1:48 KV-2 (TAMIYA)

A photo-etched set for the KV-2 in 1:48 scale from Hauler

This aftermarket set from the Czech maker Hauler holds parts made of photo-etched sheet for the model of the Soviet KV-2 heavy tank in 1:48 scale. It is not a model or a kit but an accessory that is fitted to the Tamiya kit. Basic photo-etched sets of this type usually deal with those parts of a model that cannot be made from plastic in a scale thickness. Please check the exact extent of the set against the illustration on the packaging.

The real subject

The KV-2 was a derivative of the KV-1 heavy tank with a tall, angular turret and a 152 mm howitzer meant for destroying fortifications. It was built in small numbers at the start of the war and in service it was limited by the weight of the turret and by an overloaded chassis. For a modeler it is an unmistakable and rewarding object: the tall turret with its large flat surfaces and the coarsely finished surface of the welded parts give room both for detail and for weathering.

Building and painting tips

Follow the illustrations in the set and fit the photo-etch as the build goes along rather than at the end, because once the hull and the turret are glued together some places are out of reach. Degrease the parts, bend them in the scored lines and glue them with a minimal amount of super glue. The metal can be painted only after primer has been sprayed on. Soviet vehicles will take marked weathering, but go carefully with dark washes on the large areas of the turret, so that they do not turn gray.

Who the set is for

• builders of Soviet vehicles in 1:48 scale
• modelers who are bothered by the thickness of plastic parts
• anyone interested in a higher level of detail without converting the model
• modelers with experience of photo-etched parts

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The model itself, glue, paints and tools are not included in the package.