Taigen/Torro KV-2 !

[BFT2002]

Just testing the image post thing. I'm new here and am trying this out!





EDIT: This was working, now it's not? Rest seem okay.

[BFT2002]

I guess that worked...

[Jnewboy]

Love it!!

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon,
Very cool job on the KV-2. I'm in the process of building one of these and your take on the camo is very nice indeed.
regards,
Painless

[BFT2002]

Thanks, painted this up the other day for my Son. We just converted the KV1 turret to the KV2 with the Torro kit so it has an all new paint job. It looks a tad better now as I've since applied another two washes of weathering but it's not much off the pics posted, just the markings have a bit less contrast and the entire tank was flat clear coated to take any sheen off the decal markings and spray lines that were visible in a few spots. Also since these pics, I hand-rubbed protruding edges, and tools to create a worn look on them. I'm not a super detailer though. The tank is fairly stock with what it came with sitting all over it. I do love the effort others put into their tanks through with real straps and all that. Awesome stuff.

I don't think the Germans would have had a standard layout for the tools on any Captured KV2's, opting to upgrade the key areas such as the ammo stowage in the rear and the copula - but adding tools to where there was room based on whatever the load-out was on the tank they were refitting, because of this I left the tool boxes in place as per the KV1 it was upgraded from, put the jerry can stowage to the opposite side and placed tools where i thought they looked good. This KV is from no specific unit and is essentially made up to look cool for my kid. I'm pretty sure I read most of these were used as Command/Spotter tanks for German armor formations so the number is probably not accurate for a command vehicle.

Front spare track is plastic, 2 fender links are the metal extras that came with the tank. This is the HC series Taigen KV, all metal suspension and lower chassis metal reinforced and generally stock with the Torro KV2 Plastic BB turret (but metal barrel) kit. Overall I'm very happy with both sides, Taigen and Torro, but will be looking into a better ratio gearbox as the tank moves way too fast for a heavy. My Tiger 1 has a 3:1 and moves slower and more realistically even though it could probably also benefit from the 4:1.

[MichaelC]

BFT, that is one nasty looking KV-2.......... The Taigen chassis are great !

Didn't the Tiger come with the same type/brand of gears as the KV-2 ?

MichaelC.

[BFT2002]

I would have thought so, but my Tiger moves much slower than the KV2 does, it has more torque and you can't push the Tiger powered down and move the tracks unless you push down hard, on the KV it easily rolls forward and back in the back of my car while driving, that all I hear. zzzzzz bump, zzzzz bump... so far no zzzzz snap! lol.

I haven't really looked up the specs to see what the gear ratio the KV has installed, but I have sent a mail to IMEX who distributes Taigen in NA to ask. Erik who answers the inquiries has always been pretty amazing at getting such details back to me.


EDIT: After speaking to Erik at IMEX, he confirmed their Taigen Tiger 1 uses a 4:1 gearbox and the KV-1 is a 3:1. They will be carrying 4:1 gearboxes soon for the KV series but they don't have any now that will not interfere with the smoke unit, they do have 4:1 gearboxes that work if you do not use a smoker though. Also, he told me IMEX will soon be offering the full KV-2 German Variant here in North America. I think it will be a re-branded Torro, without the wooden ammo crate (which should reduce it's retail cost by nearly $100). Same deal for the King Tiger with the Henschel turret, but they won't give me an ETA on that one. Last I heard it was March of this year, now come and gone and no Tiger II as of yet.

[greengiant]

Very nicely done. I've shied away from building one myself, but yours has made think that maybe one of the kv1s I have needs to grow a larger turret.

[ALPHA]

Now there's a monster that demands respect... beautiful job on the paint

ALPHA

[NickDonitz]

Really neat I just love these, hope it drives as well as it looks. Enjoy it