T-Model TK72002 - 1:72 Russian 2A72 30 mm Barrel for ACE BTR-80A

T-Model turned metal 2A72 30 mm barrel for the ACE BTR-80A kit in 1:72 scale

T-Model TK72002 is a turned metal barrel for the 2A72 30 mm autocannon in 1:72 scale, intended for the BTR-80A wheeled armoured personnel carrier kit by ACE (kit no. 72172). The slim BTR-80A barrel is the first thing the eye settles on and at the same time the hardest part to reproduce properly in plastic – hence the turned metal replacement.

The accessory also fits other kits of vehicles armed with the 2A72 in the same scale, provided the mantlet opening accepts the barrel's mounting pin. The swap takes a few minutes and the result is immediate: a straight, truly round barrel with an open muzzle and no seam to clean up.

What's in the box:

• Turned 2A72 30 mm cannon barrel

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Product code: TK72002
• Manufacturer: T-Model
• Intended kit: BTR-80A by ACE (kit no. 72172)
• Type: turned metal barrel
• Material: metal (brass)
• Release: 2017

Turned metal barrels – a quick upgrade for any model

A turned metal barrel has a perfectly round cross-section and an open, thin-walled muzzle – features that are difficult to achieve in injection moulding. A plastic barrel usually comes as two halves whose seam has to be filled and sanded, which almost always affects roundness, and the muzzle needs to be drilled out on top of that. A turned replacement solves all of this in a single part, which is why changing the barrel is one of the fastest ways to raise the quality and detail level of a model.

How to use: the opening in the turret normally needs to be opened up slightly with a drill of the appropriate diameter – it helps to start with a smaller bit and work up to the size of the barrel's mounting pin. We suggest fixing the barrel with cyanoacrylate glue, keeping it aligned with the turret axis; checking the alignment from above and from the side before the glue sets is worth the extra moment. Before painting, degreasing the metal and applying a primer made for metal is advisable, as paint adheres poorly to a smooth turned surface.

About the vehicle – BTR-80A:

The BTR-80 is a Soviet and later Russian 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier introduced into service in 1986 as a development of the BTR-70. The most important changes concerned the powerplant and the dismount arrangement: two petrol engines were replaced by a single diesel, and the side troop hatches were redesigned so that dismounting was faster and safer.

The BTR-80A version of 1994 received a new, tall turret with a 2A72 30 mm autocannon in place of the heavy machine gun. This gave the vehicle a genuine capability against lightly armoured and aerial targets while retaining the amphibious ability and mobility typical of the whole family. The vehicle weighs about 14.5 t, carries a crew of 3 plus 7 dismounts, and its roughly 260 hp engine gives about 80 km/h on roads and about 9 km/h in water.

The 2A72 is a Russian 30 mm automatic cannon with reduced recoil compared with the 2A42, adapted for light chassis. Its rate of fire is around 330 rounds per minute. Besides the BTR-80A it was also used in the BMP-3 and the BMD-2 and BMD-3.

Original vehicle data (BTR-80A):

• Type: 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier
• Weight: approx. 14.5 t
• Crew: 3 + 7 dismounts
• Main armament: 2A72 30 mm autocannon
• Powerplant: diesel engine of approx. 260 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 80 km/h on road, approx. 9 km/h in water
• BTR-80A introduced: 1994
• 2A72 rate of fire: approx. 330 rounds/min

About the manufacturer – T-Model:

T-Model is a Chinese manufacturer of scale models and modelling accessories based in Beijing. The brand is known above all for 1:72 and 1:35 kits and accessories covering modern American vehicles and German Second World War railway rolling stock. The range includes plastic model kits as well as photo-etched parts, wooden decks, turned metal details, masks and decals. Turned barrels are a regular part of that range and are designed for specific kits available on the market.