1:72 IS-2 accessories set

1:72 IS-2 accessories set from Black Dog model

A resin set of accessories in 1:72 scale for a model of the Soviet IS-2 heavy tank. It is not a kit of the tank but a set of parts with which you add stowed cargo and crew equipment to a finished model. In a small scale such an accessory has a surprisingly large effect: it breaks up the smooth areas of the hull and gives the vehicle both scale and a story.

The real subject

The IS-2 was a Soviet heavy tank of the closing phase of the Second World War, built around a heavy gun of large caliber. It was meant to break through prepared defenses and to fight fortifications, which is why it had heavy frontal armor and separate-loading ammunition, which slowed the rate of fire but ensured a forceful effect. It was committed in independent heavy regiments that supported an attack. Crews commonly lashed jerrycans, tarpaulins, crates and personal belongings onto the hull, because the space inside was taken up by ammunition.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water and so remove the mold release. Cut the casting blocks off with a sharp saw; in this scale the parts are small, so work over a tray and preferably with tweezers. Sand the resin with respiratory protection and bond it with super glue. Lay the accessories out dry and only then fix them. They are easiest to paint once the base color of the hull is on, so that canvas, wood and metal can be told apart in color. At the end tie the whole together with a wash and a fine dust, otherwise in 1:72 the accessories would look too contrasting.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build the IS-2 in 1:72 scale and want to bring the model to life.
• Builders of small dioramas, where every detail counts.
• Anyone interested in resin accessories who can work with small parts.
• Modelers who want to turn an out-of-the-box build into a vehicle committed in the field.