Blast Models 1/35 Soviet T-72A/M1 Update First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

One of the nicest T-72 kits on the market today is the Tamiya 1/35 T-72, but it represents a particular version as it appeared early in its operational life. As we know, tanks continue to evolve as new technologies and capabilities are installed inside and out.

Blast Models of France has been turning out some interesting detail sets from what I could see in the photos in AFV Modeller. I decided to see first-hand what this company was about.

From what I could tell, the best (and perhaps only) way to obtain Blast Models' products was directly from them. A visit to their website at www.blast-models.com revealed that Blast Models is an interesting online hobby shop that sells a variety of products over and above their own product line. The site is multilingual and very easy to navigate. I ordered this T-72 turret and a few other detail sets and my order arrived via airmail a week or so later.

What comes in the box is a hollow-cast turret that features some nice detailing. Then you see at all of the parts in the two bags that go onto that very same turret!

This detail set provides everything that goes onto the turret, including those unique storage boxes, gun shields, smoke dischargers, etc.

According to the box, the set includes:

• compete new turret with corrected shape
• improved gun cover with searchlight
• improved 12.7mm Dushka machine gun
• improved details for all hatches
• new smoke dischargers
• improved stowage bins
• new accurate barrel
• additional parts for Iraqi, Finnish and Czech versions

If you've been looking for a way to create the updated T-72 version from the Tamiya kit, here is what you're looking for. This set is recommended!