Goodmorning eveyone. Back into Soviet made stuff. I decided to build a Cypriot T80U. The kit seems nice, better than older Zvezda releases. I dont know if it has any major accuracy issues, yet i'll give it a go and see what i can improve on the way if needed. Any knowledge of the kit's possible defficiancies is most welcome.

It is the exact same kit as the DML T-80U SMT-1989 kit. Just a rebox.

Thanks a lot Jacques. I didn't know it was a DML kit reboxed. I read the posts in "How to model a T 80", and there's a lot of info. Problems like hull size or turret shape cannot be fixed, but i'll look for a main gun. Cypriot T 80s came from Russian stocks so they dont have any real differences, hopefully it will be an easy and relaxed build.

Hi John,

Good luck on your project. Actually hull size and turret shape can be fixed but it requires a lot of (I mean lots of) work, I am building a T-80 BV , I'm on a break because of other projects for the armorama campaigns.

And for the gun, you must do a research and ask any experts (Jacques or Mauro perhaps) that what is the correct gun for your model. The kits gun is very innacurate.

Regards

CC

Thanks a lot Cagkan. I tried to follow your link but doesnt work. Would it be possible for you to give another link?
Thanks in advance.

Sorry John,

I fixed it..

CC

çok teşekkür ederim Cagkan!
Right now i'm drooling over my keyboard......... I mean your build is something i only can dream of doing...... I was planning on a simple build but after seeing yours, i think i'm completely useless as a modeller. Now i want to try to improve it, (hopefully not butcher it)! I dont think i can do all that sculpturing or those engine grills(!), yet i will try. Just made myself a bucket full of coffee and rolled some cigarettes so i can study better what i saw there.

Παρακαλώ (parakalo)

It's not as hard as it seems actually, you don't have to correct everything. Besides accuracy, Zvezda's T-80's are good kits in my opinion, I just have to correct the details because I'm obsessed with them. I am not an expert, just an amateur modeler like you, the people here in armorama are very helpful about everything, especially Jacques and Mauro about the Russian vehicles. Just ask around anything you want about your model. I will be happy to help too..

Thanks a lot for your comments by the way, you are very kind.
Good luck again from the other side of the water...

CC

Thanks Cagkan. I'll see what i can do with it!
Ok i'm home so i can post some pics from the kit. Studying closer the pics from Cagkan's buid i see that the kits are different with the UD version being corrected(?) in many areas and maybe it doesn't need such extensive surgery. I mean the top of the hull and the turret. I have taken some closer pics on those areas so that you can see those parts better. The gun still remains huge, so i'll have to get an AM one. So if it is not too much trouble, maybe the more knowledgeable guys on the matter can tell us more?

Hi John,

Zvezda's UD seems more accurate than the BV about the upper hull details, I stretched my BV about 5,5 mm's, I don't think you have to do that.

About the aftermarket barrel, there are several choices on the market, but you have to buy the correct one, T-80 UD uses "125mm smoothbore KBA3 gun" so the Accurate Armour's resin or RB Model's metal barrels will be correct (they have the thermal sleeve). But I am not an expert, so be sure to buy them, wait for another oinion about this matter..

And this link may be useful about general information.
T-80 UD

CC

Hi John,

why don´t you build the tank out of the box? Use only the RB-Models 125mm gun and show an interesting and perfect painting job.

The T80 looks to be of the same quality as the T72. Despite accuracy issues, it was a fun build. Just a weekend build. I imagine correcting the T80 will be enjoyable. I'll follow along.

+1

Exactly as I thought..

CC

T-80UD from DML:

* Overall Dimensions - The hull is too short, too narrow, and too compact.
* Main Gun barrel is severly overscale - it is closer to 152mm caliber
* ERA - the Kontact-5 ERA is simplified in detail and how it is mounted
* Roadwheels (too large, flat, and shallow)
* Track (too wide and no hollow guidehorns)
* Upper/lower hull fit (large gaps, only a problem if you want it to be)
* Upper hull details - many details are soft, simplified, or missing.
* Fuel barrels and fuel lines
* Turret shape - comparing it to line drawings by S. Zaloga in Concord’s T-80U book shows that the turret is a about ¼” too short and it is too rounded on the rear edges. The DML turret also differs in that there is only one line of ERA above the mantlet in the drawings vs the two rows of ERA on the turret.

Model Point, to represent the 2A46M-4/5 L55, is what you want. Not sure if there has been a new, better barrel come out since my last look at them...look at the pic below and make your own decision:

Guys thanks a lot for the help and the support. It will be the first time i'll try to scratchbuild or convert so many things on a tank model.
So to summarize this i need an AM gun, i'll have to make an engine deck from scratch to represent a U version, and some things that have to be corrected on the turret.
I'll go slow on this one and see what i can accomplish.