Good day. I’m planning to build a T-72 in 1/72 scale. But the only available kit in my area is the T-72M1 by Revell. With this, I need to know what are the main differences of the T-72 and the T-72M1. Will I be able to build a 1991 Desert Storm era T-72 out of Revell’s T-72M1? I’m currently researching on this one so I thought of asking additional information here as well. Thanks!
The Revell 1/72 T-72M1 is actually a Polish or Czech built T-72G export version rather than the Russian built T-72M1 as advertised. The main issue is the turret because the T-72M1 has a laser range finder, but the kit’s turret still has the coincidence ranger finder found in the export variants.
The Revell kit also includes markings for an Iraqi tank so you should be good.
In 1991, Iraq had T-72 types with both the coincidence and laser rangefinders
Thanks for the replies. By the way, I also found this book (or eBook) T-72 Main Battle Tank 1974 - 1993 by Steve Zaloga & Peter Sarson. I have seen there that T-72 M1 tanks participated during the 1991 Gulf War. To my final question, is it safe to build the Revell T-72 M1 kit out of the box for Desert Storm setting or do I still need to make some modifications? I only have one shot with this kit… Thanks! : )
Ooops, I think I already answered my question. I put together the T-72M1 cutaway + parts page of the T-72 book. And yep, it has both the coincidence and laser rangefinders. Unless the image is error, kindly please let me know so I can make some modifications on the kit.
You can view the image by clicking / visiting the link below (large image). Thanks.
Yes, the Revell kit is fine for an Iraqi Desert Storm era tank. I’d just do some research to make sure that the T-72G (as the kit depicts) was in use by the unit markings you wish to use, if that thing bothers you.
The Republican Guard used the version called The Lion of Babylon which was an upgraded T-72M2.
If you look at the photos above that I posted, there is a slight difference on the laser rangefinder housing. It is a bit bigger when compared to the coincidence range finder housing on the top photo. That is the box in front of the gunners hatch on the left side of the turret. On the coincidence version that is smaller, and there is also another smaller box with an optics aperture in front of the commanders hatch on the right side of the turret (when viewed as if on the tank looking forward). There are also other detail differences- smoke mortars or not, grab rails on the front of the turret or not, thickness of the frontal turret armor, side skirts or not. The T-72 family has many sub variants during its’ production lifetime.