Hello:- I'm putting together a Russian KV2 (Trumpeter) and have a few questions. I have looked at the books, but cannot really find the right answers I hope someone can provide some guidance.

1. Was the KV2 turret a cast assembly (in real life). I ask as I am wondering if I should be roughing up the texture of the turret side/top a little bit to simulate the rough metal. The same goes for the front of the main body of the KV2

2. What is the colour for the inside hatches? The instructions say "blue" but this seems odd!

3. Did the KV2 have rubber edges on the running gear or just straight metal?

4. What etching kit is available to replicate the barrel and rear engine grills? I've had a look, but 'm not sure which is the correct/best etch kit. I have to mail order so asking the local shop owner is not possible (he wouldn't know in anycase)
Many thanks - waiting with glue in hand! Iain

-The turret was welded, not cast, in both early model so-called KV Big turret and in later KV-2 production models. So you can confidently left it smooth.

- I don´t Know about interior hatch colour for KV-2s but I seem to remember threads about this issue for early model T-34s and I think they said that there was both examples of white and dark green -the vehicle exterior colour-. The later option is the more logical as it camouflaged the vehicle with opened hatches.

- The road wheels were just straight metal, without rubber.

- I think Aber is a good option for both the barrel and the exhausts. I used the later and although quite a bit frustating to assemble it gave superb results. If you go for a simpler set maybe the Eduard set is your choice, but the look for the specific set for the exhausts as I think to remember that the first sets for KV-1 and KV-2 -general sets, not only for grills- have not so good made grills. But I let other people answer this question because, as stated, I´ve only used the Aber grill set.

Hope this helps you

Many thanks for answering my questions - I appreciate your time.

Another quick question re: the KV2 turret and main body.

Did the Russians apply coatings to the turrets/main body to remove the metal smoothness?

What I am referring to here is the texture that ihas been applied to many of the T-43s. I am not sure what they call it. Cheers.....Iain

To may knowledge there was not coating added. HAtch color is a good question. I researched this alot for a T-35 I did. Seems pre war and early, very eraly like the July-September ar so of 41 the hatches were white. Lots of pics of July destoried tanks with white hatches. After this they seem to go to the green would guess they learned the hatches showed up really well. The guy to get into contact with is Neil Stokes. Not sure if he is areound here but I know he is on missing link. I have a link to a popwerpoint he has that is excellent I just have to find it.

Hi Iain.
The turret was welded & bolted plate. See those large rings on the back side of the turret ... they are bolts inserted and welded in place.
Below is an image of the KV2 outside Moscows museum. As you can see ... no texture a such.


The turret hatch interior appears to be 2 colours. The outside colour on the outer frame, and the interior colour on the hatch centre. The first image below shows this (although behind a coat), but the other images are clear that there are 2 colours. Forthe rest, Id go with outer colour.








(images are saved from the net, and are for discussion purposes only)

The road wheels are all metal.

Aber would be a good choice of nets, but look for the later (flat at one end) design.
See here for a similar discussion on Missing Links. See Neil Stoke´s reply.

You can find Neil Stokes' KV seminar here.

HTH.

-YL

The steel used for the turret is what is called rolled steel. It is cut to shape and welded together to make the turret. It is very smooth. For your T-34 research, some of the turrets are welded (from rolled steel and they have "blocky" turrets) and some (in fact most) are cast turrets, meaning they are made in molds from molten steel. The molds are formed from a special sand mixture, so it have a rough finish. (I worked in a aluminum foundry many years ago.)

The best color for the interior hatches would be the same green as the exterior. While there were some that would have white interiors, by far the most of the KV-II would have green hatch interiors.

Some very good information - thank you for sharing.

I have a German helmet that has a rough texture applied to the helmet. It looks like very small pebbles painted onto the surface. In museum, I've seen this appearance on a few American vehicles.

Do you know what this covering is called?

Did the Soviets use this type of covering on any of their vehicles (nor the KV2) ?

What you are talking about sounds like non-slip texturing, like on modern US AFV's. I am not sure that this was a common practice on Russian AFV's in WWII.

Also not sure why the German helmet has this...

Hi Iain,

about the steel-surface all has been said.

Indeed, the road wheel didn' have rubber on it, but the return rollers did! (at least most often)

About the hatches: the big "door" at the turrets back isn't a regular crew entry-hatch! (therefore it's color isn't representative for the hatches!) No one would have been that silly to screw/bolt a crew-hatch, not even pre-war soviets . This opening seems to be for gun- or ammo-access, at least to me.

For good references on KV-2 look here: http://mechcorps.rkka.ru/files/kv2/kv2.htm

You'll find most hatches to be painted in the exterieur color.

I myself added all three Aber-sets (fenders, boxes and general) plus their barrel to a build (crazy, adding AM-stuff worth 4 times the basic kit!). If only looking for the engine grills, Aber makes a simple set of grills that should make it, too.

Best wishes

Volker

Thank you for your comments.................Iain