Not being my usual 'field' of operations, I am currently working on Trumpeter's JSIII which will shortly be the subject of a full-build review feature.

Now, not exactly being one of nature's experts in Soviet Armor, and having developed a real curiosity of these subjects, I have a couple of questions...

Does any manufacturer do the above mentioned vehicles in 1/35th scale? I have the vague idea that DML do (or did) a JSII in 1/35th scale.

What about the JSI? Anyone do a decent kit of this in 1/35th?

One other question, the DML T34s are reckoned to be the best available, is this correct? Thanks guys, Jim

Hi Jim

You're correct about DML, they have a JS2, but I don't know anything about it's quality or age...

Italeri/Zvevda also has a old JS2 kit!

Greetings

Dragon makes a JS-IIM in 1/35. It's next on my build list and from what I can see so far it's a very nice kit. Lots of detail and great texture on the turret.

I can't say much about Dragon's T-34 but from what I've heard they are just as good if not better than the Tamiya T-34's

It's already been mentioned, but the Zvevda kit isn't too bad for the price.

Put simply, yes the Dragon 1/35 T-34's are the best out there.

Mike

Ok...

DML did a kit of the JS I. It has been OOP for quite afew years and is becoming something of a collectable. The JS I was a 85mm armed vehicle. Supposedly less than 300 were made when the 122mm gun was made available and all the JS I's were supposedly retrofitted with the gun.

DML did a JS-II and JS-IIM. I believe the difference is in the muzzle break (I am doing this off the top of my head).

The DML kits are nice, but the upper run of tracks runs too close to the upper fenders...the hull is a tad too shallow.

The Zvezda kit is actually very nice and has the proper look for the lower hull and running gear. I have been told that it is more accurate. However, DML's kit has better detail.

As for the T-34 series, I have a few of the kits (they look beautiful) and have been told by the T-34'ophils that the DML kits are the best out there by far. Well worth the $$$ to pick them up.

I remember someone mentioning that problem. I beleive that they said it is easy to fix using some strip stock on the hull to raise the height ot the body thus enlarging the gap.

DML T-34/76,Mod 1940

For what its worth, and I'm unsure the difference between and JS-3 and an 'I'S-3, but here's an Trumpeter IS-3 for real cheap:

Trumpeter IS-3M

MB Models made a JSII/JSII M kit in 1/35 a few years ago. Solid resin hull and turret, indi tracks, white metal barrel and and wheels and a big sheet of photo etch. Great kit if you can find one. Mine is waiting it's turn to be built (about 5 years now!)

Jesse

DML did do three different JSII's:

JSII - early version with the driver's position having a near vertical plate in front (somewhat like the early Shermans).

JSIIm - CHTZ production - later version with sloped frontal cast armor hull

JSIIm - UTZM production - later version with sloped frontal welded armor hull

(might have gotton the CHTZ and the UTZM's backwards there).

Osprey Modeller's series has recently released a book describing the build for these. They go into how one needs to add about 1mm in height all around the bottom hull in order to get the proper clearance above the upper track run.

The Italeri/Zverda JSII is a later version - looks to have the cast frontal armor hull. An easy kit together that does not have the hull height problem of the DML kits, but as others have said - not as well detailed. Of course, I replaced the tracks on mine with Modelkasten tracks.

cn

Hi All,
There are 3 visually different vehicles here: the IS-1, IS-2 and IS-2m (IS= Iosef Stalin, the Germans transliteratrd the "I" to a "J")). The IS-1 was the follow-on heavy tank to the moderately successful KV series and had some general simialrities in hull shape and general layout (most visibly the nose which was "notched"). IIRC, they were armed with an 85-mm gun and saw combat in lthe summer of 1944. Once the T-34/85 came along, the IS-1 was redundant. Even the 85mm gun wasn't 100% effective against Tigers and Panthers. Somewhere along the line the idea ofmounting a 100 or 122-mm gun was brought up. The 122 was selected because it had a better HE round (45kg!) and was already in the Red Army's logistical chain . The IS-2 was the mating of the IS-1 with the 122mm gun. The IS-2m was basicly the same as the IS-2, but had a new front casting (no notch). After the war, many of these vehicles were updated to the IS-2M standard (note the capital "M"). this included covered fender stowage bins (amoung other things). HTH.
Regards,
Georg

Hi!
All of above and IS-1 originally designated as KV-85.Less than 100 units of this production moniker.Is available in 1/35 by Eastern Express.Can be bought cheap at Alanger when on sale(frequently).Have seen very nice builds of this and read nothing bad about quality or accuracy.Have DML IS-2 in my growing pile and yes,there is a hull fit problem that can be fixed with normal styrene card.Doesn't seem to be a 'biggie' if you know about it in advance !
cheers!
Rick

Allow me to throw in my little piece as well.
I bought the JS1, two years ago, very cheaply as the guy had heard about the gap issue. DMLs JS1 and all three JS2s are based pretty much on the same hull design, so all have the gap problem. The JS1 kit is basically one of the JS2 kits with an extra sprue for the earlier model´s parts, and an extra sheet with instruction where to use the JS1 parts. The normal JS2 instruction is included.
Along with a different barrel and mantlet there is a different grab-handle arrangement around the turret. I think there is a slight change in periscope arrangement as well on the turret roof. These parts are included on the extra sprue.
I didn´t relish the thought of adding 1mm around the entire hull tub as I thought line-up problems afterwards would be a bigger probelm. I sanded quite a bit ofthe bottom of the fenders and also sanded a little of the top side of the return rollers and re-rounded them ... not visible unless you actually go looking for it. It looks Ok to me, but is maybe not the best solution for perfectionists. I also believe it was quite common that all fenders were removed or torn off, so this could be another option.
My JS1


Once upon a time, one of tamiya´s best kits ever was their JS3. Photos were taken in Berlin at the end of the war (the celebration parade?), but it is not known if it actually saw service in WW2. I think tamiya´s is an earlier version of the JS3 than trumpeters. I believe there are some inaccuracies with trumpeter´s kit also. The JS3 is supposed to be the fore-father of modern Soviet armor. Tamiya´s kit is a perfect build .. really easy, quick and no fit issues. The figure is even OK! Would benifit with friul tracks though to get the right sag.
My Tamiya JS3


Theres a good article on missing links by Antonio Martin Tello, where he builds the JS2 and the JS2M. Click here for the The Stalin Brothers

The DML T34s are the best in town as word goes, and include all the extras for a fine model (indy tracks, pe, barrell .. but check reviews for what exactly is in each kit). Before them the Italeri/Zvezda were king. I believe the tamiya kits suffer because of motorisation ..some angles, etc are off. If you go the cheap way the Italeri/zvezda kits are quite good and indy tracks are available from maquette. One of their kits has an interior in plastic also. They sell tracks and transmission as sepearte sets if you fancy some cheap extras.
Good luck Jim ... the russian heavy tanks are so cool. Eeverybody should have a few!

Wow! Very cool JS-3,but the JS-1 is absolute killer.
Super casting texture.
I just checked Alanger site and no IS-1's at this time and only some things on sale.Pays to be patient when hunting down your prey............
Good ones Frank!
Rick

Thanks very much Rick. The difference is, I finished the JS1 two months ago, and the JS3 about two years ago. I guess the painting has gotten a bit better, and Im using a better camera. There is a nice texture on the tamiya kit as well, but doesnt show in the pictures.
The beauty with DML is the indy tracks. For heavy Russian and German tanks, the beauty is in the track sagging. Tamiya´s tracks have fairly nice detail, but those were before the day when I knew how to give kit tracks some sag. Friuls on the JS3 would add a lot to it!!

Getting back to the JSIII by Trump vs. the JSIII from Tamiya; the Trump is the post-war version, suitable for Mid-East war build.
Tamiya's version is the WWII version seen during the Berlin victory parade. Urban legend has it that it may have seen combat in the waning days of the Berlin battles, but no pics - so far - exist for proof. Supposedly may also have seen action in Manchuria when USSR finally opened a second front against the Japanese.
Find it a tad hard to believe that Soviets would field such a mammoth against Type 97's, but maybe they wanted "combat testing" of their new toy.

Just a brief word of thanks to all of you who took the time to post on this. Curiously enough, this is the first Soviet vehicle I have built in more than 20 years AND a hobby shop I buy from here (well 300 miles away ) has still got the DML JS2 in stock. The releases I am really looking forward to however, are Trumpeter's KV series - I've been buying reference material up since I first saw them announced... Thanks again guys, Jim