KV s Bolshoiy Bashniy (July/August 1940)

Modeling one of the 20 series production KV s bolshoiy bashniy completed at LKZ in July/August 1940 is a relatively simple exercise since Trumpeter kit #00311 Russia KV 'Big Turret' represents this sub-variant when built out of the box.  Only a few minor corrections are required to create an accurate model.

In step 1 of the kit instructions, DO NOT open up the hole in the center of the engine access hatch (part C2).  This hole allows you to the inspection port for the engine cooling system's pressure relief valve, which was not fitted until the cooling system was revised at the end of 1941, long after production of the KV s boshoiy bashniy had ceased.

In addition to opening up the indicated holes on the fenders, open up the pair of holes on the number 5 position on the left-hand fender (part C1).  This will allow you to fit the cross-cut saw and its bracket which were present in this position on the KV s bolshoiy bashniy.

Follow step 2 of the instructions.

In step 3, omit the two rearmost lifting eyes on the transmission compartment roof plate and fill their locating holes.  The kit provides four lifting eyes but there should be only two.

Follow step 4 of the instructions.

In step 5, the nose plate (part C5) features 11 filled bolt holes across each face.  The original plates carried 17 bolts on each face, and the number was reduced to 11 at the end of August 1940.  While it is possible that the final few KV s bolshoiy bashniy carried only 11 bolts, most would have carried 17.  Sand away the circular marks from part C5 and create 17 equally spaced filled holes by drilling holes and filling them with styrene rod.  Alternatively, you can simply leave the nose plate smooth since these early vehicles were finished to a high standard and the holes were often barely visible.

The kit provides the correct radiator intake screens but you may wish to replace these with after-market items.  Aber 35 G16, Eduard 35888 and Jordi Rubio TG84 provide the correct pattern.

Follow steps 6 and 7 of the instructions.

In step 8, DO NOT open up the hole in the engine access hatch (part C2).  The inspection port (part A18) was not fitted to the KV s bolshoiy bashniy.

Follow steps 9 thru 11 of the instructions.

In step 12, the kit lacks the cross-cut saw and its bracket, which must be mounted on the number 5 position on the left-hand fender.  Trumpeter kits #00356 and #00357 both provide this part but it is not required for most sub-variants of the KV-1 Model 1940 so you may have this part in your spares box.

In step 13, the turret front plate (part K4) lacks the covers for the pistol port and vision port.  The apertures are present, but the covers are missing.  You should construct these parts from discs of 0.5mm styrene sheet using the ports on the rear face of the turret as a guide.  Alternatively, if you have a left-over pistol port from Trumpeter kit #00356, you can use that part.

The turret roof (part K1) features the two ventilators immediately aft of the periscopic sights.  These are appropriate for a series production KV s bolshoiy bashniy.  If you wish to model one of the four pre-production vehicles U-1 thru U4 completed in January/February 1940, which also saw service against the Germans in the summer of 1941, you should carve away the ventilator covers and fill the resulting holes.

The front face of the recuperator cover (part K5) includes the opening for the coaxial machine gun.  The machine gun was not fitted to the MT-1 turrets, so you should fill the hole.

Note that the kit gun barrel is 3mm too short.  It also has overly prominent grooves around its circumference representing the joints between the sections of the barrel sleeve.  On the real vehicle, the joints were barely visible.  The kit's gun barrel also includes the reinforcing collar around the muzzle which was not introduced until after the KV s bolshoiy bashniy production run.  The easiest way to overcome these problems is to replace  the barrel with Jordi Rubio TG83 or TG84 (TG84 includes the radiator intake screens as well as the gun barrel).

Follow step 14 to complete your model.

By following these steps, you will create an accurate replica of one of the 20 series production KV s bolshoiy bashniy completed in July/August 1940.