During the Winter War, the Soviets found it difficult to deal with concrete bunkers used by the Finns and a request was made for a tank with a large howitzer.
One of the rush projects to meet the request put the howitzer in a new turret on one of the KV tanks.
Initially known as 'Little Turret KV' and 'Big Turret KV', the 76-mm-armed tank was redesignated as the KV-1 Heavy Tank and the 152 mm howitzer one as KV-2 Heavy Artillery Tank.
The KV-2 was produced at the same time as the KV-1.
Due to the size of its heavy turret and gun, the KV-2 was slower and had a much higher profile than the KV-1. Few were produced due to its combat ineffectiveness, mainly the decreased speed due to the weight of the new gun and turret. A total of 334 vehicles manufactured from 1940 through 1941.
Owing to an increase in turret weight from the expanded dimensions and heavier gun, the turret traverse mechanism could work only on level ground.
The KV-2 tanks were used in action in 1941, with most of the vehicles lost the same year.
IN THE BOX
Tamiya released their first 1:35 scale KV-1 kit in 1972. This was followed by a KV-II (sic) in 1975. These were typical kits of their day with motorisation options and full length vinyl tracks.
In 2005, Trumpeter launched their Kliment Voroshilov family with a KV-2, quickly followed by around ten variants of the KV-1/2/85 family, both mainstream and rare. These were some of Trumpeter's best ever kits.
Tamiya’s new 1:35 scale KV-2 owes nothing at all to the 1972 release. The turret parts are completely new while the tracks and running gear are based on the excellent 2020 KV-1 release.
Tamiya's 1:35 scale KV-2, kit no. 35375, comprises 319 parts in dark green plastic, two parts in clear, a length of string, eight polythene caps and markings for a single vehicle.
The new sprue contains parts for the turret, revised engine deck details and two crew figures.
Surface textures ae very impressive. I especially liked the pitted and irregular rolled armour plate effect on the turret parts, the cast texture on the mantlet and the crisp torch cuts on the edges of armour plates.
Moulding marks or ejector pin circles are mostly located where they cannot be seen on the finished model. The main exception is three recessed circles on the inside of the hatches, which will be visible if they are posed open.
The lower hull is broken down into the two sides, floor, middle bulkhead and curved rear plate. .
The hull top features separate driver's and engine hatches that may be posed open if you wish. The forward hull is also made up of individual plates.
The engine deck mesh is moulded from solid plastic but looks pretty good. I think they will be quite convincing after painting and weathering.