You guys may remember me asking for help on this fellows side skirts a few weeks ago, and I thought yall might want to see the results.
I actually completed this about a week ago but I just got my camera back .
Its the Hobby Craft 1/35 Iraqi T-72 painted in the colors of the SALADIN Division.
Personnaly I think this is the best model I’ve ever built…from the techinical standpoint. Yall can probably point out a zillion flaws (and are welcome to do so) but I am 110% pleased with it, and thats all that counts right?
I have no idea what the writting say on the skirts. May be just an advertisement…EAT AT AHAB’s
Its amazing how short the T-72 is in comparison with WWII tanks. Check out how shallow the hull is compared to a Panther!! Whoa!.
I’d be awful happy if that were my build. You’ve done a good ‘used’ look to it. As for how low they are, that’s quite on purpose. Gives them a low silhouette and allows them to hull down in more places than some of the larger, western tanks.
Hobby Craft kits aren’t the greatest out there by a long shot but you’ve done this one up very well. The detail definition is very good. A little bit of dust added to the tracks and the underside would make it look like it had just ridden out of the sand dunes.
Amazing!.. The T-72 is one of my favourite tanks… I’m currently working on a T-72B-1… How did you do the fuel lines in the rear drums?.. I mean, those things where the fuel lines are connected to the drums and to the hull… I need some info for this part and I only have the Tamiya T-72’s instruction sheet scans (I have some books, but no one of them shows clearly this part)… Anyway thanks for sharing
Nicely done and just like you said, as long as you are happy with it, then that should be it.
As for the size of the tank, I think smaller the better. Why would you want to drive around in a vehicle that is high silhouette? Makes perfect target. I remember when army asked me if I wanted to go for a bradley platoon leader’s course, I told them that I was just happy to be a simple leg/light infantry. That bradley makes a good target since it is a high silhouette.
Well done! I shudder to hear the name Hobbycraft, after what I went through with their A-10, but you’ve really got a showpiece there with that T-72. The weathering looks great.
Most importantly, you’re happy with it, that’s really all that matters.
Fully argee with your statement “Personnaly I think this is the best model I’ve ever built…from the techinical standpoint. Yall can probably point out a zillion flaws (and are welcome to do so) but I am 110% pleased with it, and thats all that counts right?”, I firmly beleive that the only person you really have please in modelling is yourself.
Great looking job on the build. Just have one question. Why is the second road wheel on the left side raised up? Not trying to sound like a judge or anything, just wandering if it had to do with the kit.
Thanks for all the kind words and helpful hints. They are all much appreciated.
To answer some specific questions:
ZERO ENNA: The fuel lines on the back actually come with the Kit. They are little hollow tubes that are quite bendable. You insert a small mnetal wire into them so that they hold whatever shape you pose them in, and just glue into place as shown in the photo. Alot simpler than I first thought they would be.
FALCON039: Yup actually that is a fault of the kit, or more likely my having mis aligned the running gear. (Or just driving over an invisible rock)
Several people mentioned the rather poor reputation HOBBYCRAFT has in regards to this kit and in that I have mixed feelings.
I will admit that the accuracy and details on this kit are probably not 100% true to life, and the fit may not be exceedingly perfect like other kits.
HOWEVER, I will reiterate that I had a absoulute blast building this tank, and I’m probably too stupid to notice technical innacuracies anyways. Its got treads, a turret, and a gun, so it looks like a T-72 to me.
I think sometimes newer modellers can be put off by some bad press that some companies have, and maybe miss out on some real fun thats to be had for less money.
I agree that kits that are blatant garbage are to be shunned, but some so-so kits can really turn out nice and deserve a second look from the non-rivet counters among us. (This isnt meant to upset those of you who are so inclined to count rivets.)
All in all thanks again for all the great advice and kind comments.
Wow, extremely well done. I built this kit a while ago, under the Trumpeter label (same thing, same moulds). Great result, and a spectacular paint job. I just wish you’d have replaced that towing cable and rusted the tracks more. Excellent work.
Nice job on this model , the T-72 is one of my personal faves ,just a mean looking machine .
I know basically nothing of accuracy of any of the 72’s out there so I am no judge of that myself , but yours looks pretty good to me .
Very nice build[tup][tup]. Great paint and camo, nice sublte weathering. Maybe there are a zillion mistakes, but it would take a more knowledgable T-72 expert than myself to find them[:D] Your Panther comparison (those old Tamiya Panthers just breeding like rabbits!) is indeed interesting. I’m sure the T-72 must have been cramped, but the crew probably appreciated sitting down low when the shooting started.
