My understanding is that the T72M1 was the export version of the T72A and most of the differences were in internal details. But were there external differences between the vehicles that would be noticeable on a model kit? If so what are the most apparent ones? Thanks.

Hi;

The T-72 goes back even further than the T-72A; The most feature is the Smoke grenade tubes on the Turret face.
Very early T-72s had the luna search lite on the other side of the turret. Rebuilds had added armor plate on the glassis front. Turret's were at times very hard to ident; as the were being upgraded so fast.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Thanks, what about the T-72M1 though?

For what i know about my research, and translated from russian:
« The T-72M (1980) is an export version of the T-72A tank. It featured the armored structure of the tower, ammunition and a collective protection system.
The T-72M1 (1982) is a modernization of the T-72M tank. It featured an additional 16 mm armorsheet on the upper frontal part of the hull and a combined armored tower with sand rods as a filler. »

I would say the early T-72A and the T-72M1 are externaly identical. But only the early T-72A with two boxes and the visible additional armor welded on the upper front of the hull.
So the T-72A (1979) from Trumpeter is basicly a T-72M1 as well at least I think so.

Easiest ID is that on the T-72M1 there was an welded additional armor plate on the hull front, with rectangular cutouts for the towing hooks. On the T-72A this was absent.

Thank you Marc!