (before recosntruction on 80's)
T-64A
T-64B early production
T-72 URAL
EARLY T-72A
T-72M
T-72M1

with RB/MINIART barrels
T-72A late
T-72B/B1
T-80B
T-80U/UD
T-72BM/90
and all others after reconstruction

hope this help

Also I have to check a new soviet era manual of T-72 that I recently got to confirm this from the source

regards

Hi
I took measurements on a finish T72M1 some years ago, i found the JS Model's barrel to be perfect in lengh (and every parts match perfectly).
Measurements from real T72 =130mm in 1/35.
The Miniarm's barrel (129mm from memory) is very close from the JS one, diameter is a bit bigger and since i didn't measured it i don't know which one is correct).
I don't have the RB barrel but it looks a few minimeters too short and like Miniarm's a bit "fat".
The Eduard one like Tamiya's is 6 mm too short, and MP models ones looks good.

Stephane

Barrel from Eduard is far from a reality... it is very conditional detail.

[quote]
it was a bit shorter and less quality production
[quote]

The information is not true, all barrels 2A46M, M1-2 have identical length

I have the new T-64/ T-72 barrel from Accurate Armour.
It's 131mm long, and the muzzle is 5mm across.

Correct length behind a turret 130.3mm,scale 1/35
We have the factory drawing.

Igor, thanks, you confirmed my measurements!
It seems that your're in Miniarm staff so please notice that it could be interresting if you sell your barrel separetly.
The NSVT machine gun which is in T90 conversion could be interresting too for those who's building a T80

Stephane
ps: check twice your conversions box because i'm lacking the resin part of one of my Miniarm's barrel and don't know how i'll scratchbuild it.

Stephane
ps: check twice your conversions box because i'm lacking the resin part of one of my Miniarm's barrel and don't know how i'll scratchbuild it.[/quote]

Please inform me address for delivery and I will send you missing parts

Many thanks Igor
normally you have a MP from me.

Stephane

Oh well, at least my Eduard barrels didn't cost much!

Thanks to everyone, especially Miniarm, for the info

I just got the Miniarm T-72BV turret the other day, and it had the RB Barrel in it, my other Miniarm conversions (T-90 M2004 and T-72BM) They came with Miniarm's produced barrel

Um, is that going to be ok?

Next year turrets will be completed with new exact barrels 2A46 and 2A46M

2A46

Stupid question time, which kit specificially is this conversion made for?

2A46M for turret T-90
2A46 for turret T-64,72

www.miniarm.com

Bravo Igor!!

Thank You !

Looks really good Igor! Im pleased to hear that it will be included in all conversions from nest year.

Any chance on miniarm producing a T-72BM 'Rogatka'??

T-72 Rogatka will be next year
I have received drawings and we since January over it will work
It is now prepared for work following materials and even some details for
TOZ-1M, Tiger ,BMD-3/4 ,T-72 "Rogatka" ,turret T-90CA ,Kamaz ,Panzer-1C,
ZiL-131 ,BREM-1M ,T-80U,UM,UK , T-84...