COBI Building Set AF T-72 (East Germany/Soviet) (COBI-2625)

Product detailed description

Model kit of the medium tank T-72 in scale 1:35. The assembled model has a rotating turret with an adjustable gun elevation, opening hatches, and an opening engine cover W46. The tank tracks are functional and the model can roll on a non-slip surface. The 2-in-1 version kit includes bricks with the insignia of the tank army of the East German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union. The package also includes a figure of a German tanker armed with an AK-47 submachine gun and a brick with a description.

Number of figures: 1 pc
Dimensions when assembled: 27.5 x 10.5 x 10 cm
Scale: 1:35
Box dimensions (packaging): 40 x 30.5 x 6 cm
Number of bricks: 680 pcs
Package weight: 795 g
Recommended age: 9+
Bricks can be combined with another well-known brand: Yes
Material: Plastic
Collection: Armed Forces

Interesting facts:
The development of the T-72 tank began in 1967 as a replacement for the T-64 model, which suffered from chassis cracking and low engine performance.
Serial production started in 1971 and continues to this day.
The new tank was to be an answer to modern German and American machines and serve as the main strike force of the Warsaw Pact states.
For Americans, however, it was not a big surprise, because as early as 1971, technical documentation reached the hands of the CIA through Polish officer Ryszard Kukliński.
The tank was manufactured under license, but also without, by several other factories in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Because the Soviet Union never shared the complete documentation needed for production, many parts produced outside Russia were not interchangeable. The quality and repeatability of production are also questionable. Many spare parts produced in Russia simply could not be used simply because they did not fit in place. The cause was a phenomenon generally known as "Russian sloppiness." For this reason, most countries equipped with T-72 tanks produced their own spare parts.
Despite all the imperfections, the T-72 tank is a dangerous opponent thanks to improved optics and a fire control system.
The low structural weight of the tank was deliberately chosen so that the tanks could cross bridges in Warsaw Pact countries, often not in good condition.
In cases where it was not possible to cross a water obstacle by dry road, the tank could be fitted with a 5 m snorkel for deep wading. In case the engine stalls underwater, the crew has only 6 seconds to restart it before it floods.
Another interesting feature is the internal lining of the tank with a material containing boron, which is intended to shield against possible radiation.
The internal space of the tank is cramped compared to Western machines, and therefore tank operators are selected from soldiers with an ideal height of 160 cm.
More than 27,000 pcs have been produced in various versions so far.
The tank in its original configuration no longer meets the required standards today, so many countries have proceeded to modernize them to the 3rd generation level.

Technical parameters of the original:
Dimensions: length 6.9 m, width 3.6 m, height 2.2 m
Weight: 40,000 kg
Armor: 16 - 80 mm
Power unit: 12-cylinder diesel engine W46-6 with a power of 574 kW
Maximum speed: 60 km/h
Range: depending on conditions +/- 500 km
Fuel consumption: summer 450 l/100 km / winter 600 l/100 km
Fuel tank capacity: 1590 l internal + 390 l external
Main armament: 2A46M cannon caliber 125 mm + PKT MG caliber 7.62 mm + machine gun caliber 12.7 mm
Secondary armament: 12x smoke grenade launcher NSVT
Crew: 3 persons