KV-1 Model 1940 (Mid-March to Early May 1941)

This variant is quite easy to model, since Trumpeter's kit #00356 provides most of the components.  Only minor corrections and back-dating are necessary to produce an accurate model of this variant.

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).
• Some vehicles carried flanges on the turret episcope covers but not on the driver's episcope cover.  Check your references for the vehicle you are modeling.  If necessary, remove the flange surrounding the driver's episcope cover and simulate the weld bead attaching the cover to the hull roof plate with putty or styrene rod softened with liquid cement.
  
• Omit the cross-cut saw and its bracket from the left-hand fender.  By this time, the saw was located inside the lid of the rearmost stowage box on the right-hand fender.
• 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.
  

By following these steps along with the kit instructions, you will create an accurate representation of a KV-1 Model 1940 manufactured between mid-March and early May 1941.