SAMOKHODNAYA USTANOVKA-152/KV14 RENOVATORS DREAM!

[Ad Lav]

Bottom photo - leave one empty. Looks best in my opinion

[Son of a gun-ner]

Why not a German drum? The Russians and Germans were using one another's stuff all the time.

[HERMAN BIX]

Bottom photo - leave one empty. Looks best in my opinion

Believe me Mr lav, Ive chewed that over a lot !!
Its not off the list of possible outcomes yet either.
Actually, if it weren't for having to need rope to visibly retain it, I would almost use magnets to stick it on so I could have it both ways

[HERMAN BIX]

Why not a German drum? The Russians and Germans were using one another's stuff all the time.

Yep, entirely true, but I just wanted to do something a bit quirky.
Ive seen some 1/35th scale Soviet drums and they actually are very different to the common German or Allied ones, as well as markings in Russian.
Might be something for one of the printer-geeks to pounce on ?

[BarryC]

Herman,

Coming along nicely, this is going to look really cool once you get her all finished up.

Barry

[HERMAN BIX]

Thanks folks, I'm out West at work for a while so no progress at all, but reading how you guys are all getting on with things passes the time at night
I have looked around for any details & info on the early 152's & found a fair few pictures & insights into them, and all things point to a very effective weapon, if a little rough and hard on the crews !
Word is the impact of an HE shell from these(they did not have broad access to AP ammo this early) could knock a Tiger turret off the hull

[HERMAN BIX]

I got back yesterday after a 9 hour drive
Home for a week then out West again.................

The grab handles on these Russian things are very iconic, all their AFv';s had them in some form or other, so on mine go.
Used brass tube at an O.D. of 2mm & sliced short sections off to make the points that go onto the hull sides.
cut with a pair of side cutters, the crimped end was dressed with a file to allow room to be soldered onto the long handle section, yet still retain a lot of solder after cleaning up.
The other end was cut square with an old razor saw.
I soldered the short bits onto the long handles with solder paste by simply drawing a series of lines on a lump of MDF to position them, chucking on the paste, and hitting each joint with a burner.
I used no more science to place them on the upper hull plate than marking a line to get the height, and pencil marked each mounting point across that line.
Then drilled through the resin casemate.
Super glue on each mount(for each hole) and a spacer block to ensure consistent stand off.
Job done.
I still have to do the engine deck ones, and the rear casemate one, but they look great on

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning, Herman!
That is some beautiful, Brass Detail Eye Candy! Following along.
regards,
Painless

[tankme]

Looking good. Looks like the rails I did for my SU-152 build and I attached them the same way, but I didn't use a spacer block. No block because....Russian.

[HERMAN BIX]

I get the quality question thing being a Soviet machine, but reading all thats out there on these things, its quite surprising how much quality assurance & production changes were made on the fly.
The early 152 stockpile had more machines not passing acceptance testing than available for action, so the factory had masses of manpower dedicated to getting the things fixed & out the gate.
No acceptance= no payment, and a visit from the dreaded Commissar...............
Supply of the ML-20 main gun was another restraint.
But they got them there in the end.

I made the rear deck grab rails the same way as the casemate ones.
Solder paste & minimal clean up.
A bit of a giggle moment last night. After I drilled into the engine deck, I wanted to remove the resin drill spoil that was curls of resin all over the show.
So, I took a deep breath & blew violently over the entire surface of the tank to get it all off..........................dropped a massive glob of (actually God knows what) out of me gob onto the engine deck quite messy & not real good to remove
Warning kids, use a brush or an air duster !!

Found a pic of the fuel drum idea I had, might be a bit of a reach to pull one off, but I reckon one would look cool.