From another forum:
http://sturgeonshouse.ipbhost.com/index.php?/topic/961-communist-tracked-boxes-with-pancake-turrets-dont-you-dare-to-confuse-glorious-t-80-battle-tank-with-kharkovite-t-64-tractor-that-doesnt-work/
After laughing my butt off, I wondered if the T-72 info was correct. If so, it could be extremely useful.
Thoughts?

We shall surely meet our tractor quota today, comrade.

I think my apple-brand head just exploded a little.

I love me the T-80, but I think that guys needs to have his backyard shed checked for a "love machine". Youch.

In all seriousness, and all propagada aside, it is a pretty decent ID guide...if you take out all the silliness. But the design of all three tanks is a big more complicated than is presented....

I prefer this page if I want decently researched info on Soviet stuff https://thesovietarmourblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-soviet-armour-blog-this-blog-was.html

It is a funny read, good to know it's like a "Clif's Notes".....
My main reason for asking, I have a Tamiya T-72 on which I started "removal" of the added glacis armor a while ago, then found out how "off" the turret was and just shelved it all. I would still like to build an early T-72, but didn't want to spend a zillion bucks on a replacement turret. I've since found a couple of comparison shots of turrets in 1/72nd, that may be useful in reshaping the Tamiya turret. I also have the old DML (Zvezda?) T-72, and its turret looks to be exactly the same shape as the Tamiya turret. I'm getting all verklempt..... I'd like to stay with the early Tamiya road wheels, and not have to throw a ton of money at this thing, or buy a Meng kit either.
Ah, such is modeling.

Hi Russel,
a bit of info here http://www.network54.com/Forum/47209/thread/1491577374/last-1491917968/View+Thread
all of the Trumpeter and Meng kits are derivatives of the T-72B, so stick with what you have. Shave back the angle of the Tamiya turret cheeks, fill in the notches on the lower edge, and you'll have a T-72M.

Sean

Hi;

If you take A lil' time you can find the SBS Turret on ebay that's not all that much money. IMHO if you build the Tamiya T-72 OOTB and mark it in DDR marking's than you will have A Rare example that was given to the NVA !
At the time the Tamiya kit was really Good; But lacked A lot of details, Over the years I have Built around fifteen Tamiya T-72s in Different version's. It was A great kit to practice scratch building & add all those missing details.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Sean, I'll peek over there, thanks. I'm capable of working the shape of the Tamiya turret a bit, Aves putty is good stuff, so now I need to find a subject pic.... maybe something used in the Balkan wars?
Mike, I've already cut out and "lowered" the glacis, just needs final sanding, so I've got to stay with that.
Thanks to both of you, now to find a prototype.

Hi Russel,
here's an idea of how far the turret front should slope back
http://olivier.carneau.free.fr/gb_version/index.htm (2nd row, 4th photo in)
As far as prototypes go, pretty sure only M-84 & M-84A were used in the Balkans.

Sean

Thanks Sean.
Link above takes me to homepage.... what exactly am I looking for?

Sorry, didn't realize that. Looks like I can't link to a particular photo.

-"real ones" tab
-"T" tab
-2nd T-72 listing
-3rd row 4th photo in.

Sean

Yes you can, just right click on the particular photo and copy the picture url.



Olivier

Now that's some funny stuff...loved the stiff-collared, nose in the air, broken English, Russian slant to armor descriptions! And Professor "Drinkovodkavich"...

Oh boy, great pics!

Please note that the turret of Tamiya should be pointed on its rear upper part by addition, more than filing its lower part.
Besides the real T-72 (all versions, I suppose) has a wide crescent-shaped flat, horizontal area behind the waste shells hatch, and here you can see a discontinuity in the inclination of the roof. I hope that this is visible on this photo.

That's a good pic, thanks. I realized the rear of the turret had to be added to, and the front cheeks as well. I was waiting for some paint to dry on another model the other day, and rather then sit and stare, I went ahead with the Tamiya lower hull, in the background here:
IMG_0453 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I'm collecting pics now, hope to start re-shaping the Tamiya kit turret soon.