KV-1 Model 1940 (January to Early February 1941)

This sub-variant of the KV-1 Model 1940 requires more work than the later sub-variants due to the different rear-facing machine gun on the turret, which must be converted from the existing mount.  Apart from this one fitting however, this sub-variant is an easy conversion from Trumpeter's kit #00356 with only minor modifications otherwise required.

Some points to note:

• The kit provides the regular curved rear hull overhang which was introduced in early May 1941.  Hulls manufactured prior to that time featured the creased curved overhang with a flat spot on the upper portion of the plate.  You can modify the kit part by sanding it to match the contours of the upper hull sides, or use the part included in Trumpeter's kit #00311 Russian KV "Big Turret" Tank.
  
• Omit the two rearmost lifting eyes from the transmission compartment roof plate, and fill their locating holes.  The kit provides four lifting eyes, but there should be only two.
  
• The kit includes optional applique armor plates for the hull front, driver's front plate and upper hull sides.  However, these plates were not introduced until early June.  DO NOT fit them to your model.
  
• DO NOT fit the inspection port in the center of the domed engine access hatch.  This port was not introduced until the end of 1941, long after the ehkrany program had ceased.
• Use the early pattern radiator intake screens (parts D10).
• The kit includes a flange around the driver's episcope cover.  This flange was not introduced until late March.  Remove the flange and simulate the weld bead attaching the cover to the hull roof plate with putty or styrene rod softened with liquid cement.
• The kit includes three stowage boxes of the revised pattern introduced at the end of January 1941.  Vehicles manufactured prior to that time carried three boxes of a similar design, but without the reinforcing plates on the ends of the lids, and without grab handles on the lids.  You can modify the kit parts by sanding away the handles on the lids and the reinforcing plates on the ends.  Alternatively, you can use the stowage boxes from Trumpeter's kit #00311.  Fit two boxes on the left-hand fender and one on the right.
• Fit the cross-cut saw and its bracket from the left-hand fender.  The saw was not relocated inside the lid of the stowage box on the right-hand fender until mid-March.
  
• Fit the cylindrical stowage tube on the right-hand fender.  The tube was not eliminated from new production vehicles until the end of June 1941.
• The Izhorskiy Plant was the most common manufacturer of turrets at this time, and used blind holes, drilled and tapped from the inside, to attach the turret roof plate to the front, sides and rear.  You should therefore eliminate the circular marks around the edges of the turret roof plate, but leave those on the front and rear plates.
• Turrets manufactured at this time also featured mitered corners between the front, sides and rear plates, with a weld seam at the apex of each corner.  You should sand away the torch cut marks and weld seams from the front and rear of the turret side plates, and round off each corner slightly to represent the weld bead at the apex.
• The kit includes flanges around the turret episcope covers and ventilator cover.  These flanges were not introduced until mid-March.  Carefully remove the flanges from the episcope covers and from the ventilator cover molded onto the turret roof plate, and simulate the weld bead attaching the covers to the roof plate with putty or styrene rod softened with liquid cement.
• The kit includes the shielded machine gun mount for the turret rear plate.  This mount was not introduced until early February.  Vehicles manufactured in January or very early in February carried the same unshielded mount fitted to the KV s malenkiy bashniy and the KV-1 Model 1939.  Modify the mount (part D11), to remove the armored collar. Carefully cut away the armored collar and fill the "dent" in the middle. It is probably best to do this with cyanoacrylate adhesive.  Now, drill two holes in the front face of part D11 to match the apertures in the original cover (part D12) and work these with file and hobby knife until they match the drawings and photographs on pages 184, 185 and 291 of KV - Technical History and Variants.  Finally, fill the two slots in the rear turret face that will be exposed by the removal of the collar.
• The kit instructs you to locate the two grab handles on the upper edges of the turret sides (parts D15) forward of the side-facing episcope covers.  This is correct for a vehicle manufactured from February onwards, but earlier turrets mounted the grab handles aft of the episcope covers.  Fill the locating slots and relocate parts D15 further aft as shown in the plan view on page 498 of KV - Technical History and Variants.
  

By following these steps along with the kit instructions, you will create an accurate representation of a KV-1 Model 1940 manufactured in January or very early February 1941.