I'm building Trumpeter's KV-1 Lightweight Cast Turret model 1942 and am having trouble finding photos. All the photos I'm finding show the often seen rounded rear section off of the engine deck. I was hoping someone would have some photos of the lightweight cast turret KV-1 with the flat, angled section such as in the kit.



One more question. Why do I see so many Russian tanks carrying a log somehwere on the hull? What is the purpose of the timber?

Thanks alot guys.

Hi Collins,

The Trumpeter kit gives you the Model 1942 hull which was introduced at the beginning of 1942 with thicker (90mm rather than 75mm) armor on the sides. It also had the angular rear hull overhang. It was manufactured alongside the earlier Model 1941 hull (with the rounded overhang) until June 1942, and then on its own until September when it was phased out in favor of the KV-1S.

This type of hull was fitted with the 'Simplified Welded' turret as well as both types of cast turret. You can swap turrets between the Trumpeter kits if you wish. See the 'recipes' on www.4bogreen.com for details.

Here's a photo of a Model 1942 with the lightweight cast turret (left) alongside another with the heavy cast turret.



The log was an unditching beam that featured chains on each end which could be attached to the tracks across the bow of the vehicle for additional traction to get the vehicle out of a ditch or thick mud. This is documented in the TM for the KV-1S.

Cheers,

Neil

http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=552

http://army.lv/ru/kv-1/631/370

http://svsm.org/gallery/KV-1

http://www.andreaslarka.net/ps271001/ps271001.html

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

http://www.o5m6.de/kv1_1941_cast.html

http://www.otvaga2004.narod.ru/publ_w1/2007-03-02_kv1.htm






If you need something else let me know

Cheers

Thanks for your help guys. On the 4bogreen site it states to check your reference. The problem is I didn't have a good reference. Most of the photos I found had different details which makes things a little confusing. I think I can build the earlier version without changing much of anything. The only thing I'll be missing is the earlier swing arms with squared ends. I can live with that.

Neil, I'm very glad you have that site. It sure helps to have things broken down like that. And I was thinking traction was the idea behind the logs but I had to ask to be sure.

Collins, if you're building any vehicle with the all-steel wheels you should use the arms that come in the kit. These were introduced in late 1941 before the cast turrets appeared so unless you're building a rebuilt/cannibalized vehicle, go with the later pattern swing arms.

Neil

Thanks Neil I appreciate that. Just to make sure I understand this correctly, the earlier version had the six bolt hubs?

Yes, the earlier swing arms had the six-bolt covers on the ends of the torsion bars and the arms themselves had "square" transitions from the thicker ends to the central portion of the arms.

The later arms had three-bolt covers and the thicker sections at each end curved into the narrower central section.

Cheers,

Neil

Okay Neil. I don't have a particular tank I'm modeling after. I am trying to piece a tank together that I feel may have existed earlier in 1942.

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the decals that come with the kit. Do you know what the English translation is by any chance? I saw on another thread where another member ( from Russia I believe ) stated the slogans were "silly". However I've found pics with what appeared to be the same slogans. Therefore the slogans can't be too far fetched.

Thanks

Hi Collins,
I've certainly seen pics of KV-1s with similar slogans 'For Victory' and 'For the Motherland' but on the earlier turret types rather than the Model 1941s or 1942s with cast turrets. That said, there was widespread variation in vehicle names and slogans While the decals are a bit 'generic' they're not too far-fetched.

Neil

Thanks Neil. The pics of tanks I've seen with the slogans may have been the heavy welded type.