KV-2
Lion Roar 1:35 set #LE35060
Review by Terry Ashley

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This set is designed for Trumpeter kit 00312 Russia KV-2 and is very similar to set #LE35059 with four frets of etched parts with a 50mm length of 0.5mm plastic rod, a 120mm length of 0.2mm and 0.8 copper wire plus the 152mm metal barrel that has fine rifling in the hollowed out muzzle and the fine segment lines along the barrel length.

The quality of etching is excellent with clean crisp etchings with nice relief on the parts and the usual engrave bending lines where applicable.

There are relatively few parts with the fender storage boxes being completely replaced with etched parts with additional hinges, grab handles and latches that will allow the boxes to be shown open as well as incorporating damage if required.

The two curved engine deck screens are replaced with fine etched screens that have a subtle weave effect with separate outer frames as well as the two inner louvers which replace the kit parts without any problems. Care will be needed when bending the slight curve to the screens as the two solid half crescent end sections are included with the meshing and of course these shouldn’t be bent.

There is also the mesh screen for the underside of the rear hull overhang which also has a slight bend to be added plus details for the exhaust outlets.

The insides of the two hull crew hatches get new etched latch mechanisms which require you to remove the moulded on detail from the kit parts with the etched mechanism added for better detail definition.

All the fender support brackets and bolted flange sections are provided as etched parts which are designed to be fitted to the kit plastic fenders that again require some of the moulded on details be removed beforehand to as the etched parts.

Moving to the turret there is the large metal barrel as mentioned which is the correct length when compared to the 1:35 plans in the Tankograd KV-2 book while the Trumpeter kit barrel is about 3mm short. The metal barrel is a straight replacement for the kit barrel without any kit alterations required and the upper mantlet cover is also provided as an etched part for a thinner look than the plastic kit part. The fit of the barrel is perfect with the small notches in the muzzle lip included and the subtle rifling inside the barrel which is quite noticeable on this large calibre gun.

Conclusion:
Another fairly simple detail set with the engine deck screens, storage boxes and fuel tanks requiring the most work with most other parts simple replacing the kit parts.
The inclusion of the metal barrel is a nice bonus alleviating the need to buy this as an additional set.

Highly recommended.

Soviet Heavy Breakthrough Tank KV-2 Tankograd Soviet Special No 2001

KV-1 & 2 Heavy Tanks 1939-1945 Osprey New Vanguard 17 ISBN 1-85532-496-2

Ground Power Magazine #75 - 8/2000 Published by GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd.

Thanks to my credit card and the excellent service from Hobby Easy for the review set.

Page created December 24, 2005