#72035 KV-1C Soviet WW II Heavy Tank

This kit represents a KV-1 Model 1942 with angular rear hull overhang, all-steel reinforced road wheels, all-steel return rollers and a reinforced cast turret with ZIS-5 gun.  As with all the PST kits, this kit shares a number of common components but the road wheels, return rollers, upper hull and turret differ from the earlier kits.

The all-steel road wheels provided in the kit are appropriate for this production variant, as are the all-steel return rollers.  Both early and late pattern sprocket hubs are included, and you should use the late pattern hubs for this variant.

The upper hull includes the angular rear overhang, domed engine access hatch with central inspection port, and late pattern radiator intake screens.  All of these components are appropriate for this variant.  The engine access hatch is of the later pattern with two lifting eyes at the rear corners, which again is appropriate for a Model 1942.

The crew hatch and transmission maintenance hatches are of the late pattern with raised lip.  While the crew hatch is appropriate for a Model 1942 hull, most Model 1942s carried transmission maintenance hatches with beveled edges.  The hatches with the raised lip did not become common until the KV-1S.  This issue can be corrected by sanding away the hatches from the kit’s upper hull and substituting discs cut from thin styrene sheet.

The upper hull includes the two armor fillets at the rear quarters of the turret, but the right hand fillet is incorrectly aligned and should be angled forward slightly at its outer end.  The engine compartment and transmission compartment roof plates include the correct bolt configuration.

The reinforced cast turret is molded in two halves, leaving a vertical seam down the center of the rear face which must be filled.  Two turret roof plates are provided since this sprue is shared with kit #72027.  Unlike the kits of earlier production variants, the turret hatch is molded separately and can be fixed in the open position.  The gun barrel requires drilling out.