Contemplating buildin an NVA T-72. I read in the reviews the Tamita kit barrel is off but no specifics were given. How bad off? 2 mm off the 1/1 diameter? A meter short? Trying to figure out if I should live off a a can of spaghetti_Os a day for a week to get an AM barrel or if OOB is close enough. Also, NVA T-55s seem to have carried 4 digit numbers ( some 3) Photos I've seen of the 72s look to be sans numberes. What is the story there?

It’s been a while since I looked at it in detail but my recollection is it wasn’t so much a length or diameter discrepancy but that the segments behind the bore evacuator should taper immediately behind it while the taper of the kit barrel doesn’t start until the last thermal wrap segment. I know there’s a ton of old and often contradictory info in discussion groups out there because the kits been around so long.

Sean

You could wait for the newly announced Amusing Hobby kit.
D

True, I was assuming he already had the kit. Yes, a number of better T-72 kits available at this point.

Thanks, Guys. Thought I had a lead on a Tamiya kit at a good price but that fell through. Was leaning that way for the price and also, from what I can tell it's the closest to the NVA one. Looks like the Amusing Hobby one is the right version. Any rumors when it might actually be out? (I'm still waiting for the Panda's ZQT-15)

to answer your questions on dimensions, 3.14 mm bore inner diameter. 5.16 mm outer muzzle diameter. 126 mm length from tip of the mantlet cover and 6.56 mm diameter bore evacuator.

Lengthwise, the Tamiya barrel is 3mm too short and there are other problems I don't remember exactly.
As said, Amusing Hobby kit is perfect for a M1.

It's bad enough that the old Verlinden T-72M1 update kit contained a new two piece barrel cast in resin.

Hi;

FYI--You all mite find it useful to look at the already features on these issues that were already posted !!
And the Tamiya T-72 has been given more coverage than just about any other kit in History ! Also there has been A.M. correction sets for everything that was said to have issues in the kit ! As for the Barrel; "REALLY"--2mm ! Unless you are going to enter your kit in A contest, and even if one of the judges has any knowledge of T-72s; I don't think they will get A Ruler and Measure it !!
Even the judges at the AMPS shows are not that savoy !!
Even our In/house expert JD has said that the kit is just fine if you just build it as A NVA T-72 early type.

CHEERS; MIKE.