BryanKrueger Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 The KV-7 was a prototype design that never made it into production. It was an early attempt to increase firepower against light defensive positions. The first iteration was a triplex design with a single 76mm gun flanked by two 45mm guns. This approach performed poorly in trails and it was decided to evaluate twin 76mm guns and drop the 45mm entirely. Trials didn't go to well for the twin mount either and the project was eventually cancelled. The effort wasn't a total loss, the concept eventually evolved into the SU-152. Trumpeter's kit adds a couple of new sprues to its basic KV-1 kit. The new parts aren't particularly impressive and the old parts are starting to show tool wear with some pitting and excess flash and still those damn ejector pin marks in the tracks. The base kit assembled quickly but it was only after I posted images online that I became aware of the myriad of accuracy issues with the kit. Trumpeter really dropped the ball on this one. I think they must have used World Of Tanks as their technical guide. The kit has the following errors: Incorrect roof layout Incorrect acorn periscopes Gun mantle is the wrong shape Gun shield is too thin and missing many details Casemate is placed in the wrong location - too far back Hull top armor plates are wrong size and location Nose edge armor plate is missing weld details Uses incorrect armored periscope guards Wrong transmission deck Incorrect road wheels Incorrect return rollers Missing gunner's sight opening and armored cover Incorrect shape on appliqué armor plate Incorrect fender configuration Incorrect gun barrel shape After I found this out, I set the kit aside for a while. Over the following months, I would work on it for a little while and then box it up again. I wanted to smash it with a hammer many times. Eventually I dragged it out and finally made a go at it. I reworked and scribed the roof plate and added missing bolt details. I realized there was far too much work to be done on the model to make it accurate, so I decided to add my own errors to the kit. I added a spare armored MG turret from the KV-220 model and the missing periscope guards sourced from the spares. I wasn't too happy with the MG copula periscope guards so I designed new ones in CAD and had Shapeways 3d print new ones. Here it is with a base coat of green: Currently it has brown camo pattern and awaiting weathering. Link to KV-7 Development History 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanKrueger Posted August 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Once I got some paint applied to the KV-7, the rest went quickly. The model is weathered with oil paints, enamels, and pigments. I'm pretty pleased with the end result even though the model is not as accurate as I prefer them to be. Thanks for hosting this Group Build. it game me the motivation to complete this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roktman Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 WOW! Looks great Tremendous work!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Deliduka Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 Brilliant work Bryan! That is a most realistic looking vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanKrueger Posted September 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 Thank you Kev and Mark! It was a challenging project but I'm pleased with the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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