1:100 KV-1 Surblinded Soviet Heavy Tank Platoon (3 pcs)

KV-1, a platoon of three Soviet heavy tanks in 1:100 scale (Zebranomodel)

The package holds three models of the Soviet KV-1 heavy tank in 1:100 scale from the Zebranomodel brand. This brand's 1:100 line is built for miniature wargames and for small dioramas, where vehicles appear by the platoon rather than one at a time. The particular armor variant of the KV-1 is not stated here; the package holds three vehicles of one type.

The real subject

The KV-1 was a Soviet heavy tank that gave German units an unpleasant surprise in 1941: ordinary anti-tank guns could not penetrate its armor, and knocking it out took a heavy artillery round or a hit on the running gear. It was armed with a gun of 76.2 mm caliber. It was, however, considered a heavy and unreliable machine, mainly because of the transmission and the clutch, and its crews complained about poor visibility. The turret, the armor and the details of the hull changed during production, so a whole range of versions exists.

Building and painting tips

First wash the small parts in warm soapy water and let them dry. Cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) holds on resin as well as on plastic, so on models this small it is the safest choice; cement for plastic works only on injection-molded plastic. Lay the base coat down thin, otherwise the engraved detail will disappear at this scale. The result in 1:100 stands on contrast: once the base color has dried, lighten the horizontal surfaces and put a dark wash into the joints and the shadows.

Who the set is for

• Players of miniature and board wargames in 1:100 scale.
• Builders of small dioramas and display arrangements.
• Collectors of Soviet equipment who want a whole platoon.

The models are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.