Trumpeter KV-2

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Like a I need another project, here is Trumpeter’s 1/35 KV-2. The high, ugly box shaped turret makes it “so bad looking it’s cool” to my rather distorted eyes.

https://flic.kr/p/VUVmW7][/url]KV-2-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/VUVmNb][/url]KV-2-02 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

This kit has been sitting on the sidelines for quite some time now, as I mucked up the road wheels. The hubs are separate, but lack any keyed tabs so alignment is DIY. I didn’t pay proper attention and glued all of the hubs with the lightening holes aligned with the holes on the wheel, which is wrong. It has been really bugging me and I could not seem to let it go, so I finally bucked up and bought another kit to do the wheels right. (It’s not a total waste, as the turret will go to another project that needs it.)

https://flic.kr/p/VVysrw][/url]KV-2-06 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The rest of the kit is pretty good, one of Trumpeter’s better products. The only not so good bit was the separate gun muzzle, which was poorly shaped and lopsided. It was replaced with a turned aluminum barrel, which had internal rifling. The turret grab handles are finely molded, but I replaced them to avoid having to clean them up, and also to make them more resistant to getting knocked off. I glued blocks of plastic on the inside of the turret to provide secure anchor points for the grab handles.

https://flic.kr/p/WrANTW][/url]KV-2-03 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/VUVmxm][/url]KV-2-04 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The kit gives you the option of either belt type tracks or link and length plastic ones. The l&l tracks impart a nice sag on the upper runs, but every single track link has a pair of ejector pin marks. Being lazy, I replaced them with Sector 35 metal tracks. These look exactly like Friulmodelissimo tracks, but come largely pre-assembled.

https://flic.kr/p/C1CWcc][/url]Sector 35-KV-II-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Anyway, just fartng around trying to get back into the modeling groove.

2

Really smells like a good start.

Good idea with the grab handles.

!http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b232/gluetank/Animated/th_1-Animated-Disastermaster.gif?t=1296616998

Save

3

Off to a great start. Really like your idea with the handrails. I seem to have a tendicity to knock them off also.

4

I like it! Great idea for securing those wire grab handles!

5

Good tip on the grab handles. That doesn’t look like “farting” around to me though [:D]

6

Great job there G.

Love the looks of this tank, such a big ugly brute!

7

BTW regarding the plastic blocks for the grab handles, it is easiest if you pre-drill holes all the way through the blocks and then place them over the installed wire handles. Use liquid glue to secure the blocks to the plastic turret and a dab of CA to secure the handles.

And now for a bit of entertainment. I found this quite amusing:

https://flic.kr/p/VgBCjy][/url]KV-2-Box02 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I challenge anyone to dig up a funnier, more preplexing potted history on the side of a model box!

This is the aluminum barrel I am using for the build. Kind of odd that Fine Molds produced it - perhaps they are selling someone else’s product? The rifling is a nice touch.

https://flic.kr/p/VjhKnF][/url]KV-2-07 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/VgBCLW][/url]KV-2-08 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The kit includes two different styles of tow cable eyes, and copper wire - much better than that awful nylon string!

https://flic.kr/p/VjhKyH][/url]KV-2-09 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

8

Thanks G- you’re making me hungry. I could really go for some quick-fried tower right now…

Actually FineMolds does do a pretty extensive line of metal turned barrels for armour, not just their own models.

9

Interesting [:|]

Nice!

10

Thanks for the laugh. You need to save that history, and display it prominently with the completed kit. That barrel is very nice!

11

Really nice work on this, i do like the grab handles.

By the way, quick fried tower, does that taste like chicken.

12

Actually I think Trumpeter being a Chinese company Quick Fried Tower tastes something like Kung Pao Chicken- hence the Thermodynamic Power in it’s spicy nature.

13

I was about to respond saying it tastes like roast duck, but Gamera has a point. But maybe it’s the mild version for Gringos, as the box states "the thermodynamic power inhibit"! Regardless, we must all proceed to the virtuous soldier, less our quick fried towers all revolve very diffcult. Except on the horizontal plane, of course. [:P]

All kidding aside, the kit is very pleasant to work with, being simple and good fitting.

14

That’s great, quick fried tower! She’s an impressive beastly looking thing. Nicely done thus far.

15

The slow-fried tower now hopefully proceeds to the virtuous soldier in that backstroke backloggged build war. Not that the Trumpy kit is hard to build or anything like that.

A little problem I had with the Sector pre-assembled metal tracks was that whoever put them together had lots of CA glue all over their fingers. The glue prevented the blackening fluid from completely doing its job. I think I also didn’t scrub enough detergent into the tracks as a lot of the recessed areas did not blacken, even after multiple washes and soakings.

So anyway, I glued most of the small remaining bits onto the tank in preparation for painting.

I figure I’d take advantage of the current crisis by staying home and rolling out the airbrush.

16

Well I’d forgotten about this one Real G!

Looking forward to seeing her all painted up.

And the discolouration on the tracks- smear a little mud on there and no one will ever notice.

17

Looking good RG! And yeah, ya gotta chuckle about those Trumpeter Babblefish translations.

18

Slowly moving forward…just about ready to crank up the airbrush.

But it will have to wait for the weekend, as I tend to get carried away and stay up till the wee hours. I’ll just make sure everything is ready to roll by Friday evening.

19

‘Does the black have a slimming effect on my giant turret?’

Cool to see you moving forward on this!

20

Does this make my bustle look fat?