With all this said and done, does anyone know when Meng plans to release this kit so we can open up our wallets?

It's on pre-order at Hobby Easy, with a release date of 10 May. http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/4xxerfu63nbikbkbnkrn.html

good to hear that, hope we could see this baby soon, as Meng where so close to it, just like they skipped it, intentionally.

Hi guys. Is the kit out yet? There are a bunch on Ebay. I don't know if they're pre orders or if they're legit or what. I'm in a bit of a quandary. I love this tank, and I'm actually working on a Trumpeter one right now. In fact its just about finished construction. Thing is it has one or two problems, and I know of Meng's reputation for excellence. So I'm wondering if I should do the Meng one and I dunno, just shelve the Trumpeter one.

What are the problems you refer to Phil? I'm asking because I've got one on order.

Hi John. When you put the upper and lower hulls together it leaves a huge gap at the front. The row of EA blocks doesn't cover it. No problem you can fill it, BUT if you just fill it like I did it leaves the front edge of the hull rounded instead of a sharp edge like the real thing. The other problem I have is with the headlight guards. With all the Trumpeter Russian/Soviet tank kits I've seen these are quite poor. They're too thick and in some of the older kits they're only rounded on one side! This kit they're not too bad but still quite thick and when you attach them they sit on top of the RA blocks and they're not quite long enough so they don't touch the hull. There's a gap. After giving it some thought I've decided to go ahead and buy the Meng one. I've never done a Meng kit and I've been really keen to. Its either this or the T-90 and I'd prefer this one.

Thanks for that Phil, those don't sound too bad, if you know about them beforehand, as I now do thanks to you!

Strange, I did not had such problems with any of my Trumpeter T-72 kits. Agree with the ugly headlights, but luckily I had no problems with the hulls fit.

Hi John. When you put the upper and lower hulls together it leaves a huge gap at the front. The row of EA blocks doesn't cover it. No problem you can fill it, BUT if you just fill it like I did it leaves the front edge of the hull rounded instead of a sharp edge like the real thing. The other problem I have is with the headlight guards. With all the Trumpeter Russian/Soviet tank kits I've seen these are quite poor. They're too thick and in some of the older kits they're only rounded on one side! This kit they're not too bad but still quite thick and when you attach them they sit on top of the RA blocks and they're not quite long enough so they don't touch the hull. There's a gap. After giving it some thought I've decided to go ahead and buy the Meng one. I've never done a Meng kit and I've been really keen to. Its either this or the T-90 and I'd prefer this one.[/quote] The only decent inject headlight guard I saw is the recent miniart, their rod is decently shaped/sized, for T-72s (trumpeter/Meng) you'll have to bend a stylerine rod by your self. (Diameter of 0.8mm)