Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 scale Kit No. 87 071; Stredni tank T-72 M1;
82 parts in green styrene; price CZ Kr 290 (approximately US$16.50) (Note: also marketed by Arsenal M in Euros with their own unique kit numbers)Advantages: nicely done model of this vehicle in plastic; surpasses old Petner Panzers kit
Disadvantages: still has some rough areas and underscale bits
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale or HO Russian armor fans
For many years one of the most famous and dangerous tanks in the world, the T-72 or =93Ural=94 tank, has enjoyed a singular lack of respect in the modeling community, with one poor kit after another after another done of this significant tank. Surprising no one has yet fixed it in any scale, and the best effort in 1/35 to this day is a lukewarm attempt by Tamiya to make a T-72M1 tank.
SDV has now taken a shot at the T-72M1, and for an HO scale version it is not too bad. It is a much better kit than the now elderly Petner Panzers (now Boley) T-72 =96 a model of no particular T-72 variant with a lot of shortcomings but pretty much designed for wargaming.
This kit has a large number of small parts to detail it, and the overall shapes and details are much better. The T-72M1 turret has the proper plan form, albeit it lacks the undercuts needed by the M1 turret. With some careful trimming and putty they can be added back, but the smoke grenade launcher mounts would then have to be sanded away. (And yes, this kit does provide 12 =93Tucha=94 Type 902A smoke grenade launchers!)
In general the hull is nicely done, with separate entrenching blade and braces as well as a separate engine deck; the rear air exhaust vents are a bit undersized and the fording covers are in place, but the rest looks very good indeed.
The kit comes with skirts for the fenders as well as the 200 liter fuel tanks and racks. But it is missing the unditching log which goes under the racks, so the modeler will have to add one from styrene rodding.
The kit also comes with a good decal sheet in this scale with a number jungle and individual markings for the USSR, Hungary, the CSSR, Poland, DDR, Finland, and the FRG, it also comes with what appear to be markings for an Iraqi tank brigade (alas, the 6th which was a T-62 unit).
Overall this is a great base to start to make a detailed =9172 in HO scale, and a much better choice for the serious modeler than the Boley/ Penter kit.
Cookie Sewell
Sources:
Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: snipped-for-privacy@stevenshobby.com;
Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail snipped-for-privacy@cox.net;
Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com.
Direct from SDV at their e-store: