Russian KV-1
|
Stock Number, Description, Price and Contents | Trumpeter 1/35 Scale KV-1 Tank kits: Kit No. 00359, Russia KV-1 Model 1942 Heavy Cast Turret Tank; 311 parts (288 in grey styrene, 18 clear vinyl keepers, 2 black vinyl track sections, 2 clear plastic, 1 twisted copper wire); retail price US $24.95 Kit No. 00360, Russia KV-1 Model 1942 Lightweight Cast Tank; 310 parts (287 parts in grey styrene, 18 vinyl keepers, 2 black vinyl track sections, 2 clear plastic, 1 twisted copper wire); retail price US $24.95 |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Review Type: | First Look |
Advantages: | Correct variants of the last two major production models of the KV-1 to see service; correct details provided for each one, but "mix and match" is also possible (see text) |
Disadvantages: | Some confusion among modelers may result (see text); ejection pin marks on "link and length" tracks will need cleanup |
Recommendation: | Highly Recommended for all Soviet Armor fans |
FirstLook
Trumpeter is now up to five kits of the KV series tanks in release
and at least two more (an early Model 1941 and an applique – "S
Ehkranami" – are listed as well) basic models are coming; these will
pretty much complete the entire major production series of KV tanks.
As WWII – "The Great Patriotic War" – got into high gear, so did
production of all Soviet tanks that were in full scale production in
June 1941. The production of KV tanks was moved from Leningrad to
Chelyabinsk in October 1941, and all efforts at production were then
focused on getting the number of parts down, reliability up, and
numbers produced increased. To this end many of the "Cadillac"
production techniques used on KVs were eliminated or changed, and
new designs of components were evaluated and placed into service on
the production line. As a result, between May 1941 and Spring 1942
the hours required to built a KV-1 fell from over 25,000 to just
over 9,00 man-hours.
Among those were three different turret designs, made in several
different factories. Among them were the "Simplified" welded turret
(Trumpeter makes a kit of this version as their kit number 00358),
the "Heavy" cast turret, and the "Lightweight" cast turret. The
difference in the last two was that after doing some preliminary
assessments of where KV-1s were penetrated, it was decided to
lighten the new cast turret by thinning the top and rear sections
down and leaving a thickened skirt at the base of the turret and a
thickened ring around the rear machine gun position, which were seen
to be weak spots in the turret. At the same time, a few original
"Welded-bolted" turrets were still produced. Each had an item
designator: the "welded-bolted" turret was production assembly 57;
the "simplified" welded turret was assembly 157; the "heavyweight"
cast turret was assembly 257; and the "lightweight" cast turret was
assembly 957.
The latter two turrets were similar, but differed depending upon
which factory made them. Turrets cast at UZTM had a broad face,
which permitted the centering bars for aligning the mantelet mounts
to be on the face of the turret. Turrets cast at Factory No. 200
were narrower across the face, with the result that small "sponsons"
had to be cast into the front face of the turret to mount the
alignment bars.
Hulls also differed, but due to using similar parts the only way to
tell them apart was the applique armor plate on the front of the
glacis. A UZTM hull had the applique level with the top of the hull,
whereas Factory No. 200 plates stuck up several inches above the
hull roof and were usually "dog-eared" to avoid having too sharp a
section that could injure the crew.
The hulls could have either a one-piece curved rear plate that stuck
up about an inch above the top of the rear decking or an extended
rear with a flat rear plate set at about a 45 degree angle. Also,
tanks could have either a "domed" engine access cover (to clear the
air cleaner) or a "flat" engine access cover and a different air
cleaner. Production runs were interspersed and it was not possible
to use one or another feature to tell the tanks apart; only the
serial numbers would indicate when the tanks were actually built.
For example, both the APG and Bovington KV-1 tanks are Model 1942s,
with the UZTM "Lightweight" cast turret, domed engine access covers,
and "one -piece" rear hull plates; based on their serials, they were
probably built in May 1942.
Trumpeter has very cleverly split these features among these two new
kits, so that they are not simply one kit with two different
turrets. The "Lightweight" turret kit has the lightweight turret
from UZTM, a UZTM hull with a "domed" access cover and the flat
plate hull rear section. The "Heavyweight" turret kit has the
heavyweight turret from UZTM, and the "one-piece" hull rear section.
In common with all of the other KV kits, the two come with a
one-piece hull with applique sides suitable for late-model KV tanks.
each has a different set of sprues (see listing of parts used in the
KV kits at the end of the review) for its hull and turret
components. The "Heavyweight" turret is molded top and bottom,
whereas the "lightweight" one is molded in two halves, a top and a
base. Both have correct profiles, including the visible "skirt" on
the "Lightweight" turret.
Each comes with the late-model cast wheels and all steel return
rollers; note that the cast wheels use Tamiya-style vinyl keepers
whereas the 1941 variants do not. Detail is outstanding with casting
webs for strength on the backs of each wheel half. Also, there are
separate centers for covering the suspension arm joint with the
torsion bar.
Tracks come as 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.
Each kit comes with specific marking and finishing directions. The
"Heavyweight" one has a winter scheme and one of three numbers may
be used for a single unit. The "Lightweight" one comes with two
slogans, "Za Rodinu!" (For the Motherland) or "Pobeda Za Budet" (The
Victory Will Come). It also has Guards badges and stars.
In summary, these are outstanding kits, and the only problem may be
confusion among some modelers not aware of the differences in the
kits or the two versions of the tank. Hopefully this review helps
sort them out for people who want a specific combination. (It is
also easy to buy both and swap turrets, as the Soviets at
Chelyabinsk certainly did!)
Highly Recommended
List of Kit Sprues in
Trumpeter Kits and their parts breakdown
A 68 Foredeck assembly and
suspension details
B1 2 Sides (Early)
B2 2 Sides (Late)
C 38 Model 1941 fenders and rear hull details
D1 18 Turret race and front hull details
D2 10 Model 1942
D3 15 Model 1941
E1 12 Welded wheel centers (Late)
E2 12 Welded wheels (Late)
F1 48 Fenders and details
F2 6 Engine deck - squared off
F3 9 Optional KV parts
G 78 Cast wheels (Late)
H 19 152mm KV barrel and details
J 30 Welded wheels (early)
K 22 KV "Big Turret" turret and details
L 25 KV-2 turret details and race
P 18 KV-1 Simplified Turret base and details
Q 5 Engine deck - rounded
R 4 Lightweight Cast Turret
S 2 Lights (clear)
T 28 Link and length tracks
18 Clear vinyl wheel keepers (cast wheel versions only)
Text and Images by
Cookie Sewell
Page Created 18 May, 2006
Page Last Updated
17 May, 2006