KV-220 "Russian Tiger" Super Heavy Tank

Another of my resin kits from my last trip to Taiwan. This was a quality kit with lovely smooth resin and all very clean needing very little clean up before making.

I still don't have a KV 3 but this at least was one off my list. I am thinking about a scenario where the Germans break through to a factory complex used as a testing facility for Russian heavy and super heavy experimental tanks. Just need to think what the Germans can then bring up so have some sort of a chance!

Overall a nice clean kit and the model comes up nicely.

Comparison to a standard KV 1:

And with other experimental vehicles, T100Y, T100z, KV 220 and KV 5. The KV5 still dwarfs the rest.

In case of interest, links to my other experimental and prototype tank posts:

T28 super heavy tank (USA)
Tortoise A39
Boarhound armoured car (Shapeways)
TOG 2 heavy tank
T-100z
T-100Y
KV5
Prototype Tiger 1, Ausf H2
Dicker Max and Sturer Emil
Neubanfahrzeug
Panzer VII Löwe (Lion)
JgPz E 75 "Jagd Panther II"

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

M51 Isherman (Israeli Sherman)

Last trip to Taiwan I got hold of a number of 1/144 resin kits and one of these was the  M51 Isherman (Israeli Sherman). I got it for the fun of doing it as I will not be wargaming this period.

It was a bit of a pig to make while other resin kits I got went together very well. Despite the work needed to make I am please how it turned out - the detail is better than I thought as the translucent resin made it difficult to see before painting. The gun was bent so I replace with a piece of brass rod. Markings hand painted on as I had no decals.

I have put in on a home made terrain tile as the usual green is not appropriate - actually something I made for LOTR and Gondor fighting the Haradrim.

British captured Sd kfz 251 artillery HQ vehicle

I recently got a job lot of 1/144 tanks and it included some Takara Sd kfz 251s which are OK in terms of detail but not that good a paint job and no MG at the front, just the shield. As I have plenty of German half tracks I decided to do one as a captured British vehicle used for the HQ of an artillery battery as shown in the Flames of War book for Market Garden.

I added a Pendraken British officer figure by cutting the base off and gluing in the vehicle. I also added an allied MG which was again a Pendraken item - British roof top MG.

In case of interest you can check out an earlier post I did on Flames of War warrior units done in 10mm.


For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

Russian T28: Minifigs vs Panzer Depot

I bought a Minifigs Russian T28 a while back and have been undecided where to retain and get more for a unit or go with another make. I have not come across a resin model kit but had my eye on the Panzer Depot pre-painted model. The Panzer Depot model is much more expensive but the Minifigs model is not cheap compared to other metal 10 or 12mm models. I finally got hold of a Panzer Depot model in a job lot of tanks and so have finally made my choice.

Below are some comparison photos. It is worth noting that the Minifigs model is an early version whereas the Panzer Depot version is a late model T28 (the difference is the turret).

Overall the Minifigs model is very slightly smaller but not by much so fits in well with 1/144 scale. The Panzer Depot model has more surface detail as you would expect from resin but the Minifigs model is not bad on overall surface detail either. The Minifigs model is a big lump of metal so is pretty heavy whereas the Panzer Deport model is very light - means just need to be careful not to drop the Minifigs model which is mainly about remembering it is going to be heavy when picking up (would cause quite some damage if dropped on anything else!).

I was decided on Minifigs after being able to compare and I think I need the early version for Barbarossa scenarios anyway. Will cost me £18 plus postage for the 4 extra ones I want rather than more like £60 for the Panzer Depot version - not something I am happy to do when there is a decent alternative.

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

Wehrmacht '46 : JgPz E 75 "Jagd Panther II"

Alongside the British A39 Tortoises I was also doing a couple of Jagd Panther IIs, which are based on the E75 chassis. Again, like the Panzer VII Löwe (Lion) I got these for the fun of doing them as I have no intention of gaming Wehrmacht '46. All previous comments regarding CDG 3D resin models apply but these were a bit easier to tidy up as the sprues came out the front rather than the rear and that made them easy to remove.

To note the designation Jagd Panther II is the CDG name for the model but I see on various sites that the Jagd Panther II is something based on the Panther II hull and with a superstructure to the rear. I guess they are all speculative tanks anyway, but to be clear this is a Jagd E75 with a configuration like a Jagd Panther only bigger - as you can see later.

Having posted this just after the Tortoises I have set things up as if the Tortoise parade hit some trouble and the Jagd Panzer E75s are moving forward to mop up with a destroyed Tortoise on the road.

All in all it is a nice model and the gun is massive! I think it is supposed to be a 128mm (CDG specify this) but as mentioned above checking out the details on such a speculative tank are difficult. CDG models come up much better than the painted versions on their website and the details stands out well so not quite sure how they paint but it does not show their models off as well as they could.

A comparison with a CanDo Jagd Panther - to summarise it is rather dwarfed!

And finally a comparisons with a Jagd Tiger (CanDo version). Very similar in overall size but that gun on the Jagd Panther II looks monstrous - I can't find the details but assume it is supposed to be a longer barrel and perhaps the resin printing means it has to be a bit thicker than it should?

In case of interest, links to my other experimental and prototype tank posts:

T28 super heavy tank (USA)
Tortoise A39
Boarhound armoured car (Shapeways)
TOG 2 heavy tank
T-100z
T-100Y
KV5
Prototype Tiger 1, Ausf H2
Dicker Max and Sturer Emil
Neubanfahrzeug

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

Tortoise parade

I did an earlier post on the Tortoise A39. I have since bought some more of the late war experimental vehicles and I think I must have lost track of my bidding as I ended up with quite a few! Just completed the Tortoises. I have not based these, not decided yet whether I will. For general comparisons you can check out the original post.

In case of interest here is a list of my posts on experimental/ prototype vehicles:
T28 super heavy tank (USA)
Boarhound armoured car (Shapeways)
TOG 2 heavy tank
T-100z
T-100Y
KV5
Prototype Tiger 1, Ausf H2
Dicker Max and Sturer Emil
Neubanfahrzeug
Panzer VII Löwe (Lion)

So four more of these rumbling down the road (they will probably have wrecked it!):

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.