I was just in my local hobby store and saw no fewer than 4 T-72 kits. They had T-72s by Zvezda, Trumpeter, Hobby Mini, and Hobby Craft. The box art of the T-72 was identical on the Trumpeter and Hobby Mini box including the images shown of the built model. And do I have it right when I'm under the impression that the Hobbycraft T-72 has its origins in the Trumpeter kit? So too it would appear the Hobby Mini. Where does the Zvezda T-72 originate from?

Mike, I can't tell you anything about the Hobby Mini kit, but The Trumpeter and Hobbycraft kits are the same. The Hobbycraft is just a reboxed Trumpeter kit. The Zvezda kit is from eastern Europe but that is about all I know.

Mike

T-72's by Zvezda are re-pops of DML kits.

Trumpeter made a poor copy of the Tamiya T-72 and also a poor copy of the DML T-72 W/ERA. Then they passed the molds onto Hobby mini and Hobby Craft. All of them are essentially the same. No matter what kit you buy they should all have the same story...Tamiya hull and suspension, really crappy turret and poorly done figure. Good kits to use for a T-72 conversion project, but you will need the Edaurd Zoom kit for the engine grilles at a minimum.

Really, the Zvezda T-72s are essentially DMLs? Ultimately that is what I was looking for, a DML T-72. I spent all morning scouring the web collecting prices and locations of where I can find various modern Russian MBTs so now, armed with the above info, I know where to find the least expensive T-72 that is of decent quality.

With that out of the way, I see Zvezda has essentially 3 T-72 vairants, T-72A, T-72B, and T-72B w/ERA. What's the difference between a -A and a -B?

Basically, the A version is the first to have been in service with the Soviet army. It was fitted with an optical rangefinder recognizable by the protusions of both sides of the turret. Generally it is represented with square armor plates on the sides that can be folded forward.
The B version is the standard one which has generated all the newer ones. It has reinforced frontal armor, rubber side skirts, smoke dischargers and many other features.

I know these are just very basic explanations, you can go to this site for detailed ones

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/index.html

cheers

Isn't the Hobby Craft kit the one with stickers for engine grills???

Yikes!!

Yesiree! They are icky! :-) That is why you need the Eduard Zoom! PE set.

The 3 Zvezda kits are direct copies of the DML kits of the past...T-72G/M (General export tank and the best of the lot for dimensional accuracy, even in the turret, but remember, it was mainly a export tank to places like E. Germany and Iraq) The T-72B is DML's T-72M2, the one I prefer the best. The T-72B w/ERA is the DML T-72M2 W/ERA. The ERA package was WAY COOL when this kit came out in the early 1990's, but the ERA needs to be reworked to make it look better now that we have much better references on the tank.

Hope it helps.

Yes, all very helpful. Wish I had realised that earlier. Now I know what to look for. The Zvezda T-72s can be had for quite cheap (the word of the day for me) if you know where to look on the web. Whereas it would appear the DMLs are OOP and harder to find (and go quickly and high $$$ on eBay).

I've compiled a list of where to find modern Russian tank models on the web. It is by no means a complete resource. Just a reference to sites I frequent who I am finding offer some of the best prices. I didn't include the T-55 as it is pretty numerous and easier to find than say a T-64. Who do you all order from?

militaryhobbies.com:
Zvezda T-72A $19.95
Zvezda T-72B $15.95
Zvezda T-72B w/ERA $19.95
Tamiya T-72M1 $34.95
Hobbycraft Iraqi T-72 $16.95
MiniHobby T-72B w/ERA $16.95
Skif T-80UD $29.95
Skif T-80UDK $29.95
Skif T-64A $29.95
Skif T-64B $29.95
Skif T-64BV $29.95
Dragon T-80U $19.95

internethobbies.com:
Zvezda T-72A $22.66
Zvezda T-72B w/ERA $22.66
Skif T-80UD $25.18
Skif T-64A $35.24
Skif T-64B $36.08
Skif T-64BV $40.28
Hobbycraft Iraqi T-72 $16.76

luckymodel.com
Tamiya T-72M1 $24.99
Tamiya T-62A $13.99

hobbyeasy.com
Tamiya T-72M1 $20.51
Tamiya T-62A $11.54

hobbyterra.com
Skif T-84 -
Skif T-80UD $13.95
Skif T-80UDK $18.95
Skif T-64A $13.45
Skif T-64AK $16.95
Skif T-64B $13.45
Skif T-64BW $14.95

greatmodels.com
Dragon T-80U $13.45
Dragon T-72M2 $18.75
Dragon T-72M2 w/ERA $14.95
Tamiya T-72M1 $33.75
Trumpeter T-72M1 $18.70
Trumpeter T-72M1 w/mine plow $18.75
Zvezda T-72B $24.30
Zvezda T-72B w/ERA $24.30
Zvezda T-72A $29.65
Skif T-84 $29.65
Skif T-80UD $25.15
Skif T-80UDK $22.45
Skif T-64A $22.45
Skif T-64B $26.95
Skif T-64BV $26.95
Skif T-64AK $22.45
Skif T-64BM2 $33.25

rollmodels.com
Tamiya T-72M1 $33.75
Tamiya T-62A $17.25
Hobbycraft Iraqi T-72 $15.00
Dragon T-80UD $13.50
Dragon T-72M2 $17.25
Skif T-80UD $21.00
Skif T-80UDK $21.00
Skif T-64A $22.50
Skif T-64B $22.50
Skif T-64BV $22.50
Skif T-64BM2 $18.75

squadron.com
Hobbycraft Iraqi T-72 $17.96
Tamiya T-72M1 $39.97
Zvezda T-72 $29.96
Zvezda T-72B $29.96
Zvezda T-72B w/ERA $29.96
Zvezda T-80BV w/ERA $28.96