According to Tankograd the difference in height is 130 mm.
Image for discussion only
The drawing in Tankgrad book measures a hull height of 15,5 mm for the late hull.
Image for discussion only
The drawing in Tankgrad book measures a hull height of 15,5 mm for the late hull.
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The Tankograd drawing is fine for an intermediate hull PT 76. The book itself is confusing, although they state the difference between a NATO PT 76B and. Russian PT 76B they still describe some photos as PT 76B based on the change in muzzle brake, page 40 there is an early hull and turret with the double baffle muzzle brake described as a PT 76B.
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That shows the difference in height of the early and late hulls a 130mm difference, the intermediate hull was only raised 60mm at the turret to produce a downward slope over the rear deck, the hulls were raised another 70mm overall to improve water handling. If you can’t see the notch in the side, the distance of the headlights to the splash board is another indicator between late and early/intermediate hulls, the longer nose of the late produces a larger gap.
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Very confusing. 
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It’s confusing because the NATO designation PT 76B refers to any with the double baffle muzzle brake, whereas the Russian PT 76B refers to those only with the full raise of the hull all other are referenced to year model.
Given that tanks were periodically rebuilt to include the changes means that later features coexist on early vehicles but the hulls remained the 3 types.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Russian tanks!
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I will get me a high hull kit and use Tankograd´s drawing for reference. Will be enough for my GDR NVA build.
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Morning all, late to the conversation, but was wondering which would be right for a PAVN/NVA PT-76B? I have the 381 kit. Wayne
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From Ben Het? A new PT-76 will be an ideal subject for a Chinese maker, Trumpeter excluded.
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i was wondering which version of the PT-76 the North Vietnamese used at the battle of Lang Vie?
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With pics here, some might help.
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Most Vietnamese ones I have seen have been late hull PT 76B (the one that’s missing) although they might have other versions as some were delivered from Soviet stock. But yeah photos are helpful.
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Also, be advised that the drawings in the Russian model magazine M-Khobbi must be reviewed closely. They have published two drawings and they have acknowledged that the earlier one is wrong. The M-Kh drawings have been know to appear elsewhere, so pay cloae attention - you don’t know if lter usera knew bout the error. (*) Dimensioned drawings like what Simon postedare best - once verified.
(*) I’m working from memory but it might have been the source of Trumpeter’s PT-76B. They and Hobby Boss evidently follow the drawings in Russian publications to the literal fault, so if there’s a mistake or just a simplification, the kit deaign will incorporate it.
KL
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I’m not good at pulling pics off the google, but if you type in PT76 Vietnam images there are some, especially an interesting one of a line of them with the first one having the early gun . Wayne
If you mean this one
The first is definitely an early, meaning that the Soviet Union shipped whatever it had spare at the time.
Whereas this is a late version,
This one is an intermediate version, although I can’t confirm whether it’s Vietnamese or not but came up in the search.
Do a pretty good job of describing the differences
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Yes, that was the picture I was talking about. Seems like like the first 3 kits might work.
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No, only 00379 will work for that, 00380 is likewise acceptable with a replacement the gun tube. The other two Trumpeter kits have the wrong hulls for PAVN tank P 053 in the picture.
KL
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It’s easier if you ignore the shorthands and designations and concentrate on features. There are only three variants that matter to modelers:
Early - Original hull, exhaust screen stands above deck, uninterrupted hull side at exhaust, joint between hull top and glacis runs through the driver’s hatch, multi-slotted muzzle brake with smooth tube
Intermediate - Hull raised 60mm from original, exhaust screen approximately flush with deck, uninterrupted hull side at exhaust, joint between the hull top and glacis runs behind the driver’s hatch, double baffle muzzle brake with mid-tube bore evacuator
Late - Hull raised 130mm from original, nose lengths and angles changed, exhaust screen recessed into deck, notched hull side at exhaust, joint between the hull top and glacis runs behind the driver’s hatch, double baffle muzzle brake with mid-tube bore evacuator
There are occasions where a tank has a different gun than you would expect, or a latter gun with bore evacuator but no muzzle brake.
Regarding 1/35 models:
Early: Trumpeter 00379; with upgraded gun, Trumpeter 00380
Intermediate: Eastern Express 35171 (?); rework of hulls in Trumpeter 00381, 00382 (?)
Late: None
KL
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