Greetings all! I have joined the "Killer KV's" campaign and as a subject have elected to build the Pegasus Model 1/72 scale SU-152 Twin Pack (two vehicles). While quite a nicely detailed kit (hollow track guide horns, cast texture to armour, rivets/bolts...), it is also in certain respects rather plain. I have decided to modestly enhance both SU and want them to appear different. In reviewing images of SU-152's on the Internet I ran across an interesting picture.

For Discussion Purposes Only



Back to the topic! I am not even a modest expert on Soviet armour nor a particular "rivet counter" type. The caption of the picture states that this is an SU-152 later model (i read that there were three or four versions (oldest/first only had five road wheels?). My kit models did not come with grab rails so I am adding some from left over parts from a Dragon SU-85M kit. No issue there. The reason for this note is primarily about the auxiliary fuel drums.

From all the images I have seen, it appears that most Soviet armour with these drums show various combinations of them. The most common is the two tandem on each side. The picture is the only one that I have seen like it with the drums in this side by side configuration. Was this a "field expedient" or a localization modification? The next issue is that I strongly think that the photo was mislabelled and is actually an ISU-152? I think the side by side drums would make for a very interesting look. Would this combination on an SU-152 have any historical possibility?

Thanks for any guidance or information on this issue.

Cheers,
Jan

P.S. - I have started construction in the campaign thread but will start a Blog thread here if anyone is interested.

Yes, it IS actually an ISU-152K Model 1953. It had many improvements including the T-54 Engine, storage lockers on the hull sides, new commanders cupola, sights, etc...

I think that picture is the one at Victory Park in Moscow......

Asso far as the fule drums go, they were moved to the rear after WW2 and had numerous mounting possibilties for both gas and oil.

Chris

Hi Jan...as Chris rightly points out, the vehicle in the picture is an ISU-152K, a post-war modification of the ISU-152 with the engine and cooling system from the T-54. The different arrangement of the external fuel tanks was necessitated by the integral stowage lockers on the fenders which prevented the forward pair of tanks being fitted. As far as I've been able to determine, neither the original ISU-152 nor the later ISU-152M had this fuel tank arrangement.

I have not seen any evidence to suggest that this fuel tank configuration was ever used on the SU-152.

Cheers,

Neil

Thanks Chris and Neil for your replies and insight. To be honest, I had slightly hoped that the configuration of fuel tanks might have not been so specific or rare. I am not opposed to taking "artistic licence" but if it's too implausible I'll just have to think of some other addition/alteration. Back to the "drawing board."

Thanks,
Jan