1/72 scale T-62 Comparison & Trumpeter 1/72 Russian T-62 BDD construction (by Erhan Atalay)

Hello dear friends,

Today, I will share an article about 1/72 scale T-62 kits. I hope it will be useful. 

There are two plastic kits (and variations) on the market. (I didn't add the ACE kit which is out of the market anymore)

The first kit was released in 1988 by Esci/Ertl. This kit was later boxed by Italeri from 2002 to the present. The second kit was released 30 years later by Trumpeter in 2018. Trumpeter produced 4 different versions by making minor additions to this kit..

I previously shared the review of these kits in miniafv blog. 

Esci / Italeri T-62 :http://miniafv...esci-172-t62-m-mbt-review.html 

Trumpeter T-62 :http://miniafv..../t62bdd.html

All T-62 page in miniafv archive :http://miniafv..../label/T-62

Happy modelling,

Erhan...

First, let's take a look at the wheels. Esci has very bad molding. Wrong pattern and one piece thick wheels. Terrible..In those years, alternative wheels were only available in the PST T-55 kit. (and maybe ACE kit) Revell T-55, Italeri (T-55), Trumpeter (T-55) and others had not yet ben released. I changed with PST T-55 kit wheels. From left to right Esci and PST wheels. 

Let's review the tracks..

Esci/Italeri T-62 has the link and length track with good detail on the outside but no central teeth on the inner surface. 

The trumpeter kit tracks are modeler friendly with easy assembly. And has enough detail for a one-piece molded track-wheel set.

Esci kit (with PST wheels) on top, Trumpter kit on bottom. 

and bodies...The Esci/Italeri kit details are more satisfying.

Both claim to be 1/72 scale. However the differences in dimensions are striking. I measured the bodies. But I don't have very precise measuring instruments. Also, I may have taken measurements at the wrong points. I may have made minor mistakes.

According to my measurements, 

                                     length         width 

T-62 (original)              663 cm       330 cm  (without barrel) 

1/72 scale                    9,21 cm      4,58 cm

Esci/Italeri kit               9,8 cm        5,2 cm

Trumpeter kit               9,3 cm        4,6 cm

according to my measurements, 

Esci/Italeri kit like 1/68 scale with length and 1/64 scale with width,

Trumpeter kit 1/72 scale with some tolarence (if my measurements are accurate)

We have two alternatives for making the 1/72 scale T-62, vintage kit Esci and Trumpeter,  Trumpeter kit 30 years younger than Esci.

Which one do you prefer ?

Esci is a nostalgia, a trend. However we observed mistakes in it's mesaurements. Tracks are bad, wheels are wrong, I wish the Italeri had corrected these when re-released. The Trumpeter kit has nice molding. The dimensions are correct. Installation is easy. However, Trumpeter engineers forgot a lot of details when designing the mold. Maybe, need some scratchbuild parts. Still, I prefer the Trumpeter kit. (I'm lucky, I made both kits.. 

Erhan..

Finaly,  here is the  completed but un-paint Trumpeter T-62 BDD tank..