In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
KV-1 Type C Russian Heavy Tank
Motorized Kit
No. MT134-650
Series no. 34
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of kit is 1972.
Series no. 34
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of kit is 1972.
HISTORY:
From the start of WWII German tank divisions achieved many victories, leading them to believe they had great superiority over the Allied tank forces. In the summer of 1941, during the invasion of Russia, they met with an unexpectedly formidable enemy, Russias new KV-1 heavy tank. The KV-1 design was introduced in 1939 and two years later in 1941 mass production was started.
Completely unknown to the German Army, the first KV-1 tanks were allocated to the front line troops at the outbreak of the German-Soviet War. Suddenly, this huge form confronted the German tank divisions. Looming upon them like a small mountain, this tank was called "the Monster" by the awe-filled German troops.
Its smooth turret was equipped with a 76.2 mm cannon. It boasted a world famous water-cooled diesel engine that reduced fire danger and greatly increased its cruising range and used torsion bar suspension. Its advanced design made it the basis for the modern Soviet tank forces. Equipped with 100 mm thick front armor plate, the tank was the answer to the challenge of the projectiles of the German Type 3 and Type 4 tanks.
During actual combat, improvements were added and together with the KV-85 with its 85 mm cannon and the medium T-34, the Russian Tank Force became the main defensive force to protect the Russian homeland gainst German invasion.
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE KV-1 TYPE C:
Overall length: 6.79 m
Overall height: 3.25 m
Overall width: 3.33 m
Battle weight: 47 tons
Armament: One 76.2 mm gun, M1940, 41.5 calibres long. Three 7.62 mm machine guns.
Engine: Water-cooled V-type B-2K diesel engine.
Maximum output: 550 h.p./2,150 r.p.m.
Madimum speed: 29.6 km/h
Cruising range: 250 km
Number of crew: 5
From the start of WWII German tank divisions achieved many victories, leading them to believe they had great superiority over the Allied tank forces. In the summer of 1941, during the invasion of Russia, they met with an unexpectedly formidable enemy, Russias new KV-1 heavy tank. The KV-1 design was introduced in 1939 and two years later in 1941 mass production was started.
Completely unknown to the German Army, the first KV-1 tanks were allocated to the front line troops at the outbreak of the German-Soviet War. Suddenly, this huge form confronted the German tank divisions. Looming upon them like a small mountain, this tank was called "the Monster" by the awe-filled German troops.
Its smooth turret was equipped with a 76.2 mm cannon. It boasted a world famous water-cooled diesel engine that reduced fire danger and greatly increased its cruising range and used torsion bar suspension. Its advanced design made it the basis for the modern Soviet tank forces. Equipped with 100 mm thick front armor plate, the tank was the answer to the challenge of the projectiles of the German Type 3 and Type 4 tanks.
During actual combat, improvements were added and together with the KV-85 with its 85 mm cannon and the medium T-34, the Russian Tank Force became the main defensive force to protect the Russian homeland gainst German invasion.
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE KV-1 TYPE C:
Overall length: 6.79 m
Overall height: 3.25 m
Overall width: 3.33 m
Battle weight: 47 tons
Armament: One 76.2 mm gun, M1940, 41.5 calibres long. Three 7.62 mm machine guns.
Engine: Water-cooled V-type B-2K diesel engine.
Maximum output: 550 h.p./2,150 r.p.m.
Madimum speed: 29.6 km/h
Cruising range: 250 km
Number of crew: 5
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
I have 3 different versions of the KV type tank. Two of them share the same road wheel patterns and the third one is different. All 3 have different turrets. The upper deck and hull are all the common to all the kits.
I intend to review all 3 here eventually.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a KV-1 posed against one of Tamiya's SIGNATURE all white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The KV-1 is overall dark-green with a white slogan FOR STALIN and a white diamond divided horizontally in half with the number 2 in the upper half and 045 in the lower half. A tank commander is looking out of the upper turret hatch. He is wearing a leather tanker's helmet and holding a pair of binoculars.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the KV-1 and a 4-view of the KV-1 that is unmarked. Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan is provided here too.
The other side panel has 5 scenic box arts in color of other AFV kits that Tamiya markets: a T-10 Soviet heavy tank, a T-34 Soviet medium tank, a S.U.-100 heavy tank destroyer, a T-55 Soviet medium tank and a German Panther medium tank.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
I have 3 different versions of the KV type tank. Two of them share the same road wheel patterns and the third one is different. All 3 have different turrets. The upper deck and hull are all the common to all the kits.
I intend to review all 3 here eventually.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a KV-1 posed against one of Tamiya's SIGNATURE all white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The KV-1 is overall dark-green with a white slogan FOR STALIN and a white diamond divided horizontally in half with the number 2 in the upper half and 045 in the lower half. A tank commander is looking out of the upper turret hatch. He is wearing a leather tanker's helmet and holding a pair of binoculars.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the KV-1 and a 4-view of the KV-1 that is unmarked. Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan is provided here too.
The other side panel has 5 scenic box arts in color of other AFV kits that Tamiya markets: a T-10 Soviet heavy tank, a T-34 Soviet medium tank, a S.U.-100 heavy tank destroyer, a T-55 Soviet medium tank and a German Panther medium tank.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 dark-green parts trees, a loose dark green hull tub and hull roof part, the decal sheet, vinyl treads, vinyl poly-caps, instructions, a small color kit catalog, motorization hardware and the electric motor.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/2" x 10 1/4" page format.
Page one begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the KV-1 and a small illustration of a German 88 mm A.A. gun.
Page two has a listing of the names of the kit parts, some general instructions and the parts trees illustrations over a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme.
Pages three to the top of page 6 give a total of 13 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 has a black and white photo of a KV-1 leading a T-34. The KV-1 has infantrymen all over the top of it.
Page 7 is the painting and decal application instructions. There is a 4-view at the top that says it is in winter white wash camouflage.
Below the 4-view is 4 illustrations of KV-1 turrets showing the captions and other markings on their sides.
1. a turret with a red star with a hammer and cicle on it. It says the mark is a medal for distinguished service in Battle
2. a turret with a medal of lifeguard insignia on it.
3. a turret with FOR FATHERLAND on it.
4. a turret with FOR STALIN on it.
We are not told what units these were.
Page 6 continues the history and boy is it LONG. Mixed in the text are small illustrations of a Soviet T-35, a Soviet S.M.K. tank, a Soviet KV-II, a Soviet SU-152 and a Soviet JS-2.
This kit contains 3 dark-green parts trees, a loose dark green hull tub and hull roof part, the decal sheet, vinyl treads, vinyl poly-caps, instructions, a small color kit catalog, motorization hardware and the electric motor.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/2" x 10 1/4" page format.
Page one begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the KV-1 and a small illustration of a German 88 mm A.A. gun.
Page two has a listing of the names of the kit parts, some general instructions and the parts trees illustrations over a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme.
Pages three to the top of page 6 give a total of 13 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 has a black and white photo of a KV-1 leading a T-34. The KV-1 has infantrymen all over the top of it.
Page 7 is the painting and decal application instructions. There is a 4-view at the top that says it is in winter white wash camouflage.
Below the 4-view is 4 illustrations of KV-1 turrets showing the captions and other markings on their sides.
1. a turret with a red star with a hammer and cicle on it. It says the mark is a medal for distinguished service in Battle
2. a turret with a medal of lifeguard insignia on it.
3. a turret with FOR FATHERLAND on it.
4. a turret with FOR STALIN on it.
We are not told what units these were.
Page 6 continues the history and boy is it LONG. Mixed in the text are small illustrations of a Soviet T-35, a Soviet S.M.K. tank, a Soviet KV-II, a Soviet SU-152 and a Soviet JS-2.
Dark-green letter A parts tree holds: turret parts, crewman figure, tow cables, hull nose, fuel tank halves etc. (27)
Dark-green B parts tree holds: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, gun barrel, mantle parts, machine gun etc. (90 parts)
There is a dark-green hull tub and hull roof part.
Next are the black vinyl poly-caps (18 parts).
The 2 long runs of black vinyl rubber band type treads. These are not the glueable type and need to have the ends fastened with heat.
The decal sheet, instructions, small color kit catalog, motorization hardware and the electric motor complete the kits contents. Unfortunately, the decal sheet in my kit is missing. However, I have decal sheets in 3 T-34 kits and in 2 other KV kits that have multiple options. I will use a marking off one of these other sheets
I purchased the On the Mark brand PE set no. TMP-3504 for the KV-1 or KV-II to add to this model. It was $11.00.
I also bought several MV brand clear reflector headlight lenses and am gong to add those to the model, as the lens in the kit is solid dark-green plastic.
Set comes in a cello bag held shut with a header card stapled to the top of it.
This is a nice kit externally. However, there are no interior details, due to that space being taken up by the motorization.
Recommended.
Set comes in a cello bag held shut with a header card stapled to the top of it.
This is a nice kit externally. However, there are no interior details, due to that space being taken up by the motorization.
Recommended.
I bought my 3 kits at my local hobby shop back in the 70's and earlier.