Trumpeter KV-1

[Leighbo]

Hi All

The KV-1 was quite a bruiser of a tank and I was always impressed by the story of a group of 5 KV-1's, commanded by Lieutenant Zinoviy Kolobanov,that held off part of the German 8th Panzer Division in 1941. The full story is on Wikipedia and other forums online and the details do change a bit depending where you read it, but basically they ambushed the Germans and took out 43 tanks plus guns and troops. At the end of the battle tank number 865 supposedly had received 135 hits, none of which had penetrated the armour.

This inspired me to build a representation of tank no. 865. I'm starting with the Trumpeter KV-1 Mod 1939
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sZtLgCm1nhs/UlF3QIJ93zI/AAAAAAAAIJM/nvVr-f_D_rU/s800/20131006_154304.jpg[/img

There aren't any photos of this actual tank so I will be using plenty of artistic licence!

The kit went together easily, no drama's, I did add some weld beads with thin plastic melted with Revell cement as reference photos show quite rough, prominent seams which aren't replicated on the kit.
[img width=700 height=525]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NzxfPU-PeKw/UlF2kO5p6_I/AAAAAAAAIIE/B7xMr-xifFU/s800/20131006_153718.jpg

The gun mantlet came with the cast texture on most of it, but there was a portion which was completely flat so I improvised with plastic cement again and a stiff brush

I have so far added some fender damage to start the battle scarred look

I was trying to show one of the return rollers knocked out and have the track hanging down, but the rubber band tracks didn't work so I forgot this idea and went with the link and lengths instead. I would have liked some metal tracks but I can't justify the expense unfortunately!

Here's how it looks right now, there is plenty of shell damage to come yet

Thanks for looking

 

[letsgobrowns82]

Nice work, great job on the damage so far. That's really going to pop when its all painted and weathered.

 

[NecronautDrummer]

I just read an article on finishing and weathering a KV-2 in a recent Military Modelling mag. By the looks of the detal you've already sunk in, you'll certainly do it justice!

 

[dogfish7]

Really like how you're beating this baby up! 8)

 

[Jimi]

how does this kit go together, any fit issues... i havent built any of the modern trumpeter kits so im curious

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks for the comments guys

Jimi, the kit went went together really well no problems at all. The link and length tracks came with a nice realistic sag built in and there is plenty of fine detail so no complaints here.

 

[AJay]

This is looking great! I never knew the story that inspired you either, so very interesting. Look forward to seeing it painted.

How did you achieve the fender looking as though it's been blown apart from underneath?

 

[Leighbo]

Hi Ajay, it is a very cool story.

There's no big secret with the fenders, I just cut into them with my side cutters and bent them up!

I was contemplating buying brass replacements but this worked just as well.

Hopefully have some more progress soon

 

[Leighbo]

Hi Guys, been trying to get some stuff out of the way all week so I could get back to the KV-1

I had already primed it in Vallejo black primer so I gave it a coat with Russian green and then added some ivory in a couple of stages for the highlights.

There were no decals with the kit so I had a dig through my stash box to find some with the tank number this represents and a couple of Soviet stars to add a bit of colour.

Once the painting and decals were on I gave it a satin varnish coat and then a filter with thinned AK Dark streaking grime.

I also painted in the shell holes with a gun metal grey, I figure these holes would be fresh so no rust would have set in yet.

Here's the pics

There is plenty of weathering left to do once the filter has dried, any comments welcome

Thanks for looking

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

Somebody got lit up!

Cool

 

[dogfish7]

man, that baby is taking some hits!!

 

[JohnSimmons]

Fantastic mate!!! The colour is lovely.

 

[Tanker52]

Nice Work Leighbo!!!

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks for the comments guys

Got this baby finished up. It's had various filters, washes, pin washes, pastel washes, pigments, enamel weathering, chipping and muddy effects and also the figure and a little bit of stowage got painted.

Heres the pictures

Sorry about all the photos, I always get carried away!

Thanks for looking

 

[JohnSimmons]

Brilliant! What a beast!

 

[Leighbo]

Cheers John

 

[MrT]

Great stuff!!

Terry ;D

 

[dogfish7]

Fantastic build!