KV-8S (September to November 1942)

The first 25 KV-8S vehicles were manufactured at ChKZ between September and November 1942 and mounted the flame projector and 45mm gun in a simplified welded turret on a KV-1S hull.  Modeling one of these vehicles requires you to cross-kit Eastern Express kit #35100 Heavy Tank KV-1S (or kit #35101 Heavy Flamethrower Tank KV-8S) with  Trumpeter kit #00358 Russia KV-1 Model 1942 Simplified Turret Tank.  You will use the hull and running gear from the Eastern Express kit with the turret and armament from the Trumpeter kit.

For the purposes of discussion here, I will use Eastern Express kit #35101 for the hull and running gear.  If you choose to use kit #35100, the steps are identical.

Begin with Eastern Express kit #35101.

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.  Alternatively, since you are cross-kitting with Trumpeter kit #00358, you can use the covers from that kit.  The Eastern Express 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 vehicles with the simplified welded turret are extremely rare but photographs of KV-1S vehicles manufactured at the same time suggest that they would have carried spoked wheels, in which case your only choice is to use Azimut Production's set 35311 which provides a partial set of these wheels for the outer road wheel halves.  You must either combine these wheels with kit parts for the inner halves, or use two of the Azimut sets.

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 the part from Trumpeter kit #00358 or the aftermarket item from Modelling Artisan Mori (MRP03), both of which have better detail.  If you do not use the Trumpeter part, 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.  Alternatively, you can use the parts from Trumpeter kit #00358.

Skip step 7 since you will use the turret and armament from Trumpeter kit #00358.

In step 8, the kit includes four external fuel/oil tanks for the fenders.  However, early KV-1S vehicles rarely carried external fuel tanks and the few surviving photographs of KV-8S vehicles with the simplified welded turret suggest that they did not carry the tanks either.  Omit the tanks.

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.

Switch to Trumpeter kit #00358, and go immediately to step 11 of the instructions.

Modify the turret roof by carefully removing the two rear-facing episcopes and filling their locating holes.  Divert momentarily from the prescribed assembly sequence, and attach the rear-facing episcope covers (parts P5) further aft, so that their rearmost corners touch the edge of the turret roof plate (NOT the top edge of the turret sides).  See the drawing on page 392 of KV - Technical History and Variants for guidance.  Locate the episcopes themselves inside the covers. Note that the spacing and angle of the covers and episcopes is unchanged.

DO NOT use the trunnion cheeks (parts P11 and P12).  Instead, use the alternate parts P9 and P10.

Use the box-shaped gunner's sight shown in the kit instructions (parts F17 and F20) but fit it to the right-hand side of the turret as shown in the optional steps at the bottom of the page in the kit instructions.  Fit a conical periscopic sight cover (parts F18 and A20) to the left-hand side.  Fill the join line around the outer edge of part F18.

DO NOT add the reinforcing fillet (part P2) beneath the turret bustle.  This was only fitted to early turrets without the interlocked joints.  The kit turret represents the revised design with interlocked joints, introduced in October 1941, and is appropriate for a Model 1942 manufactured in the spring of 1942.

Attach the side-facing episcope covers and assemble the rear-facing machine gun (parts D11, D12 and D2) as indicated.

You may wish to replace the grab handles on the turret sides (parts D15) with brass wire, and fill their locating slots.

Fill the socket in the center of the turret hatch (part D19).  KV-1 and KV-8S turret hatches did not include the socket.

Omit the gun barrel, mantlet and rain guard (parts F19, F16 and P13).  Instead, fit the alternate parts P1, P8 and P4.  The Trumpeter kit provides a reasonable representation of the sleeved 45mm gun barrel but for an even better representation, you can replace the kit barrel with Aber 35 L52.

Attach the turret to the hull to complete your model.

By following these steps, you will create an accurate replica of one of the 25 KV-8S vehicles with simplified welded turrets.