Hi everyone, this is my first tank, but not my first model. I generally do Gundam and other robot kits, but loved this design so had to try one. Anyway, I thought I'd post it here and get some opinions from you guys since most of what I learned about AFV modeling I learned browsing here. Thanks!

Pics: http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02a-KV2.html
In-Progs: http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-KV2.htm

Wow, superb model, the gray color looks very nice, I dont recall seeing one done like this before. great work!

I like the small yet unlevel groundwork. The tanks looks great sitting on that base

Nice work, Michael, both the KV 2 and your web site.

I can see your point doing this KV2. It does look like those Gundam type of models, especially the turret.

Welcome aboard!

Superb! Nice weathering and contrast, very good! I wish that was my first model.

Nice site too!

It's nicely built, weathered etc - for your first AFV, you've done a good job...

However, that said, to paraphrase the words of Henry Ford,




KVs were Green - no other color (apart from Dunkelgelb, but that's another story)....

Markings - No KVs carried any kind of markings (while in Soviet hands) at all. The slogan and (paricularly) the Red Star were never applied. That said, I don't want to be nasty about your model at all - on the contrary, you have done a competent and attractive job on it - it's just totally fictitious (on the part of Trumpeter)...Jim

By the way Michael, welcome to the site! If you want to get a good grounding on the KV, go here: Armorama's KV Resource Feature Link

Edit: - i've just looked at your build article on the KV on your website, and it really is one of the best and most professional i've seen in a long time - the 'angled' groundwork is particularly effective - something i'll be trying myself....

It's a great job for your first AFV model. And also I liked your web site explaining the building your model step by step.

Cong.!

Hey

Your KV looks great. Just one little thing about the base: with the weight of the KV it would "sink" a bit in the ground/earth. This would add even more realism to your piece of art

Martin

Mike:

Nice KV2. Weathering is great. The track sag is great. Cant wait to get me one of those trumpeter KV's

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Color-wise it's slightly more green in person, but that didn't come across as well in the photography. It is still more gray than green though, Most models look better/different in person anyway. I did want it more muted though on purpose. I wanted the tank to have a dull drab bleak color and soviet feel to it. I rarely go for accuracy in colors... I mostly just want it to look cool on my shelf. Same with the decals... I say one KV-1 in a book with a slogan, but no KV-2's... again, coolness factor.

From what I've heard, they didn't carry stowage on the fenders either, but I had some (for an M-10) that I was given to use on robot kits, and wanted to make use of it. Plus again, I just thought it looked cool. I did see tarps or something though in some old photos... so there's my excuse! :-)




How funny! My Grandfather-in-law says that about cars since all of mine have been green. He likes green, but his wife likes the warm-silvery color better. She won.

I'm glad you guys like the in-prog page as well. I write a lot of tutorials and in-progs since I get a lot of questions on my forum and via e-mail about how I dio things. These help me not have to reply as much. Plus by the time I get to my next AFV I'll have forgotten half of what I did (hopefully not, but who knows) so this will help me as well.

I agree about the tank sitting more into the base. I used the rubber tracks to make the impressions and should had pressed more to set the tank into the base better. One other thing I wish I did was a slight mound down the center of the "road" so show more traffic and such. More old dirt road-like. I had already started painting when I realized I should had done it. I was too concerned with making sure that the tank at least sat flat onto the base.

I love making bases for my works. They're half the fun and really add to the feel/impression of the kit.

Anyway, thanks again! Great comments and I hope to hear more.

Excellent work on your KV-2, Michael. Overall paint finish and weathering are very well-done. Use of Tamiya RLM Grau is interesting, but not sure on accuracy ? Looks great in the pics !

Groundwork and base are good too, but I will have to agree that the KV-2 would make an impression on the ground it traveled on. I really like that angle of the groundwork. Great immagry of this Soviet KV-2

Excellent website you have, and those inprogress shots, and the step-by-step build review are superb ! Complimente !




Jim, are you certain that absolutely no Russian KV-2's carried any markings of any kind ?

Cheers !!

Alpen

Hi Michael,
What a great way to introduce yourself here
I really like how you've done this one. Nice job.
I can't wait to see it at our next club meeting.
Speaking of the club, with you joining Armorama, that makes at least 5 guys from the Pittsburgh IPMS club that are also members here. There's you, me, Steve K. (Hauntedpen), Jim K, (CPTKelley, and John B. (I'll have to try to find his screen name.)
Maybe we can take a group picture at the next meeting and post it here.
I hope you check out the sci-fi section of ArmoramA. You're work would much appreciated by those folks.
Welcome aboard
Craig

Thanks again guys!

Craig: I'll definitely be bringing this to the meeting. Only 5 of us at AA? I thought there'd be more than that. I'll definitely check out the sci-fi section. My next project will be a combination of AFVs and Mecha. All 1/35 scale. Where the heck would I post that?

just post it in both looks really good.i love the KV-2.and you made a beauty out of it,nice work one thing i would do is to darken the rope on the back,looks a bit white to me.

greetings jeroen

Well I've seen your KV-2 and had a look at your website and all I can say is...“I wish I was you!" Great site, great models. Well done and many thanks for sharing

Thanks again guys! I'm sad about the rope comment. I actually did try to amke it darker! LOL! I used white thread then colored it with wet pigment powder. Before coloring/using it though I moistened it with a white glue/water solution and ran it through my fingers to smooth down the fray and fuzzies. Worked well.

Braystaff: Wish you were me? That's only a little creepy. :-) Thanks though!

I started on my next project which will contain a few AFV's. It's 50/50 sci-fi/real-life. I'll start a new thread for it somewhere. Sci-fi or here.

http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-Raiden.htm