WINTER 23-24 KV-1 to KV-85 to KV-2 COMPLETED!

[ColemanCollector]

Those buckles are amazing. I wish I had any sort of soldering skills and the eyes and finger dexterity to produce pieces like that

Thanks! There were many failed tries before I grudgingly admitted my plumbing soldering skills--while good--were lacking for this tiny stuff.

Found some PE youtubes and took a few keypoints from them--even wire exposed to the air for a few days needs cleaning, use a pre-tinned soldering iron tip, flux only the joint areas, and most importantly--fasten down your pieces on a non-heat conducting surface. I used an upside down glass casserole dish.
Still areas to clean up from my newb new soldering skills, but an x-acto, dremel micro tip, and files did ok on them. And all for free!

Mike.

[ColemanCollector]

I found several photos of KV-2's with big ol' tarps strapped on their fenders. I figured they'd be a good addition to the pretty plain appearance of the Big Ugly.

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Used some umbrella material (also to used for T72 mantlet canvas in the future), for the heavy canvas look, all strapped down with brass strip standing in for leather, and my teeny-tiny buckles. Obviously needs paint and weathering, but another inch towards completion!

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Mike.

[Panzermechaniker]

Those are some excellent images. This thread has definitely made me think of adding some more details to my KV-2

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Oh, yeah! I do like the straps and buckles, and made of brass, they aren't going to fall off readily. Nice work! Now I see an interesting device unlike any of the bazillion tweezer thingies I use. What is it? And how might I get one?

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[ColemanCollector]

Had it for years Professor, my official finger saver when using my dremel on tiny bits. I think I got it at Lee Valley Tools in Canada, but I know they don't carry it anymore.

It's not very well made, but it does the job. That's odd because Lee Valley only carries high-end serious tools, but they always get cool gizmos for Christmas time. I think this is one of those gizmos.Turn the handle and the jaws clamp with as much force as you want. Simple and effective!

Mike.

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[Meter rat]

Your skill in making the small parts is the making of your models.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you: I will see if I can identify the thing and find Lee Valley tools.

[Raminator]

The tarp and straps look great! It's nice being able to model these directly at this scale, it's a lot more authentic than single-piece cast resin pieces.

I guess I should turn around in my shop more often and look at my old-timey car's sealed beams occasionally! Fortunately just press fitted on the KV-2 until it's all done so they will be verticalized. If I get brave might scribe in a few horizontal lines like the Tamiya lens has.

I only noticed because I'd been spending the day drawing up the lenses for my T-34 project. I'd been looking at photos of headlights for two hours when I saw your post!

[ColemanCollector]

In the home stretch, and letting the white top coat dry on the most excellent fuel tanks I received from Herman Bix. They should look fittingly boxy on the svelte KV-2. It's important it keeps a positive body image at all times!

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I made the decision to go with some light mudding that would hold up under running conditions. Someday's, I really envy the snapshot-in-time benefit of a static model where you don't have to worry about things turning. My first time doin' the dirt/pva glue/paint thang.

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Little glops of mud here and there on the running gear to give the feeling of the rasputitsa without being too rasputitsa

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Being a KV-2 means its met up with a few Heeresanklopfgerät, so there's some pock marks here and there. Some are old and still have some whitewash in the cavity, others are new beauty marks.

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I think the exhaust stubs are my favourite bit on this tank. Who knew that rusty hot cast iron would be the dash of colour on the tank? Found an acrylic paint called "soft black" that had that deep brown-burgundy colour of aged and rusted exhaust cast iron, and then dappled it with burnt sienna tube watercolours.

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And finally, the fender tarp is done. I got cocky and added the prong-thingy on the belt buckle and rivets at each end to hold the leather on the hull loops. Another bit of colour on the KV-2.

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Mike.

[HERMAN BIX]

Magnificent Mr Coleman, Lovn everything you’ve done to it.
Mines a bit clean for my true liking but that’s the period picture