Hello modeling friends and lovers of Russian armored vehicles,

it is time to implement some projects. I´ll build a T-72M tank from the 1.st Guards Regiment in Belgrade of the Yugoslav People´s Army.

Therefore I will use following kits and stuff:

MHM (Mini Hobby Models) basic T-72 kit, NK Patriota Models T-72M turret conversion, SP-Designs front glacis and drive sprockets, RB-Model gun barrel and track links from Zvezda spare parts. I hope you will enjoy it.

Well, here are the pictures of the stuff I´ll use to build the Czechoslovak licence production of a T-72M, used by the Yugoslav People´s Army "JNA" and a lot of countries around the world.



The first problem is the number of bolt attachments at the front glacis. Licence production of the T-72M had a pair configuration of it.


Now I have to correct the SP-Designs front glacis, beginning with the bolt configuration and ending with the misshaped ribs. After this I will make a new mould and cast a correct front glacis for the worldwide used T-72 G/M variants.

Extra Info:

Called M-84

Yugoslavia was another country to licence build the Russian T-72. After the Yugoslavian Government secured the license the first prototypes were developed in 1982 for field testing and production began sometime in 1983. The first production vehicles were completed in 1984, hence the 84 in it‘s designation. The principle improvements over the T-72 was an improved composite armour, a locally manufactured fire control system and a 12-cylinder water-cooled V46-6 diesel engine generating 780hp.

By 1988 an improved M-84, designated the M-84A entered production with improved armour and an up-graded V46-TK 735 kW 1000hp engine (reinforcement of the existing transmission and a new cooling and air cleaning system and a new supercharger as well as a new fuel injection system). It had a new computerised fire-control system - ballistic data sensors, day/night sighting, laser range-finder and second-generation image intensifier.

This was the final production model and ended in 1991 Final assembly of the M-84 through out its production had been in the Yugoslavian member state of Croatia, with over 600 manufactured for the Yugoslavian Army and for export.

Firepower on the M-84

Standard equipment on the M-84 is a 2A46 125 mm smoothbore cannon which is connected to an autoloader (reducing the crew to three, The commander sits on the right side of the turret, the gunner on the left, and the driver centrally at the front of the vehicle) centrally located in the turret. It can reload at a rate of 8 rounds per minute. The vehicle stores 40 rounds in the hull (this has changed with some future up-grades) and has a 7.62 mm M86 coaxial MG, and one 12.7 mm M87 anti-aircraft MG mounted on the commander's cupola. Twelve smoke grenade launchers are positioned in front of the turret in banks of five and seven grenades.

When the former Yugoslavia, (AKA Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) broke up in 1992 in to the independent states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia, the M-84 could be found through out these states in varying numbers. Some of these states have gone on to develop up-grade packages for their respective M-84’s.

The M-84 was used by different sides following the break up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia where states fought for independence (against the Yugoslav People's Army AKA YPA), such as the Slovenian Independence War (were used for clearing obstacles and intimidation) with Slovenia capturing 50 odd M-84‘s abandoned by the YPA.

The Croatian War of Independence saw the Croatian Army captured about 50 M-84 MBTs from a YPA barracks.

During the Bosnian War, the M-84 didn’t see much action as the T-55 was the tank deployed during the war.

During the Kosovo War, the M-84 was predominately kept in a reserve force to counter an expected invasion by NATO.



Anthony

I didn't know that there is a MHM T-72 on the market . Could you please tell a few words about the kit's quality and accuracy especially compared to Tamiya?

Hello Bernd,

yes MHM has some different variants of T-72´s on the market:

T-72A,
T-72A with mine roller,
T-72B,
T-72B with ERA.

All kits are based on Tamiya´s T-72M1. It is a good copy, except the turret, the left hatch, the commander´s figure, the drive sprocket and the grill mesh. But that was in fact a copyright problem that had to be solved the easiest way. You can replace the turret for example wtih some resin conversions of The T-72, T-72 G/M or M-84 (NK Patriota Models).
Or in the near future wih a corrected front glacis for export T-72´s from NK Patriota Models.
Years ago these kits were also offered at Ebay in Germany, but because it is a copy of Tamiya they got problems with the copyrights. So it will be very hard, maybe impossible to find them in Germany or Europe anymore. Hobbycraft did a re-pack of the T-72B some eight-ten years ago.
MHM is in true a sub-company of Trumpeter, so don´t wonder if you find those kits released as early Trumpeter products.

With good conscience I can recommend these kits to all people who decide to build a T-72 "Ural" with ORF, T-72 G/M or M-84 tanks. For some 12-15 €, or equal $18-$20 you have a solid basis for a T-72 project. The expensive Tamiya kit is not worth the money to cut it in parts and combine it with resin front glacis replacement or other very expensive turret conversions, like Blast Models for example.
Anyone who now doubts my statement may follow the construction and at the end can make his own image and opinion of this quality.

I´ve made my decision a long time ago and bought 8 different MHM kits of their T-72 series that were available worldwide.

Here are some pictures of my Yugoslav M-84A tank. I´ve used the MHM kit, and did only replace the turret with a reshaped KIRIN casting from the early 90´s, plastic track links from ZVEZDA spare parts and added the RB-Model gun barrel:

Well, let´s go back to the main theme. I improved the front glacis to the standard export version of most T-72 tank variants, with the "pair" configuration of bolt attachments. I also decided to make new ribs and to scratchbuild the "V". Unfortunately the "V" became too short, some 1.5-2mm. It has to be a bit longer, until the blue line. I´ll correct it tommorow.
The holes, being marked with red circles are wrong in any kit, MHM or Tamiya. The headlights aren´t fixed in the front glacis, they are mounted directly under the headlight covers.

Many thanks for the info about this kit! I hope it'll be easy to find. As far as I know, one of the earlier Trumpeter kit was a T-72.I think it was another copy of the japanese kit, but is relly hard to find nowadays.

Great job so far

Thanks for sharing the details. I will be following this build...
Also give us some rear mounted Fuel tanks (half size) as mounted in Indian Arjun, Bishma(T72s/ T90s) and Indian option decals .. .. I am sure these will have great many takers.

Have a Great Day
Mukund

Can you send me some pictures of the equipment and details you have mentioned ? Maybe it will possible to make your wishes become true...

Although I have the Tamiya kit at home, I decided to use the MHM/Trumpeter kit with intention to show everyone that there is no problem to use this as a fundamental basis for the construction.

Finally I have found some time to build my T-72M. First cuts are plpaces in the front of the chassis, in order to replace the wrong front glacis against my correct part. To give more stability I have under glued additionally plastic. The corrected front glacis fits very well and usual small gaps between the resin and the plastic kit have to be puttied at the end.



When you compare the Tamiya chassis (left) with the MHM/Trumpeter (right) you can´t see any differences, unless you decide to count and compare every bolt.


I had to cut 3mm from the back side of the MHM/Trumpeter kit, because it is to long. These are some of the things which were casted incorrectly on purpose to avoid the accusation of plagiarism. But no problem for me or any experienced modeller who knows what kind of vehicle he is building.


The lower spacers of MHM kit were removed because they don´t exist at the original Tamiya kit. Therefore I have taken 2mm plastic and stuck it on the rear end (see orange circle). Now I have the correct distance/height between upper and lower hull. Further surgical intervention on my part is removing the front and rear mounting bolts. Thus, the upper shell lies nice and smooth on the chassis.
Another thing I decide to use are the final drive housing plates from SP-Designs. I have already built my first M-84A without using them. I have to admit that I had some small corrections to do at that time, but it wasn´t such a big trouble that is worth to mention it in detail.




Some details of the RB-Models 125mm gun and wher some small etch parts have to be fixed.

Hi Nenad;
Looks like your off too a GREAT START As you have already said, the Trump,- kit was a Knock off of the
Tamiya version and the bottom hull was also different, as there was no escape hatch for the driver on the HTH kit. The Trump,- kit is a good source for a Doner kit to expirement with and use for a Conversion.
I used one Tam, & one Trump, too make a BT-72
Looking Forward to More of your Build.
CHEERS; MIKE.

thanks for sharing this build!

great to see someone tackle this kit,never knew it existed..


greetz

Hi guys,

here are some pictures of today´s work. Simple work, easy to manage for everyone. Now the left hatch is movable.



I have drilled a hole, only 0,2 mm wider than the end of the barrel itself. This is only for a test-shot. I don´wanna spend much time on writing and talking. Enjoy the pictures...

I´ve been working a little bit on my T-72M. The biggest challenge when building up a T-72 tank is definitely the attachment and correct adjustment of the smoke dischargers. If you fail, no matter how much you PE parts or scratchbuilt you have used. it won´t look like a T-72.
The smoke dischargers from my set are very simple casted, so everyone can cut them off without any problems. You don´t need the discharger bases from the plastic kit, because no matter which one it is, TAMIYA, MHM, Trumpeter or Dragon, they are all incorrect. You will have to create your own holders by using 1mm thick plastic sheet and cutting out small rectangles of 2 x 4 mm dimensions. Now you cut of the resin smoke dischargers from the delivered turret conversion and slightly flatten the bottom surface. Take one 2x4 mm rectangle and glue it to the smoke dischargers bottom. Do this to all 12 smoke dischargers. Use CA glue from "ZAP A GAP", it is definitely the best one.
Now pay attention. Go ahead with gluing the smoke dischargers, in order of following the numbering. The smoke discharger bases have to be cut to size, taking care of the geometry and tilt of the turret, according to the shown numbering.











And here are some pictures about how to fix the lower rotational basis by using additional wire, who will take on the task of fixing claws between the turret and upper hull.







A simple small hole has been drilled into the turret front to fix the mounting of the IR searchlight. Remaining gaps will be closed at the end of all building work.

wow..outstanding job...
may i know what is the blue green material?? do u recast the turret??

Zaidi

Hi Zaidi, the blue-green material is my resin turret and correct front glacis. It is my own development and product, from my brand NK - Patriota Models:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/200758&page=1

Hi Nenad;
Great Work !!

Teach Us More !!! AND KEEP IT COMEING.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

MIKE.

I´ll do so, and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !


Here´s my todays effort. I decided to make my own protection mesh for the front headlights, also as the two green stripes you can see below the headlights. I have used 0,6mm stainless steel wire, and two pairs of hooks for russian tanks from SP-Designs. I have to point on the fact that there is no problem with using the kit parts, but 2 years ago I´ve ordered them from Sergej just for fun with some another kits and finally decided to use them on this project.
Please don´t forget that Tamiya and HMH/Trumpeter made a big mistake with the left headlight. The T-72 has an additional bracket above the left headlight. I´ve seen a lot of people building Tamiya´s T-72M1 using expensive resin conversions and expensive PE parts, going hardcore, but generally fail to take care on this important detail.





The front view


A little problem with the MHM/Trumpeter kit is the small gap at the right side of the exhaust, where the sideskirt begins. That is one of those troubles you have to deal with, when using this kit. But it is easy to solve this problem by using some putty or plastic card.



As you can see, this kit isn´t easy as Tamiya´s, but honestly everybody can build a T-72 from Tamiya. That´s one of the reasons I decided to present the MHM/Trumpeter kit through a concrete project.

Excellant build. I'm gathering parts for an NVA 72M build right now. Where can we see a catalog of your resin parts? I really like the look of your M's turret.


Erik

Hi Erik,

thanks for your interest in my T-72 build and in my resin conversions. I can give you a link, here on Armorama, where you can see my current products:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/200758&page=1

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/10015

and

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/198996&page=1

and

http://www.military-models.de/t-72-oem-1-35-tamiya-patriota-models-und-zubehoer-t3082.html


I do not have a website because my trade policy is simple and is completely tailored to the needs and budget of the model builders.

I do not sell colorful packaging or an expensive brand name but exclusively unique kits and conversions at extremely fair prices and conditions. Creating an own website will increase the kit prices, and honestly I don´t want to charge my clients for these costs. My name stands for quality that any modeler can be accessed globally. All new products will be posted and built here on Armorama. Who is satisfied with my products is allowed to create a product overview on other modelling sites. I would be very grateful for this.

direct contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Some work today.

Please take a look on some details of the fuel-drum attachment. In general Yugoslav tanks mostly operated without mounted fuel tanks. When there are no fixing stripes mounted, you can see two holes on each attachment. Tamiya has also failed to add the distance attachment on the rear equipment box:



I decided to make some new rear sideskirts. For this I have used aluminum foil from a finished cake package. When you decide to use this technique don´t forget to roughen the foil slightly with some sandpaper. This will secure a strong hold when gluing with CA glue.





I want to represent a tank in terrain action , so the driving axes have been positioned offset.



A comparison between the Tamiya kit (left) and the MHM/Trumpeter (right). Today I also built simultaneously the Tamiya chassis for my M-84A project.

Hi;


I WANT MORE

You were calling for more. Here we go. The last weeks I had a lot to do with casting new turret sets, so I didn´t spent much time on building this tank. I´ve been lucky to have some free time the last three days, so I worked in the evening. Here´s the progress. Some scratchbuild on the right hatch, modification of the lower chassis front part, because this area isn´t correct at all (Tamiya and MHM). I have used white 0,5mm plastic card to create the lower plate. At the end I also created a welding line, that has to be sanded slightly.
Turret boxes were attached, also as missing details.

I am throughly enjoying your build, superb work.
Just out of curiosity, who makes the better T-72, MHM or Trumpeter. Also, which version of that company is the best.
Keep it up.
Thanks
Euan

Hello Nenad,

You show some damn nice building skills here! I have one question: What specific color would you recommend for JNA tanks? Would the green from my syrian tank fit? I´m unsure, I think it´s to green for JNA vehicles. What do you think?

All the best,
Andreas