Greetings Everyone,
This is about a project which I have been delaying for years. T72 is one of my favorite tanks. I built T72 Tamiya kit OOB which was my first model. After posting those pics in forums (this was in 2006 I think), all sort of comments came out on its accuracy and the turret being wrong etc.

Since that time I have been delaying building a T72, because I had no clue how to build one which is fairly accurate. After reading through countless threads and discussions, I am still not clear whether I will be able to deal with the accuracy issues. So here goes the questions…

The following is the image of the tank I want to build and also the items I have collected.


Item 3, Fruel track pack ATL 01 says T54 /T55 / T62. But I understand It is the same for T72 as well. Am I correct?
Because of the confusion, I also bought Trumpeter T72 workable tracks. How good is that?

Item 4, The blast models resin update set is fairly complete and also has good barrel. Is that enough or should I look for metal one?

This is the first time I will be using resin kits. How does it differ from plastic clean up / sanding / glue / paint etc. Should I need to use regular super glue exclusively? Or any special types available? Should I wash (I don’t wash plastic parts) before priming? Can I use regular Tamiya grey primer or should I buy something different?

I want to use a desert camo with desert yellow mostly. Apart from those Iraqi ones, Any reference pics would be a great help.

The following is a picture of an Indian T72 modified with ERA? I saw multiple update sets with Mini Arm site with just the ERA bricks and the front glazis plate in resin. If I want to build the tank shown below, which set I should go for? This will be my next build so Please let me know what other update kits / base kit I should get.



Sorry for all these questions. I am not a rivet counter and never bothered about accuracy and always have fun building mostly OOB.
This T72 will be an exception so need all the help and support from you folks.

This will be a very slow build and probably posting a build log. Please feel free to post your T72 builds/ completed model pics here. Guide me with this build and correct me if something is not right…

Have a Great Day
Mukund

I don't know much about the accuracy problems on the Tamiya M1 but I can say the Fruil tracks you have are wrong, T-72's had their own style of track. The Trump tracks you got will be fine. Also, the Indian tank is a T-90. Sorry I can't give you more info, hopefully the more knowledgeable guys can chime in.


Erik

No, unfortunately it isn't. T-72 have a different type of tracks



Later exemplars of t-55/62 were retrofitted with T-72 track links...but unfortunately you've bought the early ones



Anyway, they're good indeed....you could use them for another project

Trumpeter track links are, of course, correct for a T-72, but I can't say if they fit with the Tamiya kit

Tamiya kit is good but has some flaws on the fender ( a wrong position of the stovwage hinges) Some guys say that turret shape is quite wrong. Anyway Tamiya kit actually depicts a quite rare Easstern German version. There are some details to modify.

I think this thread could help you

https://archive.kitmaker.net/forums/165274

cheers

PS early T-90 can be considered as an early T-72 version...but later T-90 exemplars are very different from it. Actually your pic depicts an Indian T-90-S

For your T-72M1, you have all you really need with the items you have shown. The Tamiya track is not all the bad to work with either, if you want to go that route.

For the Indian tank, it is indeed a T-90C export version of the Russian tank. There are a number of differences from what you would get in the Zvezda boxing, such as the Shtora emitters, and I do not think there are any conversions for the Indian version available right now, so it would involve scratchbuilding.

Hi Eric, Thanks for the reply. Will probably use the trumpeter tracks. Thanks again.

Thanks Mauro for the pics and I have a T-55 almost in the same state waiting to be built. so problem solved.

As for the Indian T90s I think will wait till I could collect more information on the availability of upgrade sets. The other picture looks great. Thanks for posting.

Hi Jacques, Thanks for the info. and answering the next logical question about the Zvezda offering
I will post some request for pics of this tank in the Indian defense forum. Will keep you in the loop if I get anything. I dont trust my scratch building skills yet so this have to wait till some one comes out with update sets

And the request for possible desert camo reference pictures still holds...
Have a Great Day
Mukund

Hello Mukund,

I am delighted that someone has decided to build a T-72M1 in an exotic desert camouflage. I would suggest to you the Libyan T-72M1 version. They have/had some kind of a snake camo.
Take a look here: http://armour.ws/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/T-72M1_.jpg

Now some words about the aftermarket stuff. The resin conversion from BLAST MODELS is simply too expensive, inaccurate in shape and not worth the money. I owned it for 2 days and sold it very fast. My favourite tank is the T-72, and I can claim that MINIARM did the best T-72M1 turret conversion available. In this set you already get the RB-Models aluminium gun barrel.

Libyan T-72

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xss8YAX1wE/TYKCQUYjUKI/AAAAAAAAANQ/10mIPw4DXfY/s1600/t72battlegroup.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-119.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-118.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-811.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-931.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-921.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-941.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lau-115.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/maut-691.jpg

http://www.browzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/110228_zawiya-tank.grid-10x2.jpg

http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x5748703/A_T-72_tank_destroyed_by_NATO_forces_just_outside_ACH100273M.jpg

http://www2.journalnow.com/mgmedia/image/0/0/135947/td0327libya1/

Siryan T-72

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/sss-072523.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/7615910878.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/syrtsd2.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/syrtt-021.jpg

http://milinme.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/syrtt-022.jpg

To find lots of interesting photos about the Middle Eastern armours, look here

https://milinme.wordpress.com/

For the Iraqi T-72 look here

http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/siba219/album/117947/
(below the pic on the right, you can choose and download a high res file )


Here many other pics

http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/siba219/album/118405/
(as before, look below the pic on the right)

http://army.lv/ru/t-72/foto/631/17#info

Drawings

http://army.lv/ru/t-72/risunki/631/17#info

http://army.lv/ru/t-72/shemi/631/17#info

A book in PDF format

http://www.army.lv/files/86.pdf

I hope this can help you

cheers

Oh really? Could you tell it more precisely please 'cause i have the conversion and wanted to use it to convert the Tamiya kit into a finnish T-72 .

Hi Leopard-2,

have sent you a private mail. Please check it.

Hi Bernd, So why cant you also start the build lets build and learn together

Hi Nenad, The camo sure looks interesting. I got what you are saying about Blast model. But I already have the set with me which I bought more than 4 years back. I looked through the miniarm offerings as well and I am very much interested in the ERA bricks and the Hull front resin sets. I will be getting these to represent the Indian version of T72 M1 which is known as Ajaya (Sanskrit word means Invincible). Thanks for the reply.

Hi Mauro, That is a great post and a wealth of information. The pdf is great. Thanks a lot for sharing these awesome pictures. The Libyan camo looks cool. I also found some pics of T72 to represent Indian Ajaya tank. As you mentioned this may require significant scratch building even If I have the Miniarm ERA brick set I think. Thanks again for your time and effort for helping me out. Appreciate it very much
Have a Great Day
Mukund

You're welcome Mukund

Here some interesting links about the T-90 C

http://otvaga2004.ru/tanki/tanki-fotogalereya/modernizirovannyj-tank-t-90s-na-vystavke-vooruzhenij-rea-2011-v-nizhnem-tagile-fotodetalizaciya/

http://otvaga2004.ru/tanki/tanki-fotogalereya/t-90s-bishma/

Hello Mukund,

I decided simultaneously to build a T-72, but it will be a T-72M variant. However, I wish you luck and success in building.

Hi, May i have this info too?? or would you post it here??

Regards
Kimmo

No problem. I will post it. But this is my opinion and point of view:

"As I said I had bought the kit, unfortunately for a lot of money on Ebay. So when I opened the package, many resin parts came out, but I was disappointed with the shape of the turret. The sides are to front too sharp and angular. The transverse weld seam on the turret is misrepresented. It is more like an additional layer of steel, as a decent weld. The right short wiring harness near the IR searchlight is a bit misshape. Whether the whole 45, - € value is I like to be doubted. The T-72M1 turret of Miniarm is unbeatable and there´s no further alternative for it. By the way the RB-Model gun barrel is already included in the set."
I have this MINIARM set at home and during the time I owned the Blast Models conversion, and after comparing both of them I did not doubt to sell it immediately. I was glad to get rid of it.

Hi Nenad,

thank you for your time to let us know your opinion.

I will see the kit again =) i do have old JS-models turret, i will compare them.

Regards
Kimmo

Hi Sturmi, look at you inbox. I just sent you a message.

Hi Leopard-2

Just send you an message.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the info shared regarding the turret options..

I was searching for interesting options to build and came across Walter's excellent T72 M1 with KMT-6 Mine Plough. He has built the UN version of that Indian tank. I was blown away by the finish he managed to achieve.



Check out the build..

If I want to build the same without the KMT-6, to depict the following tank, Can I use the Tamiya hull without any major surgery?



I have ordered the wheel set (6 spokes) to replace the Tamiya road wheels. I think I have covered everything. Please let me know If there are anything that I am missing.

Thanks in advance. Cheers
Mukund

Yes, you can. Good luck !

There was a build here about a year and half ago on the same vehicle (more or less)
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/165274

Greeting Everyone,

This was my first figure painted. Never done any figures before in my life. Used oils. I was planning to sit him with my KV1. My son walked in when I was taking photos. He was commenting that the vehicle looks beat-up alright, But the commander looks he just walked out of a fashion shoot. Should we weather humans? Sounds weird...


I have started my T72. It will be an UN vehicle posted above. The picture of that vehicle is very rare. Managed to get just 3 in total. Nothing close-up. So some guess work will be there.

I started with the Turret. Washed with warm water and mild soap. This is my first Resin update set. Some of the parts so fidly and I am sure I may break at least a few.


Filled some drill holes...The search for non-shrinking putty continues...


Some hand grips broke while cleaning. Blast have provided spares. Fixed 3 broken ones.


Found a new way to fix the turret with hull. Earlier method of building with plastic was not satisfactory. This way I can provide some adjustments and holds good.



Some work on Hull. Made a mistake of fixing the Tamiya log holder and removed / filled the holes.


For the first time I am making provision for base / diorama fixing. Made 2 holes where the base bolt can be fixed. Should I glue the Nut inside the Hull now itself? Not sure..


Some work on the Hull Top. Filling holes again. Any more filling? Need to check..


With all the talk of Blast Turret being expensive and all... I am still amazed at the amount of details they have provided. But still I feel my weightless wallet....
Cleaned up the Barrel. Looking for flaws, Seams to fix...


My tracks, Road wheels are all in transit. So this is going to be a slow build..
Comments and corrections welcome. Thanks in advance.

Have a Great Day
Mukund

Hi Vincent, Thanks for the reply. I have checked on Walters Build. My initial intention was to build with a mine-plough. But all my attempts to source the SKIF set have failed. So decided to build the other Indian UN T72 with-out KMT-6. Thanks again for the reply.
Have a Great Day
Mukund

Hi Mukund,
great to see you´ve already started the t72. I really enjoyed building mine and got excellent help from some of the forum members.

The Blast Turret is a nice but tricky kit. Be patient when glueing the smoke discharger in place. I had some troubles to identify them all right.

I´ve sent you some pictures of the white un-tank via email.
Have fun with this nice project and keep us updated ;-)

cheers
Walter

Just get some epoxy like Milliput or Magic Sculp.