PST'sSeries of KV Heavy Tanks
Part2
With the KV-1C, we see amajor change to the basic KV-1 configuration. This vehicle isalso known as the "KV-1 Model 1942, Uparmored, CastTurret". The "Uparmored" portion of the namerefers to the inclusion of thicker armor on both the hull and theturret. There were two styles of uparmored turret: cast andwelded. The welded version was known as the Model 1941, and atthis time, is not yet available from PST in kit form, although itis on their list of future releases.
| Note that this KV-1C is not the same as the ESCI KV-1c kit. The ESCI KV-1c refers to the KV-1 Model 1941 w/Cast Turret , which was essentially the same as the PST KV-1B (i.e., not uparmored), but with a cast, instead of a welded, turret. As far as I know, PST has no plans to release that version, since the ESCI kit is already quite acceptable (although long out of production). The cast turret included with the ESCI kit also is not the same as the cast turret included in this PST KV-1C kit, because this one is uparmored, but the ESCI turret is not. While the thicker armor may not be very noticeable in this scale, there would need to be some re-working around the rear turret machinegun mount in order to replicate the 1941 style. But I suppose it is possible, in case someone wants to kitbash a PST KV-1B hull with a KV-1C turret to make the Model 1941 Cast Turret version. |
Much of this kit is thesame as the earlier KV-1 kits. It includes the same track andmiscellaneous details sprues, and the wheels sprue which includesthe lower hull is mostly the same. Specifically, the lower hulland chassis are the same, but the road wheels and return rollershave changed to the later variety, pictured below.
Note that the road wheelsshare the same rim deformity as the earlier wheels, but perhapsnot to the same extent. Aside from that, both the road wheels andreturn rollers are very well detailed.
The upper hull is new:
In overall apprearance, itis similar to the earlier hull, but some of the minor detailshave changed, as has the rear portion of the engine deck.Unfortunately, the crew and engine access hatches are stillmolded closed.
The turret is also new.The commander's hatch is molded open, an AA machinegun isincluded, as are many parts for the later version that wascaptured and modified by the Germans. Notice that some othermiscellaneous parts are included, such as several jerry cans.
The decals are fairlycomprehensive, including markings for a captured German KV-1C(unmodified).
The KV-9 was a prototypeof a fire support version that never entered production. It wasarmed with a 122mm howitzer, and apparently a handful (10?)prototypes were made, and may have seen action in 1942-43.
This kit is identical tothe KV-1C, but with no decals.
The primary problem withthe KV-1 was that the drivetrain was overloaded by the excessiveweight of the tank's heavy armor. During the middle part of thewar, an effort was made to improve the situation, with thesolution being a redesign of the entire vehicle, reducing theamount of armor, and therefore the overall weight. This newvehicle was called the KV-1S.
The kit shares many of thesame parts as the earlier KV series. The lower hull and chassisare the same, but with new road wheels:
The top hull is new:
As is the turret:
These new parts share thesame high quality of molding and detail as the earlier kits.
The decal sheet isimpressive, with numerous options. Again, realize that the redmarkings look much better in hand, than in this scan.
As with the KV-1, theKV-1S also had a flamethrower version created, called the KV-8S.This kit is the same as the KV-1S, but with a new decal sheet.
The KV-1 went obsoletevery quickly. The successor to the KV-1 heavy tank was the IS-2(also marketed by PST). There were several prototype turrets andhulls made, and one that actually saw action was called theKV-85. This is essentially the IS-1 turret, with an 85mm gun,mounted on the KV-1S hull.
Even though based on theKV-1S, this kit comes with a completely different hull than theKV-1S kit. This is because there were some changes made to theturret mounting, in order to accomodate the larger diameterturret ring (as well as some smaller hull detail differences).
The turret is the same onethat is included with the IS-1/2 series of models that PSTmarketed before these KV's. It includes options for both the 85mm(IS-1) and 122mm (IS-2) guns. But there are a few smaller turretdetails that are not on this sprue, so that PST had to include anadditional sprue of parts from the IS kits, which gives themodeler a lot of spare parts for later projects.
The decals are veryinclusive, with eight marking options (but some are for theKV-122).
And finally we have theKV-122, which was simply the same modified KV-1S hull as includedwith the KV-85 kit, but with the IS-2 turret, which mounted the122mm gun. This kit is identical to the KV-85, including thedecals.
Captured KV'sin German Use
The Germans captured alarge number of operable Soviet tanks, and put a number of theminto service, sometimes after modifying them with Germanhardware, such as new guns, commander's cupolas and radios. Thefollowing kits represent some of the modified captured vehicles.I don't own any of these kits, but I make guesses at what are thebase kits.
Pz.Kpfw.I/IA753(r)
This kit is identical tothe KV-1 kit, but with new decals.
Pz.Kpfw.754(r)
This kit is identical tothe KV-2 kit, but with new decals. This kit also contains theturret sprue from the KV-1C kit, so that the German cupola may beused (thanks to David Byrden for this info).
Pz.Kpfw.753(r) with 7.5 KwK 40
This kit is identical tothe KV-1C kit, but with new decals.
Some FinalThoughts
I had a devil of a timeresearching the scale of these models, because of the scarcity ofreference material published in English, as well as conflictingmeasurement data in almost every data source I could find. Thetwo most comprehensive references I have are the Osprey NewVanguard title on the KV-1/KV-2 by S. Zaloga, and the WydawnictwoMilitaria title on the KV by V. Panow and J. Ledwoch. Most othersources, including several internet sites, seem to take theirmeasurements from these, although there was still great variationamong the general interest armor references I have. So ... taking the most prevalentmeasurements, I find that these kits scale out almost perfectlyto 1/72nd. There is a certain amount of guesswork involved, sincethe kit measurements are best taken after construction, but mybest estimate is that they are very accurate in shape and size.
The overall molding ofthese kits is really top-notch. The only flaw that isconsistently recurring is the off-center wheel rims. Some of thevery small parts may have some thin flash associated with them,but nothing that detracts from the building experience. Overalldetail is very good, with several options (open turret hatches,separate pioneer tools, etc.), and the accuracy of everything isprecise. There is some room for more detail however, such asalong the fenders (compare to the ESCI KV kit to see what Imean), but we have been provided several etched brass detail setsfrom both PART and Extratech to address this deficiency. In thefinal analysis, I think this is an outstanding series of models,with excellent subject material, and I am actually quitesurprised that I haven't seen more of these built in shows and atother websites. But then again, I haven't gotten around tobuilding mine yet either ...
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