I have the chance to get one of these quite cheaply.As iit has always been a subject I like, I thought i'd ask the opinion of the Russian modellers before handing over my credit card....Jim

I built the Aurora 48th scale one as a kid. Still remember that green metallic color..... Hooo- Hawww.

I to would be intrigued to find out more about the JS tank family, so asking you guys expand the topic a little past Jims orignal request and through in some advice about some of the other JS tank kits AS WELL. Answering Jim's question should have priority please.

Ola Jim,

I asked myself the same question, I mean a kit at this price...can it be any good?
So I dove in the reviews, and read this one:
http://www.jbwholesalers.com.au/reviews/trumpeter/tr00316.htm
So this article made me buy this kit, and to be honoust, it was worth it!!
I experienced no flash whatsoever in this kit, a very nice casting effect on the turret and gun mantlet, however, the casting surface on the lower hull could be better, but hey...we're modelers aren't we?

HTH, John.

SORRY!!! forgot to use the url button...here it is:

http://www.jbwholesalers.com.au/reviews/trumpeter/tr00316.htm

Cheers, John.

Thanks for that - definitely intriguing. Last one I built was the Airfix 1/76th scale one. I imagine its going to be a little more sophisticated :-) ..Jim

The kit is definitely worth it. The only bad point, the kit supplied band tracks are pretty bad. Invest in some Fruil's and its a winner.

Just to give you an idea on how it builds up, here is a link to one a did a while back.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/11978&page=1

Ah yes, the same color as the Aurora MiG-15 and Creature of the Black Lagoon kits! And that "space gun" looking DsHk too!

Ever notice the Airfix and Rocco Stalins look like panto-grafed versions of that same Aurora kit?

Back in the day, that Aurora kit was the ONLY available KV-chassied tank kit, and that kit plus the Revell 1/something-something T35/85 were the only "large scale" Russian kits one could buy.

I even recall a Scale Modeler issue where they converted an Aurora JSIII into an SU-152.

They were dark days back then... Today's modelers are spoiled rotten.

Roden does an outstanding 1/72 scale one if you prefer the small stuff. I have the Tamiya kit and while it is a JS-3 and not a 3M, it is a very nice kit.

Anyone know if this tank ever served in the egyptian army? It's very difficult to get this kind of information when you're inside Egypt. They actually think this is top secret stuff!!! It's almost like we're still living behind the iron curtain!

RobG, is that the same Roden that do the Aircraft kits? Do you have a link by any chance? ...thanks Jim

Yes, they are the same Roden who does the aircraft. Their first armor kit was the JS3 and they also now do a comprehensive line of German 8-rads.
http://www.ontheway.us/reviews/Roden/is3prev.htm

Armo does a replacement barrel and ExtraTech does a PE set for it as well. Rather inexpensive kit in the US at about $7.

Thanks very much - definitely worth considering... $7? For us that's only about €4... I just paid around $14 (€10) for the Italeri D.U.K.W. around the same as the Dragon 1/72nd armor is going for - ...Thanks, again, Jim