Hi everyone

I wondered if anyone had had any experience building the IS-2 kit from Zvezda?
I have only ever worked with Zvezda figures before and never built one of their vehicles.

I came across one of their IS-2 cheap and wondered if it was worth getting? I plan to use a lot of after market stuff anyway but wasn't sure if a lot was made/compatible for this kit as most is for use with Tamiya or Trumpeter for example.

I know a lot guys use Zvezda for modern Russian Vehicles as basis for conversions and aftermarket upgrades, but wasn't sure about their WW2 stuff.

Any feedback or tips would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Don't know how accurate the kit is , but it looks like a IS2. Sort of old school molding , solid sceening on engine deck ,chunky hand rails ,nice seam on the gun. Typical 2 piece rubber band tracks , I replaced mine with some from a Trump KV. They fit the drive sprocket perfectly ,needed to remove 2/3 links . Didn't like comanders hatchs so replaced with one from spares box. Needs to have texture added to all cast surfaces , Replace aamg ! Mines not going to even be considered for entry in any contest , but it was FUN to work on this kit . Lots possibilitys if you want to go wild with extra goodies. Or you could build Tamiya's oob .But where s the challenge in that... JIm

Thanks for the feedback Jim.

Actually I have my eye on alot of aftermarket upgrades. For example the new Miniarm turret says it fits the Zvezda kit also. I'm planning on adding a load of photo etch and my own brass rod etc for handles, also, and use resin wheels and tracks.

Basically I only need a base kit to work from much like with my T-90 using the Tamiya T-72 only as a base to build from.

I'm only considering it because at the moment I am in Belarus in Minsk and I saw it in a local store really cheap for only a few pounds.

I built it a good few years ago almost out of the box and if you can get it cheap enough then go for it.
It goes together well and I can't remember any fit problems. You might not even need the miniarm Turret if you add some texture and casting seams but aftermarket tracks and gun are a must. I don't know if there is a etch set for it. I took the fenders off the front and replaced them with foil.

It doesn't make a whole lot of economic sense to buy an old, crude kit plus a lot of expensive accessories rather than a nice, state of the art kit which needs very little improvement. Zvezda's kit was dimensionally more accurate than Dragon's but detail and molding were poor, and the stiff, vinyl tracks were dreadful. Expect sink marks in the centers of all the torsion bar arms, for instance. The Tamiya kit is an easy build, and offers a choice of soft plastic glueable tracks or very nice link and length styrene tracks with track sag molded in place. I liked Aber's photoetch brass engine screens better than Tamiya's photoetch steel ones, but that's the only aftermarket item I bothered with.

While I would agree that Tamiya's IS-2 is the best kit out right now, it is not without its own fault (especially price) that will also have to be dealt with.

If you look in my photo album, page 7 has most of my build, with a couple on page 6.





My build was a combination of both Zvezda and DML kits. I bought it this way off of eBay, so I take no credit for setting the pieces up. I also used the Eduard PE set for the Zvezda kit. You can sort of make out the very light gray pieces of the DML kit on the medium gray pieces of the Zvezda kit.

From DML kit: Commanders coupola (top half), air vent cover loaders hatch, drivers visor cover, side box over right fender, Sprockets, tracks, rear turret MG mount (in Zvezda casting for the MG), barrel lock on rear fender, fuel barrel sponsons, headlight, and tow lugs.

I blanked off the under side of the sponsons, added a new upper hull mg barrel, added bolts to the muzzle brake, and added casting numbers to the back of the turret.

This was built as a commision, so a lot of work I would have done for competition was not doen for this build...but it still is one of my favorite pieces I have done.

The Zvezda hull/turret texture is weird, but easily toned down. Tamiya's, in my opinion, is too smooth and needs to be wroked on as well, so it is a wash there. Tamiya has much better details OOB than Zvezda, but if you mix a DML/Zvezda kit, you can do very well. Tamiya's kit needs engine deck screens just like Zvezda's.

In the end Tamiya kit + Engine screens and a little work get you a nice model for a higher price.

The Zvezda kit + DML kit + Eduard PE will also get you a nice model for less money but more work.

Thanks for the feedback Jacques, thats really interesting and very helpful.

Nice build Pat, I' no expert on the IS-2 but your tank looks real good to me!

Gerald, thanks for your input, although I'd have to disagree. Since I want to use the Miniarm turret, wheels and tracks anyway, wouldn't it make less sense to buy an expensive Tamiya kit as a base kit to add these elements too?

The Tamiya kit retails at 35 pounds in the UK, I can get the Zvezda kit here in Minsk for maybe 2-3 pounds. If I included the Miniarm Turret alone, some simple PE, and scratched the other improvements I would still have made the kit for the same price but with better aftermarket upgrades. Plus theres the fun of the challenge of turning an old older kit into something good.

I think as Jacques shows, it's definatley possible.

Go for it Jon that's a great deal anyway you look at it.

Thanks Pat I think I will.

I found a store here that stocks loads of Zvezda Stuff. My in laws got me two figure sets as a gift, the modern tank crew and the Vympel FSB set.

They have a lot of kits here that I haven't seen in the UK, and I have been thinking of getting some WW2 figure sets since they are so crazily cheap, just to build and review here for Armorama. Theres a very interesting set I saw yesterday that has a Soviet Crew manning a WW2 DSHK on a tripod, it looks like a rather recent release. They've also got a great Soviet Assault Team from Berlin thats very similar to the recent Miniarm figures but in plastic.