If you want a base model T-72M, use the Verlinden upper hull and the Tamiya turret (Verlinden basically just cloned the Tamiya part in resin, but eliminated the applique armor on the glacis). If you want a T-72M1, use the Tamiya hull with the Miniarm or SMS T-72A/T-72M1 turret.
Incidentally, the T-72M and T-72M1 versions were export models produced in Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Bonjour,

The Tamiya T-72 can be updated nicely, but you have to be careful with what you use.

The first, far most important question is...what T-72 do you want to build? Cold War in East Germany? Iraqi ODS? Iraqi Modern? Chechnya? What you want will determine a lot of the answer.

Second, the Verlinden upper hull conversion (kit 2333) is ok. It does NOT have a open engine hatch and would need a bit of work to get it done. The much OLDER Verlinden engine compartment (kit 781) would work better with the Tamiya engine deck in plastic, but the front hull upper glacis would still represent only a M1 hull with the applique armor. This is why WHAT you want to model is important.

If you just want a correct T-72M1, buy a SMS or Miniarm T-72A turret and you are pretty much good to go, barrel and all. The Tamiya barrel is ok, but can use enough detailing to make getting a aftermarket barrel a good option. SBS T-72 turrets do NOT come with barrels, Miniarm ones do BUT...the miniarm T-72A turrets are currently OOP so it may be hard to find one. Fun fun.

I prefer Trumpeters T-72 working track kit 02050 NOT, I repeat NOT, kit 06623 (nonworking). Others like Fruils metal tracks, Master Club metal tracks, Master Club clickable RESIN tracks, Spade Ace metal tracks, or MENG's track sets.

T-72's were ONLY ever sold with NSVT AAMG's. They may have had DsHK's retro-fitted by some local group later, but they would be specific to a picture...not normal SOP.

On this note, what would be required to build Tamiya's T-72, as one used in the Chechen conflict? I have one and would like to build it as one used there, but I'm more of a German WW2 kind of guy.