¹⁄72

Braille Scale Stalins

The vehicles are all by S Model, built largely OOB with additions sourced from a stalled Zvezda build and aftermarket providers. Cast effect was added using liquid polystyrene cement and a stiff brush, and weld seams added with model filler. Handles on the external fuel tanks were made from scrap plastic. The kit-supplied grab rails were replaced by copper wire.

The winter diorama shows a pair of ISU-152s of the 388th Guards Heavy Self Propelled Gun Regiment, East Prussia, February 1945. The rib detail on the mantlet was added with stretched sprue. The winter whitewash is a Precision Ice and Snow product, and the towing hawsers on the rear decking are by Eureka XXL. The DShK AA MG on the lead vehicle is by Zvezda, and the figures are by HaT and Orion. The conifer trees are by Noch, slightly modified by having branches removed at random and those remaining bent downwards against the trunks to give them a more realistic sagging look. The mud on the road and running gear is by Vallejo, and the snow is by Precision Ice and Snow.

The ruined factory diorama shows an IS-2 “A. Nevskii” of the 95th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, Pomerania, March 1945. The diorama base and ruin are by Black Dog, while the debris came from Sergeant’s Mess, Basecrafts, the spares box and my model railway. The figures are by Milicast and Orion. The towing hawser came from a Zvezda kit, and the stowage is by Value Gear and home made from Milliput. The sign says “Onwards to Danzig”.

The muddy road diorama shows an IS-2 of the 4th Heavy Tank Regiment, 1st Army, People's Army of Poland, Oder crossing, April 1945. The hull is by S Model, while the turret and DShK are from a Zvezda IS-2. Stowage is by Value Gear and homemade. The mud is by Vallejo, while the grass and birch tree are by The Model Tree Shop. Strips of masking tape were used to represent the bark on the birch tree. The figures are by HaT and Plastic Soldier Company.

Footnote: Only very late in the IS-2 builds did I realise that the gun port for the hull machine gun was missing from the S Model moulding. Its absence is disguised by placing stowage over where it should be. A number of photographs of late-war IS-2s show stowage unceremoniously dumped over the gun port, so there is some justification for this!