T-72M

Johan Perremans
Strictly speaking, this is not an M but either a late T-72 with a laser RF - a tank that predates the A version - OR a T-72 built for export that predates the M. The former were built in USSR and were not meant for export. The latter were mainly built in CSSR and Poland and have small differences between them. Please see WWP G069 reference book for explanation and pics.

Trumpeter has a couple of flaws in its instructions because it does not seem to distinguish between builds and has features that were only added during modernization:
- Part H18 is only correct for a Soviet tank; for export tanks delete all but the outer most KMT fixtures.
- On that same part, you may want to add the horizontal weld that runs about 2mm underneath the upper edge
- Part H29 is not supposed to be there on this version - it may have been added on modernized Soviet tanks, but it was never seen on CSSR or Polish tanks - fill the holes
- parts B10 and B6 probably did not have anti radiation cladding, you may omit the PE parts and fill the holes
- the gill armour is optional - most export tanks were kept in pristine condition during the Cold War, but later on the parts may have been discarded
- in step 9/10 when you are building a Soviet tank, you will need to add a full array of KMT bolts to the glacis - these will need to be scratch built