Hi Neil - Now we're talking! Somehow I completely missed the intakes, but now that you mention it, they do look bare. I'll add that to the list of final adjustments.

I was thinking about the antenna last night (need to replace it). Was it pitched forward at a steep angle so that the sweep of the gun didn't hit it ... or was it a whip style antenna that yielded easily to the gun as the turret rotated? It's a close call with the shorter length antenna and the longer one has a clearance issue at any angle.

I love the detailing overall, but would suggest a little heavier dusting on the top or else rain marks if the beastie has been washed by the elements.

Other than the previously described intake issues, it's a keeper!

G

The antenna was pitched forward, perpendicular to the glacis plate. I've never had the chance to examine an antenna in place on the vehicle (all the preserved examples are missing theirs) but wartime photos show it projecitng above the firing height of the vehicle so it must have been flexible enough to bend out of the way of the gun barrel as the turret rotated.

Neil

I don't hit the Soviet forum too often.... but I love the KV series of kits from Trumpeter.
In my opinion yours looks like it just came in from the battlefield. You did this one justice. Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.

Jeff

I found the same thing when I was researching this earlier. Most of those photos are horribly grainy or exposed wrong, but I was able to make out the height of the antenna as being taller than the turret in a good handful of them.

Bill: I honestly think you already know what you need to do next time, and you just need to fine tune your skillset from here on. Way ahead of me.... Can't wait to see your Killer KV's entry!

Thanks for the feedback, guys ... I was starting to feel like I had been talking to myself!

Neil - Thanks for the antenna clarification. Good to know it should be perpendicular to the glacis plate.

Bill - Good point about the turret ... it does look a bit clean compared to the rest of the vehicle. I'll add a bit more dust.

Jeremy - I definitely have a long way to go, but I appreciate the kind words. As for the Killer KV's campaign, I'm still thinking about a KV-2 in the Bismarck camo scheme ... black and white stripes, bow and stern waves ... maybe the horizontal surfaces painted deck tan. When does it kick off?