#84819 Pz.Kpfw KV-2 754(r) Tank

This kit represents the KV-2 Model 1940 captured by German forces and placed into service with PanzerKompanie 66, a special unit intended to take part in Operation Herkules, the planned invasion of Malta.  The operation never took place and the KV-2 was eventually returned to the Eastern Front where it saw service against its former Soviet owners.  The kit is a 1/48 scale re-engineered version of Trumpeter kit #00367, and many comments made about that that kit are equally applicable to this kit.

The kit shares many common parts with kit #84816 including a hull with regular curved rear overhang, pressed steel two-part resilient road wheels, pressed steel rubber rimmed return rollers without reinforcing ribs and early pattern drive sprockets with 16 hub retaining bolts.  The inclusion of late pattern radiator intake screens, along with the regular curved rear hull overhang, means that the kit represents one of the final 100 KV-2 Model 1940s manufactured in May/June 1941.

Unfortunately photographs of the vehicle serving with PanzerKompanie 66 suggest that it was a vehicle from the earlier production batch completed in November/December 1940 with early pattern radiator intake screens and initial pattern stowage boxes.  Correctly depicting such a vehicle will require a number of alterations to the kit parts.  Fortunately these do not involve major work.

The kit includes a German fire extinguisher for the number 3 fender position, which matches photographs of the subject vehicles.  The author cannot find any photographs that verify the presence of the sledge hammer and shovel on the number 4 and 6 positions, but Trumpeter should be allowed the benefit of the doubt on this subject.  The veracity of the rack of four jerry cans on the number 10 position and the six spare track links stowed on the number 3 position is borne out by photographs.

The kit provides a Notek night driving light for the left front fender.  However, like Trumpeter, Hobby Boss have portrayed the two “regular” headlamps as sirens rather than lights.  These must be replaced for accuracy using items from the spares box.

The kit includes the standard Soviet antenna mount, but photographs indicate the vehicles serving with PanzerKompanie 66 used the Fu.Spr.Ger. ‘d’ radio set with the antenna mounted on the glacis within the cylindrical cover for the original Soviet antenna.  You should replace the kit part with a suitable substitute from your spares box.

The turret roof plate includes a large hole over which the German commander’s cupola is fitted.  The presence of this hole means that you cannot build the kit as a “regular” KV-2 Model 1940 in either Soviet or German service.

Like kit #84816, the kit’s gun barrel is approximately 2mm too short.  For accuracy, it should be replaced with an aftermarket item such as Hauler’s 48144.