#7265 German Pz.Kpfw KV-1 756(r) Tank

Built out of the box, this kit depicts a late production KV-1 Model 1941 with early cast turret, which was captured and used by the German 204th Panzer Regiment, 22nd Panzer Division in 1942.  The vehicle was modified by the Germans to mount a 7.5cm Kwk 40 L/43 gun.  It was also fitted with the commander’s cupola from an early Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. G on the forward right-hand side of the turret roof, and a turret roof ventilator from a T-34 on the forward left-hand side of the turret roof.

Photographs of the subject vehicle reveal that it was fitted with round mounting plates for the forward towing eyes, with corresponding circular cut-outs in the appliqué armor on the hull front.  This indicates that the subject was not a Model 1941 but was in fact a Model 1942 produced in the summer of 1942.  For accuracy, the Model 1941 hull in the kit should be swapped for a Model 1942 hull from either kit #7234 or #7233.  The good news is that the spare Model 1941 hull can be mated with the left-over parts from those kits to create a Model 1941 with simplified welded turret or reinforced cast turret.

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.  Photographs of the subject vehicle however, show that it was fitted with the taller appliqué armor used by Factory No.200.  The kit part should be replaced with a taller plate cut from 0.8mm styrene sheet.

The kit instructions direct you to use the standard Soviet antenna and mounting.  Photographs show that the subject vehicle was fitted with a German antenna for the Fu.Spr.Ger. ‘d’ radio set, mounted within the cylindrical antenna housing.  The kit part should therefore be modified to reflect this fitting.

The kit includes the standard Soviet headlamp whereas photographs show that the vehicle mounted a German headlamp, of the same pattern as used on the Pz.Kpfw.III and early Pz.Kpfw.IV, on the driver’s front plate.  For accuracy, the kit part should be replaced with a German headlamp if your spares box contains such an item.

The kit includes a number of German stowage items including tool boxes on the number 3 and 6 fender positions, and a rack of four jerry cans on the number 7 position.  While the presence of a tool box on the number 6 position can be verified from photographs, the tool box on the number 3 position and the jerry cans should be regarded as suspect.

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 subject vehicle carried a stowage rack on the roof of the transmission compartment, fabricated from angled steel strips.  The Trumpeter kit lacks this rack.  If you choose to include this feature, you will need to build your own stowage rack from styrene or brass angle.

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.