I picked up one of Trumpeters KV-2 kits and started browsing online looking for inspration for the build.

The KV-2 was designed as a 'bunker buster', using it's 152mm howitzer, a job it was well suited for

Unfortunatly the weight of the huge turret overstressed it's transmission leading to frequent breakdowns and a slow speed.

The turret was also so heavy firing to the side was risked overbalancing the tank dependant on the terrain.

I decided to represent mine as immobilised by a mine, but still in action (soviet tank crews were 'encouraged' to stay in their vehicals unless they actually caught fire

Step one was to put together a base, drilling out a basic crater, then covering in plaster, adding tracks by pressing the rubber tracks into the wet plaster



this was then painted to represent muddy ground

Next build the KV-2 according to the instructions. All the trumpeter KV's build really easily and this one was no exception.

One wheel was subjected to damage, and adjusted to hang uncompressed (thanks to those from the forum who supplied photos to help with this)

Some etch boxes from ET models were used to allow one to be open, also part of the fender was replaced with takeaway container aluminium, bent to shape

The turret was built, and the plastic barrel cut and extended by 3mm to help with accuracy

the whole thing was then given a spray of grey car primer to ensure paint will stick to the metal (1st time i've tried this, but with so much bare metal it seemed the smart thing to do)

well that's as far as I've got so far. I need to add some shell hits to the turret, but need to practice first,

and play around with how I'm going to do the broken tracks, as i'm not sure whether to use the rubber (easy to cut and position, but less accurate),

or try and modify the link and length (look better, but I suspect I won't be able to get the bends I need to look good)