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Russia KV-1S' Ehkranami (00357)
Russia KV-1S' Ehkranami
by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description
Trumpeter Kit Number 00357; Russia KV-1S'
Ehkranami
Scale:
1/35
Media and Contents:
297 parts (292 in grey styrene, 2 black
vinyl track runs, 2 clear styrene, 1 length of twisted copper wire)
Price:
retail price US $24.95
Review Type:
First Look
Advantages:
Continues to cover the entire family of KV
heavy tanks; very nicely done kit
Disadvantages:
Wrong rear plate on hull
Recommendation:
Highly Recommended for all Soviet Armor
fans
FirstLook
This is the sixth Trumpeter KV series tank kit to be released.
When the Germans invaded the USSR in June 1941, rumors of the German
panzers were circulating that said at least one of them had a 100mm
gun which could defeat any known Russian tank. This caused a bit of
a panic, as the Soviets had not figured on such weapons being in
service with the Germans. As it turned out they were not, and it was
still some 17 months before they began to run into the Tiger with
its 88mm gun that could knock out the big KV series tanks.
But as a precaution, both the KV-1 and the T-34 were ordered to be
fitted with applique armor plate as fast as possible. This commenced
on 1 July 1941, but by the end of the month it was seen that the
Germans did not have any wonder tanks and the order was rescinded.
Therefore, only about 85 tanks in Leningrad and 24 in Chelyabinsk
were built with this suite of applique armor fitted. They survived
longer than some other tanks, and were seen with slogans painted on
their turrets. The best known one was "Bey fashistskuyu gabinu!"
(Fight the Fascist Reptile!")
Trumpeter has now release this tank as a kit, using three new sprues
for its KV collection. These provide the new turret – the so-called
"welded/bolted" turret, so named as it was initially bolted together
and then the bolt heads were covered in weld bead and the seams
welded up – and the applique, plus a set of the heavy-duty welded
wheels with central rubber shock absorbers.
In common with all of the other KV kits, the two come with a
one-piece hull with applique sides suitable for early-model KV
tanks. As it is a 1941 version, it does not come with vinyl keepers
for the road wheels, which simply cement in place. Tracks again
offer either black vinyl one-piece sections or 28 part "link and
length" styrene as with previous kits. The styrene ones have some
ejection pin marks that need cleaning, however. Also, the gun barrel
and tow cable heads are "slide molded" so are pre-drilled, which
eases one chore. Twisted copper wire is provided for the cables.
Lastly, clear plastic lenses are provided for the headlight and
taillight.
The applique is correct as it comes with "stand-off" mountings ; the
cover of the Kolomiyets book on the KV heavy tank (Istoriya Tanka
KV) has a clear shot of a KV-1 s Ehranami on the cover (note that
there is no apostrophe between the "S" and "Ehkranami" as it is the
Russian word form for "With Applique"). The one on the cover has an
early model hull with level glacis applique amd lower pane; but most
of the KV-1 s Ehkranami tanks appear to have had the early model
rear deck (flat plate and curved end) as provided on the KV "Big
Turret" kit and not the one-piece curved plate which comes with the
kit. The plans in "Istoriya Tanka KV" show the latter plate, so
apparently it was during this production run that the factory began
to shift over to speed things up.
There were some comments about the rear vision devices not being far
enough to the rear, but again these plans show them right where the
kit has them. They do show up as sitting in quite a ways on the KV
tanks with the "welded/bolted" turret, both with and without
applique; they do sit farther to the rear on the cast turreted
tanks.
The kit's directions also show the proper placement of the bins and
other accessories on this version, so it is pretty much dead on the
money.
Only one finishing option is provided, overall 4BO green with the
above cited markings. Another one (not provided in the kit) is
"Pobeda Budet Za Nami!" (The Victory will be Ours!) But I am not
sure where you can find the decals.
In summary, this continues the nice job done on the KV tanks by
Trumpeter.