KV-8S (January/February 1943)

The final 10 KV-8S mounted the flame projector and 45mm gun in the standard KV-1S cast turret.  These vehicles were manufactured at ChKZ in January/February 1943.

Modeling one of these vehicles is a fairly simple exercise since Eastern Express kit #35101 Heavy Flamethrower Tank KV-8S represents this sub-variant when built out of the box.  Only minor corrections are necessary to create an accurate model.

In step 1, the lower hull is assembled from a curved belly plate, separate flat plates for the hull sides, and a separate curved lower rear hull plate.  For the truly pedantic, note that the mounts for the suspension swing arms include two grease fittings rather than the correct single fitting.  Cut away the right-hand grease fitting for accuracy.

The bases of the mounting plates for the towing eyes are molded integrally on parts 1B and 4B.  These are the early trapezoidal pattern rather than the circular pattern seen on all KV-1S hulls.  You should cut away the mounting plates from the parts.

In step 2, the sprockets feature the correct eight retaining bolts on the hub covers, but the covers include a raised lip which is incorrect and should be sanded away.  The idlers are correct in shape and size but the conical hubs lack the grease fitting.  This can be easily added by drilling a hole in the correct place and simulating the fitting itself with a piece of hexagonal rod.  See the drawings and photographs on page 143 and 144 of KV - Technical History and Variants for a guide.

In step 3, the kit provides two different types of road wheels - all-steel wheels with eight small lightening holes, which were the most common type seen on the KV-1S and KV-8S, and similar wheels with eight larger lightening holes, which were seen on some KV-1S vehicles in 1943.  However, the kit only includes a 'half' set of each type, and you must use one type on the inner halves and the other type on the outer halves.  By reversing the wheels, you can depict the two different types.  Photographs of the KV-8S are extremely rare but suggest that the wheels with eight small lightening holes were fitted to some if not all of the 10 vehicles.

In step 4, the kit tracks require replacement with after-market items.  They represent the narrow split link type of track commonly seen on the KV-1S and KV-8S, but they are somewhat stiff and are best replaced.  A number of manufacturers offer suitable replacements.  Friulmodel's ATL-54, Modelkasten's SK-14 and WWII Productions' 35022 are all suitable candidates.

The mounting plates for the towing eyes (parts 17A) are the early trapezoidal pattern rather than the circular pattern seen on all KV-1S hull.  You should replace the mounting plates with discs cut from styrene sheet, and use the kit parts for the towing eyes themselves.

In step 5, the upper hull is molded as a single component including the fenders.  The fender brackets feature the correct four bolts attaching them to the fenders, but the brackets themselves are rather thick and would benefit from replacement with brass items from one of the many aftermarket sets.

The bolt configuration on the engine compartment and transmission compartment roof plates is accurate but the bolts are round rather than hexagonal and would benefit  from replacement with small pieces of hexagonal rod.  The kit includes the central bolt on the rear edge of the transmission compartment but many vehicles from the spring of 1943 onward lacked the bolt and left the hole empty, or lacked the bolt and the hole.

The fuel, oil and water filler caps are correctly placed but are surrounded by grooves which were not present on the real vehicle.  The caps themselves feature a circular raised fitting in their centers, whereas the real caps featured either a single square hole or four small holes to accept the tool used to remove and replace the caps.  The best approach here would be to remove the caps entirely, fill the grooves and replace the caps with discs cut from styrene sheet, with holes drilled in them.

The radiator intake screens to either side of the engine access hatch also require replacement, since they are simplified and feature the longitudinal rods over the mesh covers which were apparently only fitted to a few trials vehicles.  Carve away the molded screens, taking care to preserve the bolt-head detail around them.  Eduard sets TP088 and TP089 offer suitable replacements.

The lifting eyes are generally accurate but are molded integrally with the hull top and should be drilled out for accuracy.

The kit includes an applique armor plate (part 8B) for the driver's front plate.  KV-1S hulls from late 1942, as used for the KV-8S, did not carry applique armor so omit this part.  Add the splash guard around the driver's visor using the drawing on page 394 of KV - Technical History and Variants as a guide.

The upper hull molding is a common part shared between Eastern Express' KV-1S, KV-8S and KV-85 kits, and the crew hatch in the upper hull is faired over.  You must carefully cut and file the opening to accommodate the hatch cover (part 29A), which is the correct late pattern with a raised lip.

The engine access hatch is a separate component but is somewhat simplified.  If you wish, you can use the kit part and drill the two missing holes in the central inspection port. Alternatively, you can use an aftermarket item from Modelling Artisan Mori (MRP03) which has better detail.  You must scratch-build the cable and hook for the rear lifting eye since neither the kit nor the Modelling Artisan Mori set include the cable and hook.

The kit instructions incorrectly direct you to fit the rear attachment brackets for the turnbuckles that hold the tow cables (parts 31A) in the horizontal position rather than the correct vertical position.

In step 6, the kit lacks the spare track links seen on the number 5 and 6 positions on the fenders.  You must source these from the spares box or, if you use an after-market track set, use spare links from that set with scratch-built brackets.

The instructions also incorrectly direct you to fit the stowage box on the number 5 position on the left-hand fender.  It should be fitted on the number 7 position instead.

The kit includes lifting rings for all the lifting eyes (parts 28A) but these were rarely seen on vehicles in the field, so they should be omitted.

The exhausts are accurate in shape but require hollowing out with careful use of a drill bit and a sharp #11 blade.

In step 7, assemble the turret shell and blend the join lines between the turret halves (parts 2D and 3D) and between part 2D and part 6D.

The casting seams depict the early pattern seen in late 1942 and early 1943, which is appropriate for a KV-8S completed in January/February 1943.

The turret roof plate is a separate component and lacks the weld seams around its edges.  These can be added from putty or styrene rod softened with liquid cement.

When adding the gun mount to the turret shell, DO NOT fill the joint between the gun mount (part 24D) and the turret shell.  The gun mount was bolted to the turret casting, and there was a visible join line.

The turret episcope covers are separate components but the episcopes themselves are absent from underneath the covers.  These can be added from suitably shaped thick styrene strip.

The periscopic sight (part 16D) is too squat and lacks detail.  Replace it with a Trumpeter item.

The loader's hatch (part 12D) lacks the latch bolts on its outer face.  Add these by drilling holes and filling them with short lengths of styrene rod using the drawing on page 228 of KV - Technical History and Variants as a guide.  The hinge assembly also lacks latch details, which can be added from scrap styrene.

Thin down the front edge of the rain guard (part 6F) with careful sanding.

The kit instructions direct you to construct the 45mm gun barrel by cutting down the 76.2mm barrel supplied in the kit.  For a better representation, you should replace the kit barrel with Aber 35 L52.  This item is designed for the Trumpeter kit but with minor adaptations to the Eastern Express mantlet (part 4D), it can be added to the Eastern Express kit.

In step 8, the kit includes four external fuel/oil tanks for the fenders, but there should be five tanks - four for fuel and one for oil - on the number 5, 7, 8 ,9 and 10 positions.  You will need to source an additional tank from your spares box or an after-market set.

In step 9, the kit provides hand rails for the upper hull sides, as fitted from the spring of 1943 onward.  You should omit these for a KV-8S.

Attach the turret to the hull to complete your model.