1:35 KV-1 Model 1942 Simplified Turret

KV-1 Model 1942 with the simplified turret (1:35, Rye Field Model)

This injection-molded plastic kit captures the Soviet KV-1 heavy tank in the 1942 version with the simplified cast turret. It is a new tooling with workable link tracks assembled link by link and with photo-etched parts. The model offers several marking options, so you can choose between different Red Army vehicles. Good surface engraving and a faithful breakdown of the hull make this kit a rewarding subject for collectors of Eastern armor.

The real subject

The KV-1 was a Soviet heavy tank which at the beginning of the war impressed with thick armor that ordinary German anti-tank guns could not penetrate for a long time. The 1942 version received a simplified cast turret, which speeded up and cheapened production, and thicker armor on the hull and the turret. The main armament was a 76 mm gun. The machine formed the backbone of Soviet heavy tank units in the first years of the war.

Building and painting tips

First assemble the running gear — the road wheels, the return rollers and the idler wheels — and the interior items you will not reach once the hull is closed. Glue the photo-etched parts with cyanoacrylate and the plastic with liquid modeling cement. Apply a primer and spray with an airbrush; bring the Soviet green to life by lightening the upper surfaces. Emphasize the cast surface of the turret with a rougher texture, a dark wash in the recesses and a dry brush on the edges. Mud and dust are completed with pigments on the running gear and the tracks.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of Soviet armor of the Second World War.
• For modelers who will appreciate workable link tracks and photo-etched parts.
• For builders of dioramas from the Eastern Front of 1942 and 1943.
• For intermediate and advanced modelers.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.