KV-220 Rearmed

[maschinenkrueger]

The KV-220 was an experiential tank prototyped in 1941. It was an attempt to level-up the KV-1 series. The armor was increased, a new gun was mounted - the 85mm F-30, and the hull was extended one road wheel station to reduce the ground pressure from the increased weight.

The design didn't meet expectations and was abandoned. The Turret was used as a static defense and the hull was reequipped with a KV-1 turret with the 76.2mm gun and used around the defense of Leningrad.

The kit is the Trumpeter 05553 Soviet KV-220 "Russian Tiger". I decided to add a few upgrades to the rather basic kit. The taper-less F-30 looked like a dummy gun so I used a spare ZIS-S-53 barrel from a Dragon T-34/85 kit. I'm tempted to upgrade further to a 100mm D-10S so this is still a work in progress. These weren't introduced until 1943 so this is more of a what-if build.

I added appliqué armor plates to protect the turret ring. All hull welds were created with stretched sprue. There are no aftermarket fenders available for the KV-220. I tried to scratch my own from brass but wasn't too happy with the results so I just left most of the fenders off. It looks more aggressive this way and is good way to show off the tracks. The stowage boxes are from an ET Models set that had to be modified to fit the narrow style fenders. I cut about 2mm off the back end and patched it up with brass I was using for the fenders. I scratched the brass bits used for the light and horn mount and left that hardware off because I just didn't want to deal with them.

The tracks are from MasterClub. Fortunately the set contained enough links to make the extended run of the KV-220. Unfortunately between breaks and losses, I came up short by 2 of the resin nuts that face the outside so I will need to scratch some replacements. The tracks were a real bear to deal with on this build. Besides cleaning up flash on the knuckles, I had to drill out the holes on each link for the exterior pins for a press fit while the interior ones all required a tiny drop of superglue to retain them. Very tedious work.









Additional images can be found here: KV-220

[tobias5555]

Looking really good so far.

[maschinenkrueger]

Thanks Tobias.

[joelsmith]

Lookin good. Just needs a splash of color, and, a Commissar wondering just how bad Siberia can really be.

[dierk]

Looking great! MC tracks: love the detail, hate using the resin pins...

[Leon]

Looking really good!

[jsteinman]

[maschinenkrueger]

Dierk - I've had good luck with their metal sets for the T-34 and PzIII. Those went together much easier.

Thanks all. Appreciate it. Anyone know of an aftermarket 107mm Zis-6? I might want to up-gun even more.

[panzerjager2]

Nice work.........she's a beast 
PJ2

[dupes]

Whoah...that thing is a BEAST!

[Wes]

Looking good. The look you get with metal tracks just cant be beat.

[Deleted]

Almost a shame to paint her!

Looking good.

G

[thechaos]

WOW I love it. Great Work. 

[TRM]

Beautiful build!! Can't wait to see her under a little color! Drawing a blank on the barrel...sorry! Aber, RB Model maybe? Good luck on that end of things!

[maschinenkrueger]

Thanks all. Yeah, it's a beast especially compared to my PzIIIs and 38(t) on the shelf next to it.

I have a 100mm barrel on the way. While not a 107, it should be a nice upgrade.

Over the weekend I picked up a copy of a 2000era Russian language publication on the KV series. It contained 1/35 scale drawings for the KV-220. Comparing the drawings to the kit, it looks like the trumpeter kit hull is about 5-6mm short. Basing on one set of drawings is risky though. Had I known sooner, I might have lengthened the kit hull but it's a little late for that now.

[tobias5555]

I´m looking forward to see the beast painted.

[rbaer]

Nifty concept. I like the idea of a bigger gun, maybe a 122mm? Since it's a whif, why not?

[panzerjager2]

If you're gonna go "bigger", than heck go 152mmm 
PJ2

[joelsmith]

What PJ said, some is good, more is better, too much is just enough!

[maschinenkrueger]

Thanks all!

Now with 15mm more power! I installed the 100mm D-10S and made a small base.

[rbaer]

Big guns are good!

[maschinenkrueger]

OK, finally something to show for my absence. This model has had more touch ups and repaints than I care to mention but it's coming together.

Sorry for the grainy quality. Took these real quick this morning.

[Leon]

Paint and those armor plates look good!

[tobias5555]

Looking really good.

[maschinenkrueger]

Leon - Thanks. I used some tips from one of Rob's published tutorials on rust.

Thanks Tobias.

[thechaos]

looks good i like it.

[Deleted]

Well done!

Looking forward to more.

G

[panzerjager2]

NICE work on this build. I really like the "add on" armour plates and kill ring,(stars). I don't think I have ever seen a photo of a Soviet AFV with kill rings before. 
Again very cool. 

PJ2

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

[wing_nut]

"We don't need no steenking sloped armor!"

Looks great.