PT-76B Light AmphibiousTank

Manufacturer: PST (Kit No.72053)

by Stephen Brezinski ,Portland, Maine USA

Vehicle Background for The Modeler

Light amphibious tank, developed andproduced in the 1950’s. The PT-76B variant was produced 1963to 1968. Over 12,000 were produced and used by many Warsaw Pactnations, North Vietnam, Egypt (in 1973 War), by Israel (captured)and by other nations. Well armed with a 76-mm cannon it waslightly armored and large so as to allow it to retain itsamphibious feature. This PT-76B variant differs from earlierversions by its double-baffle muzzle break, fume evacuator anddouble-axis gun stabilization.

The PT-76 chassis was later modified anddeveloped into the BTR-50 APC, ASU-85 airborne tank, and then theBMP which largely has replaced the PT-76 in the reconnaissancerole.

Kit Parts

• About 115 green styrene plastic parts (not including individual track links) on four sprues. My first impression is that it is well detailed. The kit appears to match my references for the PT-76B well.

• Packed in a sealed plastic bag and inside a sturdy box with handsome box art.

• Four pages of kit instructions, and two pages of painting & markings instructions. Instructions appear clear.

The hull

Parts are finely and delicately cast.Assembly of the hull requires gluing the top, the two sides andbottom together. Thin flash is on a number of small parts thoughclean-up does not appear difficult. Unlike the PST T-55 model,the torsion-bar suspension arms are not separate but are moldedonto the hull sides (typical of most small scale models).

The circular item on the turret rear is aturret vent, similar to that on top of the T-34-85 and T-55.Unfortunately the seam where the turret halves come together goesright through this vent. The turret grab handles are a littlethick though is acceptable and their design precludes easysubstitution with wire.

The decal markings look good, arecolorful and are in-register. Water slide decal markings are fortwo Soviet, one Polish and one East German vehicle.

The Wheels & Tracks

Tracks are the link & length typecommon to many ESCI, and to ACE, Revell, and PST models. Thetracks and wheels look reasonably accurate. Little clean-upappears necessary to assemble.

Conclusions

Overall a very nice looking model kitthat does not look difficult to assemble and without (I hope) theinaccuracies of the PST T-55 kit. ACE Models has recentlyreleased their version of the PT-76 tank so a comparison reviewof the two 1/72 models would be nice.

Happy modeling.