Hey folks. I'm fairly new to military modeling so this will be my first tank build. I also have a KV-2, T-34 and SU-100 for the future.



I'm taken by the odd look of this big turret tank. Lots of character which is what I like. As I'm new to this I appreciate any comments or help you may be able to lend. This is what I have done so far. A little bit of cleaning to do but pretty straight forward for the most part.



I see I'm going to have to fill the crack along the side and front panels. Some Zap a Gap may work for this.

Collins as you have not got to far with this perhaps you could use the build for the KV campaign that starts Jan 1st.

Hi Collins

I'm here to repay your kindness (Quad trouble... )

If you need references for KV2, fistable you can go here:

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M40.htm

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M40_bp.htm

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M40_img.htm

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M40_img.htm

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M41_bp.htm

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M41_img.htm

http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/galleries/KV/KV_2M41_museum.htm

http://mechcorps.rkka.ru/files/kv2/kv2.htm

http://www.battlefield.ru/en/tank-development/28-heavy-tanks/48-kv2.html

http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/WWII/KV/

http://www.otvaga2004.narod.ru/publ_w1/2007-03-02_kv4.htm

http://www.o5m6.de/kv2.html

http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/KV-2_p1.asp

http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fserkoff.narod.ru%2F&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8

http://army.lv/ru/kv-2/631/371

a walkaround

http://svsm.org/gallery/kv-2

If you want to depict a captured KV2 you can find some interesting references here

http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/kv/kv-2/kv-2.htm

I hope that's useful for you to do a good work
If you need something else let me know

Cheers

Ps..along the side you DON'T have to delete the seam line with putty





You have to render a weld line

Wow thanks Mauro thanks for the links. You are a great source for reference pics.

Darren, I've cleaned the road wheel parts off the tree so perhaps I've gone too far!

Hey Collins, I would still drop by and ask Warren if he's ok with it.

Nice start. They´re great kits, so you got yourself a nice one to break into military modelling with. Looking good so far.

Hi Collins, this is a great kit. Just to point out, the "big" turret is the prototype KV-2 ca. 1939 while those pics are of a non-service vehicle that has some unusual features not seen on the production variants or the prototype. Before you put in the effort to reproduce weld seams, etc. that you are in those pics, I would check in the Stokes' KV book or the tankograd KV-2 big to confirm your references.

I decided to go ahead and put on the wheels and sprockets. I wonder if anybody can tell me the difference between the options included for the engine cover of this kit?



Panzerdoc, I don't have any reference books to consult with. I wonder if there is a good site that will tell me what I need to know? Is there anybody here that can give me a run down of what this tank actually is? I have seen photos that would suggest they saw some action, but am not sure of the not so obvious differences between this and the regular "square" turret that is so often seen. Any help would be appreciated.Thanks a bunch.

So looking at the links above from Mauro, this tank is a KV-2, MT-1 turret (U-1). Right? So I just have to find some specific pictures/ info/walkarounds on this model and I should be all set. Anybody have anything else to add? I know there must beat least half a dozen experts around here.

Plasticbalttle, your avatar must be a picture of Lemmy. Either that or a close relation?

After searching the net for a couple of hours I see that this is a Model 1939 and can be turned into a 1940 Prototype without too much difficulty. What I'd like to know is where these tanks were used. Was the 1939 version strictly experimental? Did either of these see much combat service? And what is the differnce between a U-1 U-3 and U-4? Thanks in advance.

The prototype vehicles saw combat during the russofinnish war and barbarossa. but there were very few of them. Actually, there weren't very many of the 3 KV-2 production variants made either. The KV-2 was initially designed to engage/destroy fixed positions during the russofinnish war. Basically, the tank is a mobile bunker. I am not recalling the differences in the prototypes off the top of my head, sorry.
That museum KV-2 is basically a turret mounted on a late Kv-1 hull as I recall so the hatches, engine deck, bolt patterns are not correct. In other words, ignore it!
Neil Stokes has a very academic but readable book on the KV. It is a bit pricey but well worth it. For the money, the tankograd book is excellent.

Thanks for your reply Panzerdoc. The reason I was asking about the U-4 is because I've found pictures of them that show the same tank as this Trumpeter kit. The headlight, horn and turret rails are all the same. The only difference I can see is the one piece barrel without the ring around the muzzle (such as on the kit).

There are some pictures of this tank on the Armchairgeneral site abandoned in Lithuania (1941). But it says Mod.1940. I'm thinking by building this version the only alterations it may need would be the gun barrel. It even looks like the extra stowage box is on the left side like in the kit.

There is also a pic of a U-4 (with a real short gun barrel) stuck in a swamp where you can see similarily welded seems as in the pics above.

If anybody has anything else to add before I go at this inplastic I'd appreciate hearing about it. Thanks again.

Hey, collins
If you are talking about this KV, the barrel is not short. Most likely it got stuck in recoiled position.



The ring on the end of a barrel appears later, when MT-2 turret went into production. Yours has one of the MT-1 turret versions - so no ring and no groves on the barrel.

Thanks Alex, that is the picture I was talking about. I had not even thought about the barrel getting stuck. You learn as you go eh?

If nobody has anything else to offer I guess I'll go with building it mostly box stock and alter the barrel. I know buying the book by Stokes or Tankograd would be very helpful. Unfortunately I can't justify buying reference material and aftermarket parts for every build I do. That could easily place each build I do at over a $100! Like I've said before I still like to pretend this is a cheap hobby.

Fortunately there are always people who are more than happy to lend a hand and share their knowledge. And of course I'd be very happy to do the same.

Ive read elsewhere that Neil Stokes is on holidays, so his site is down until the 7th of January when he comes back. There you can find the right details for each KV build. Great resource actually and worth referring to when building KVs of any kind.
4BO Green

You are in luck ... the site is back up again.
Neil states that "both types of radiator intake screens are provided but the instructions correctly indicate the early type"

Direct link

Thanks Plasticbattle. I was aware of his site and was wondering what happened to it. I'll read up on that and hopefully get to work on that pretty monster some more tomorrow.

I had never seen Neil's "recipes" . What a great resource. Good luck with the build

Hi Collins,welcome a board

KV-2 is very good subject to start with, I always wanted to build one of those Giants, looking forward to see more progress on your project

Cheers

Thanks.

Here is a pic showing where I am now. I damaged the fenders as you can see. I was thinking of leaving the one stowage box off where the fender is bent in that area. I suppose it may have popped off or been removed after the damage. I had also given some thought to thinning the fender edges but after looking at photos they all do have the wide edge such as in the kit. The only thin area I see is at the very front. Perhaps I can rough some of the crinkled edges a little. Tad too smooth at the moment maybe.



I have most of the turret complete and redid some of the weld lines. I am trying to decide what to do about the barrel. Stokes' wonderful site states that the barrel is a bit short. I think you could get away with the length of the kit barrel as it is only 3mm too short. However if leaving off the muzzle ring decreases the length by another 2mm, that may be more obvious. I'm going to have to think about that one. Maybe by chance I have something laying around that may work.

I found a cheap and quick solution to my gun barrel problem. I happened to get to the hobbyshop yesterday and picked up some styrene tube the same diameter as the barrel. I cut off the old barrel and glued on the new after cutting it what I felt was an appropriate lenghth. Then to make the end of the barrel appear thicker I cut a smaller diameter tube , slid it in the end of the barrel, glued it and used a little filler. Viola!



I also made some holes and grooves in the turret to represent battle damage. No big deal, a few shells wouldn't stop this monster!! I have yet to clean them up a tad.



Thanks for looking.

As they say in the beer commercial - Brilliant!

This is looking good!

Thanks Alex and Jeremy. Glad you like.

I think this thing is pretty much ready for primer. I'm going to hold the can a tad far away so it leaves a little bit of texture. Then I'll paint it dark green and let the weathering fun begin.

Don't rush the painting job. First let the primer to cure enough. And second - primer helps you to notice mistakes that you had miss before. Check for those too.