Cutting Edge Soviet Technology Circa 1969

To start, this kit is a T-64A, not a T-64. 

The dozer blades were added in the mid-70s. 

The kit's link and length tracks worked reasonably well. 

The T-64 was armed with a 115mm gun. The T-64A got the new 125mm. The 115mm barrel is from Trumpeter's T-62 Model 1972 kit. I feel that it could be made to fit this kit if one was to attempt a T-64. 

The instructions do not show the photo-etch parts for the straps that holds the unditching log in place. 

My first attempt. I used White "434" at Kubinka Tank Museum for inspiration and detailed reference. The photos were found on the Internet. (Thanks Internet!).
My primary reference is Osprey's New Vanguard 223 "T-64 Battle Tank" by Steven Zaloga.
The Aber R-113 aerial is very long and the wire didn't fit into the antenna mount. I had to sand the end into a point to get it fit.
 

Tweaked a few details. Photos show various locations for the Infantry grab handles on the turret. I used steel wire on my second attempt. 

I have used Crazy Glue to hold the flip-out "Christmas Tree" panels on for photos. Pictures of the real thing showed they got banged up pretty good so it was common to see them looking askewed. 

There seems to have a fair amount of variation with the locations of the turret tie-downs as well. The instructions show some sort of clip-bracket-thingys (B9) on the rearmost fender fuel tank. White "434" doesn't have them so I filled the holes. 

My photoetch skills are lacking and I do my best to avoid using it but this kit requires a fair amount of it. I used the rear hull grill part G5 as called out in the instructions but I now believe that was a mistake. A smaller grill is supplied with the kit (G4) and I think I should have used it for the earlier Model 1969 vehicle. 

The kit supplied unditching log is of a soft vinyl-like material which looks fine but I used a cut down chopstick instead because I'm funny that way. 

The barrel is held in position by friction alone. Part J5 is the same soft vinyl-like material as the unditching log and makes for a very snug fit. 

Various holes on the glacis were filled in and a simple splash guard was mounted between the headlights. The top of the guard was bent forward but the effect doesn't show up in the pictures very well. 

The glacis still requires a number of small clips installed for the towing cables. It looks to me that the fenders are bent down, away from the hull . I think the gaps between the middle of the hull and the stowage boxes and fuel tanks are too large. I'm hoping that they won't be as noticeable when painted.