#7231 Russian KV-1 Model 1942 Heavy Cast Turret Tank

Built out of the box, this kit represents a KV-1 Model 1941 with an early cast turret and ZIS-5 gun, manufactured in the spring of 1942.

Like all the Trumpeter kits, the lower hull is comprised of a tub that includes the underside, hull sides and the lower front hull.  The underside includes bolt detail for the engine bearers, filled bolted holes along the joints between the underside plates and the hull sides, drain ports for the transmission and final drives, and the emergency escape hatch.  The circular access port beneath the engine is missing however.  The hull sides include integrally molded suspension swing arms, shock absorbers, sprocket and return roller mounts.

The grille beneath the rear hull overhang and the exhaust air deflector plate are included as a single, separate component and the deflector plate is commendably thin.

The lower rear hull includes integrally molded base plates for the rear towing eyes.  The forward towing eyes are separate components that attach to the hull tub.  All the towing eyes feature separate towing shackles with integrally molded retaining pins.

The suspension swing arms are of the correct late pattern and include the correct three retaining bolts on the torsion bar caps.

The idler mounts and adjustment mechanisms are molded integrally with the hull tub.

The nose plate is smooth without any filled bolt holes present.  This is appropriate for this variant.

The kit provides all-steel reinforced road wheels, which are appropriate for a vehicle from the spring of 1942.  The outer rims of the road wheels are quite thick however, and will benefit from careful sanding.  The rims on the kit I examined were also somewhat uneven, with some wheels having a thicker rim on one side than on the other.  Again, careful sanding will correct this problem.  The return rollers are the all-steel type which is correct for a vehicle from the spring of 1942.

The sprockets feature separate hubs, but these feature sixteen retaining bolts on the convex cover rather than the correct eight.  Given the small size of the bolts and the separate molding, it is a relatively simple task to sand away every second bolt and fill the resulting small holes.

As on all Trumpeter's KV kits, the tracks are the reinforced Omsh pattern introduced in July 1941.  They are therefore correct for a vehicle completed in the spring of 1941.

The entire upper hull, including the fenders, fender brackets and most hatches, is molded as a single component.  The fender brackets are all of the solid type.  The brackets are also quite thick and would benefit from replacement with thin styrene or brass.

The glacis plate includes an integrally molded antenna mount and protective cover.  The cover is rather thick and should be thinned down iwth a hobby knife for a better appearance.  The glacis plate also includes the protective armor fillet below the hull machine gun.

The driver's visor is molded integrally with the driver's plate, though the hull machine gun, headlamp and siren are separate components.  The driver's episcope cover and the upper portion of the electrical conduit are also molded integrally with the upper hull.

The kit includes applique armor for the lower front hull and the driver's front plate.  These armor plates were fitted to all vehicles manufactured in the spring of 1942.  The armor for the driver's front plate is the shorter pattern fitted by UZTM, rather than the taller pattern used by Factory No.200.  Both types were seen on Model 1942 hulls completed in the spring of 1942.

The crew hatch in the forward hull is a separate component.  It depicts the correct late pattern with a raised lip.  The kit part includes the hinge, locking bars and operating cam on the interior face of the hatch cover, but the grab handle and operating handle are missing.  The fuel, oil and water filler caps are all present and correctly positioned.

The bolt configuration on the engine compartment and transmission compartment roof plates is correct, with eight paired bolts across the rear edge of the engine compartment roof plate, and the same number on the front and rear edges of the transmission compartment roof plate.  The bolts have the correct flat heads for a spring 1942 vehicle.  The lifting eyes are molded integrally and are of the correct shape, including those beneath the turret bustle.

The engine access hatch is molded integrally and is the domed pattern with inspection port, commonly seen in the spring of 1942.  The cable and hook are molded integrally with the hatch cover.

The radiator intake screens are also molded integrally with the upper hull.  The kit includes the late pattern screens appropriate for a spring 1942 vehicle.  The screens are molded solid however, and the model would benefit from their replacement with etched brass items.  The exhausts are also integral components and lack the undercuts that correctly separate them from the hull top.  Careful work with a sharp hobby knife can rectify this.

The transmission maintenance hatches are molded integrally with the hull top.

The kit includes the regular curved rear hull overhang which is appropriate for a Model 1941 hull.

The kit provides a single small rectangular stowage box for the left-hand fender.  The box includes latch and hinge detail but lacks the mounting brackets and retaining straps.  The kit also includes two sets of two spare track links for the rear fenders but like Trumpeter's 1/35 scale kits, the kit parts include four attachment brackets whereas there should be only three.  Carefully remove the outermost forward bracket from each set of links.

The kit includes late pattern towing cables with cast ends.  These are molded in vinyl on the track sprue.  The transition from the early cables with grommets and sleeves to the later pattern with cast ends occurred in May/June 1941, so these cables are appropriate for the vehicle represented by the kit.

The kit turret represents the early cast turret as manufactured from January until June 1942.  Most fittings including the ventilator and epsicope covers, as well as the gunner's and commander's periscopic sight covers, are molded integrally with the turret shell.

The grab handles on the edges of the turret roof are molded integrally and are quite thick, though this is excusable in this scale.  They would benefit, however, from replacement with thin wire.

The kit's main gun barrel is molded as a single component, separate from the mantlet.  The kit utilizes slide mold technology to provide a hollowed-out gun muzzle.