IS2 Scratch Build

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Raminator, I plan on building the stepped front early version, as that is what I have a 1/35 model to work from, although I can already see some points where the 1/35 model is incorrect after viewing PrimePortal. The idler wheel setup gave me the most pause for thought as it appears to be mounted in thin air! It was only when I looked at PP that I realised it was because it was due to the track tensioner being pivoted further inboard, so I have to do a bit of design/3d printing to recreate that.

All in all this IS2 build is promising to be really interesting.

Alwyn

[HERMAN BIX]

This style of hull lower...................is it going to be a similar requirement for the chop as a '152 ?

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Herman, yes I think so (not knowing the 152) but I've had to cut 7mm off the top of the KV1 hull to get it to the right profile.
Alwyn

[Raminator]

Hi Raminator, I plan on building the stepped front early version, as that is what I have a 1/35 model to work from, although I can already see some points where the 1/35 model is incorrect after viewing PrimePortal. The idler wheel setup gave me the most pause for thought as it appears to be mounted in thin air! It was only when I looked at PP that I realised it was because it was due to the track tensioner being pivoted further inboard, so I have to do a bit of design/3d printing to recreate that.

Very nice, it'll make it all the more unique since the Tamiya offering has the late sloped glacis.

Is the track tensioner the same as on the KV? I can get you some photos and dimensions of the Taigen KV track tensioner if that's the case and you want to build something functional.

All in all this IS2 build is promising to be really interesting.

Apologies for the romanisation etymology rant, so much of the material out there uses the German spelling. I think it may have been popularised by Tamiya and other kit manufacturers using German references when the Soviet information was still safely locked behind the Iron Curtain (and no doubt a heavily guarded state secret!)

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Raminator, no I really appreciate the correction on the name. I think the IS2 tensioner is different from the KV1 tensioner, I saved the KV1 tensioner when I was stripping the hull and hope to use some of the bits, but the IS2 appears to be positioned further forward and a little higher than the KV1. I am going to continue my search through IS2 photos/images and see if maybe I can find a photo of a wrecked tank to get more detail.

Thanks for the assistance and interest.

Alwyn

[silversurfer1947]

Regarding the IS or JS nomenclature, there is always the question - do you transliterate or translate? When referring to the former Soviet Union, it is always USSR rather the transliterated SSSR. In my experience, Stalin has been referred to as Joseph rather than Iosif, so one could argue that the tank ID has been translated .

[AlwynTurner]

Ha! I searched and lo and behold I found this on a russian site (and interestingly they refer to it as the IS2).
http://pro-tank.ru/bronetehnika-sssr/ty ... i/119-is-2

Exactly what I was looking for - a cutaway diagram

Success!
Alwyn

[c.rainford73]

Ha! I searched and lo and behold I found this on a russian site (and interestingly they refer to it as the IS2).
http://pro-tank.ru/bronetehnika-sssr/ty ... i/119-is-2

Exactly what I was looking for - a cutaway diagram

Success!
Alwyn

Fantastic information Mr Alwyn

[AlwynTurner]

Well it was with enormous gratitude that I received a set of low-profile gearboxes from a very generous forum member together with a pair of metal JS2 sprockets! The member concerned has also provided invaluable pointers and tips to help with the build and I probably wouldn't have gone ahead with the build without his help, so again many thanks.

The gearbox shape enabled me to mount the drive sprockets at exactly the right height and position with no clearance problems with the upper hull.

Here is what the gearboxes look like fitted




Now I can progress with fitting the road wheels and start work on the track tensioner and idler mount.

Alwyn

[HERMAN BIX]

Jeez that hardware looks nice Mr Turner.