Soviet KV-85 Heavy Tank

Another great, finely detailed model kit from Trumpeter. Although the build instructions do not show their included usage, the parts trees include the bow MG and its protection strip as from the KV-1S/85 kit, that a builder can optionally apply. Historical wartime photos show the KV-85 both with, and without the bow MG feature, and likely represent early and late production variations. No option for the long rubber strip tread, but I guess the sectional molded type sure beats the individual link ones. The roadwheels are of the KV-1S M1942 chassis variety with the small perforations, whereas the KV-1S, KV-85 and SU-152 M1943 units utilized roadwheels with approx. 2-3 times larger perforations. This can easily be taken care of with one of the little hand/finger drill sets, for those desiring accuracy. Overall, the kit is very nice quality and nicely detailed, and I would recommend it to others.

I get this tank since it looks like the KV-1S in World of Tanks. Trumpeter has a great line of KV based tanks that they offer many different versions of. This one come with a metal barrel. The instructions are easy to follow. The tracks take some time, about 3 hours, to cut, clean up and assemble, but they look great with the right amount of sag. I had to use a little putty on the casing seem of the turret where the top and bottom meet, but the real tank had this seam, so no problems.