T-72M1 (T-72A) Corrected Turret

JS-Models

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Reviewed by Philip Goudin

JS-Models of Finland produces a replacement resin turret for the Tamiya T-72M1, kit number 35160. This replacement is offered as a solid resin casting to which smaller details such as hatches, smoke grenade dischargers, storage boxes, lifting hooks and IR projectors have to be added from a donor Tamiya turret.

This turret correctly addresses the problems inherent with the turret included in the Tamiya T-72M1 kit. The errors addressed are that its roof top slopes up too much, the turret sides are rounded off too much and they also do not protrude out far enough. Additonally, the turret front is shaped wrong. All these faults can be discerned when comparing the original kit turret with photos of the actual vehicle.

Other corrected details include the wiring for the 902A/B smoke grenade dischargers that have been added, these run to the base of each discharger. The gun mantel top is smaller in size compared to the Tamiya part and the X-shaped characteristic of tanks fitted with 2A46 gun is present. The gunner LRF/Day site box has had the window wiper motor added, the periscope in front of the gunners hatch is improved and has its cover added.

A characteristic feature that is also missing from the Tamiya T-72M1 turret is the casting number just in front of the tank commanders’ cupola, these numbers are present on the JS-Models turret. There are no instructions provided with the turret due probably in part to it being a single piece but they do provide a black and white sheet with five good pictures of Finish Army T-72M1 tanks. A real T-72M1 was used as reference to produce this turret.

I would recommend this turret to anyone who is building a Tamiya T-72M1; it greatly improves the look of the model.

Price is 23 Euro and the only distributor of the JS-Models product is T:mi Kuivalainen web store, http://www.kolumbus.fi/martti.kuivalainen/engindex.html
 

Review and Images Copyright © 2002 by Phillip Goudin
Page Created 19 March, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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