T-72M2

Step 1: Constructing the idlers, roadwheels and sprockets. 

All parts are slotted. It is important to dry fit before committing to glue. 

Step 2: Small parts on the front end of the lower hull. D-8 needed minor clean-up before it could fit properly on the idler shaft. 

 

The locations of D-14 x 2 and D-13 is vague at best. D-14 has no positive locations. 

After looking at the YouTube building video, I relocated D14 x 2. 

Step 3: This step is centred around the back plate and its fittings as well as placing the caps on the idler wheels, road wheels and sprockets. I started off with the two external fuel tanks (red). Followed by the rest of the backplate (orange), ending off with the caps on the wheels (yellow). 

I laid out the parts for the construction of the two external fuel tanks. This will provide an opportunity to scratch build the fuel lines. 

Assembly did not present any challenges. Not that the two drum ends, part D27 is slotted and fit in a specific manner into part D24/25. Part D17 (red) is an alternative to be glued to the backplate when the external fuel tanks are not fitted. 

Laying out the parts to complete the assembly of the backplate. 

The cradle for the log, parts D18 x 2 (red) installed horizontal and part B43 (yellow) should be angled slightly downward to “grab” the log, part B25. 

It is best to lay the parts out and glue the parts from the centre to the sides. Placement is vague at best and dry fitting with a dash of patience is of the essence. 

The construction of the backplate is completed. 

The caps are specific to the idlers, roadwheels and sprockets. 

Step 3 completed. 

Step 04: Tracks. An aftermarket item from MiniArt was used. 

The kit supplied tracks was replaced with an aftermarket product from MiniArt. Make short runs of twelve tracks. A flat surface and pair of pliers are needed to carefully insert the pins. 

Step 05: Upper Hull. Involves a number of parts and assembly will be done from the back working my way around the sides towards the front. Part B45 (red) was not marked on the sprue tree and had to be hunted down using the sprue map. First glue B29 to B34 (orange) to each other to ensure it lines up before gluing the assembly to the upper hull. B39 should be slightly inclined. B1, B2 and B38 (yellow) should be lined up with the cut-outs on the upper hull (yellow arrow) before committing to glue. A hole (lime green) for the driver’s hatch must be drilled out from the bottom. On the bottom there is an extrusion. 

B45 had to be hunted down on the sprue map. It was not marked on the actual sprue tree. 

The parts required for the side panels and exhaust. Note that there are no locating pins or indicators to accurately attach the side panels to. 

 

Drill out the location, an extrusion for the driver’s hatch hinge. 

Drill out two holes to accommodate the two fuel lines coming from the external fuel tanks. 

Locations for the fuel lines drilled out. 

The parts to be glued to the front of the upper hull. Start off by installing the hatches, then the wading plate, working your way to the sides. 

Assembly on the front end completed. 

Step 05 completed. 

Step 06: Turret assembly. Start off by priming with Mr. Surfacer 1000 diluted 50/50 with Mr. Color Levelling Thinner 400 and painting the turret interior C1, C2 and hatch interiors C3, C4, B24 with Tamya White X-2. Glue the top and bottom halves (red) to each other. Glue the smaller parts (orange) to the turret top. Assemble the main gun and mantlet (yellow) as a subassembly. Assemble the commander’s cupola + searchlight and gunner’s cupola (Lime-green) as a sub assembly. The smoke dispensers (light blue) were assembled as a subassembly. There are pronounced sink marks seamlines on the parts. Of the eight tubes (E6), six were drilled out to generate interest representing tubes fired. The next subassembly was the back facing searchlight (purple). The main searchlight (black) is the final subassembly. Note the numbers B7 and B8 has been misallocated. I left off A10 and A14 until last. 

Construction of the turret. The parts laid out. 

The subassemblies. 

Highlighting the specific location and orientation of certain parts: C12 (red) was replaced with a piece of wire. Note the orientation of A13 (orange) x 2. A12 (yellow). Six of the eight smoke dispenser tubes E6 (lime green) were drilled out. The barrel’s end was drilled out to add realism. 

The main searchlight mounting part B6 was glued to be horizontal. 

Drilled out the barrel.. 

Step 07: Assembly of the anti-aircraft machine gun and snorkel. Part A18 was not labelled, but fortunately easily found on the tree. Start off with the machine gun itself. Note the options between part A16 and A17. I chose A17 which will place the machine gun in an elevated position and add a point of interest.  

All the parts laid out.
Drilled out the barrel of the machine gun. 

 

The locations of parts are very vague in the instructions. A closeup showing the location of part A11. 

The precise location/orientation of part C5 is not clear. This seems to be the correct way. 

Steep 08: Turret bins and the assemblies from Step 07. Drill out the holes in B32 (red) in order to attach the snorkel. There are clear indicators on the inside of the bin. Attach B18 and C11 (orange). The turret bins are then assembled as subassemblies and finally attached to the turret. The locations of D28 (lime green) is vague and in both cases glued to the turret bin’s sides. 

Holes to be drilled out if you choose to mount the snorkel. 

The parts and subassemblies laid out. 

The subassemblies are completed for final assembly. 

Turret assembled. Ready for primer. 

Step 09: Mating the three major assemblies together, the side skirts and the towing cable. The towing hooks part D19 x 2 have been slotted the wrong way around. I removed the pins and replace it with plastic rod. As shown in the instructions is the right way around. 

The parts laid out. 

The top hull was warped. Rather than taking heat/a hairdryer to the part, strips of styrene was glued to the top hull and glued with two-part epoxy to the bottom hull. 

Parts B46 and B47 was used as a template to replace the plastic parts (red) with a rope substitute (orange). 

This concludes the assembly of the major assemblies, ready for priming. 

Using styrene, the fuel hoses on the auxiliary fuel tanks were scratched build to represent the actual tank layout. 

Ready for primer. 

The entire model was painted with SF-288 Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black. Finally, the tracks were painted with XF-84 Tamiya Old Iron. 

Fuel lines were scratch build. 

Pre-highlighting applied. 

A base coat of Mr. Hobby Russian Green(2), followed by Ammo by Mig Jimenez Acrylic Paints Russian Shine A.MIG-935 and Ammo by Mig Jimenez Acrylic Paints Russian Green Base A.MIG-932 as highlights. 

In my pursuit to compare different shades of green, I reverted back to the white plastic spoon method. ① Tamiya Khaki XF-49; ② AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Russian Shine A.MIG-0935; ③ AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Russian Base (ZIS 508) A.MIG-0932; ④ AMMO Mig Acrylic Color 1BO Russian Green A.MIG-0019; ⑤ AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Dark Green (BS 241) A.MIG-0915; ⑥ Mr Hobby Mr Color Russian Green 480 1947 512; ⑦; Mr Hobby Mr Color Russian Green (2) Flat 136; ⑧ Humbrol Russian Green 114. 

A close up of the MIG products: ① AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Russian Shine A.MIG-0935; ② AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Russian Base (ZIS 508) A.MIG-0932; ③ AMMO Mig Acrylic Color 1BO Russian Green A.MIG-0019; ④ AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Dark Green (BS 241) A.MIG-0915 

More options: ① Tamiya Khaki XF-49; ② Mr Hobby Mr Color Russian Green 480 1947 512; ③; Mr Hobby Mr Color Russian Green (2) Flat 136; ④ Humbrol Russian Green 114. 

Post shading effect accomplished with AMMO Mig Acrylic Color Russian Base (ZIS 508) A.MIG-0932. 

Hand painted the Ukrainian national insignia with Tamiya Blue X-4 lightened with Tamiya White X-2 at the top and Humbrol Yellow 69 at the bottom. 

 

The turret numbers were decals (kit supplied) placed on a painted base of Ammo by Mig Acrylic Paints Dark Green BS241 (A.MIG 915). The turret number that I chose is for a tank from the 10th Separate Tank Battalion, 3rd Tank Brigade. 

A random camouflage pattern was painted on using Tamiya Acrylic Nato Bown XF-68 and Tamiya Acrylic Buff XF-57 and Tamiya Acrylic Semi-Gloss Black X-18. 

 

The anti-aircraft machine gun is the kit supplied gun and build nicely up. 

 

Painting and weathering of the tracks.