"Communist Party" Diorama (Trumpeter KV-1 and figures 1/35 scale)

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 6:07 am

Hello everybody!

As I had announced, for this GB I will build a Trumpeter KV-1 tank and a figures of the same brand and one more of resin for a diorama entitled "Communist Party".

The tank is a KV-1 model 1942 with simplified turret. The kit has 237 pieces and is really amazing. Crisp details, beautyful lines, vinyl and plastic tracks, brass wire, clear parts and the option parts for build the KV-8 flame thrower tank version.

Box art

Content of the kit (unstarted proof)

The kit comes with one decal option: the famous tank "Besposhadny" (Беспощадный), a legend between the ranks of the Soviet Tank Guards. This tank was a contribution from artists that won the Stalin Prize of Arts in 1942. It is therefore the tank showed a cartoon of Hitler being destroyed by a hit of the tank and a poem. Both were creations of the cartoonist group "Kukryniksy" and the writer S. Marshak respectively.

This page content information about "Besposhadny"
http://tankfront.ru/ussr/nominal_tanks/ ... hadny.html

The figures are a Red Army tank crew at rest from Trumpeter. I like the relaxed poses of the crew, they drink and cheer while an officer plays the accordion.

Box art

Content of the kit

This kit comes with extra equipments like helmets, rifles, bayonets, submachine guns, bags, cartridge boxes and an antitank rifle. Also, one sprue comes with seven vinyl tanker helmets.

The resin figure is an infantry girl with a PPsh-41, equipment and a squirrel. Maybe she knows the tune and can join the party!

Well, I'm sure I will enjoy it and I hope you like it.
Greetings from México!

Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:48 am

Great stuff, looks like a nice kit.

Good luck with the build!

Tommy

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:28 am

TommyKillander wrote:Great stuff, looks like a nice kit.

Good luck with the build!

Tommy

Thanks a lot Tommy!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 11:57 am

Great! So you've got some music going on, too! Really looking forward to your build! Good luck, mate Greetz from Germany! Jens

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:40 am

NonProlificModeler wrote:Great! So you've got some music going on, too! Really looking forward to your build! Good luck, mate Greetz from Germany! Jens

Thanks Jens. I will foward your diorama too. Greetings!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 12:38 pm

Let's start with the figures.

The assembly instructions are clear and It's no complicated follow them. The parts are well identified for a simple build. The box show a paint chart for Gunze Sangyo Hobby Color and Mr Color but I will use Tamiya and Vallejo Paints.

The A figure is well detailed but have gaps between the arms and torso. I filled them with putty.

His cup is very small. I cut the handle and glue the cup to his hand. I stretch a piece of sprue and make a little rod for a new handle in his hand

The B figure have a gaps between the arms and torso too. Is the only figure that will be inside of the tank. The head is flat for fit one of the vinyl helmet. His only equipment is a Tokarev TT-33 and holster in his waist.

The figure C also have a cup in his hand. So, I drilled a orifice in his fist and cut a little in the handle of the cup and fit them. Nothing so complicated.

The figure D is the accordionist. He have the largest gaps of the kit. I put a lot of putty on them.

The figure E is the girl. All pieces fit together well except the eternals gaps in the arms. A little of putty on them and I finished with the figure

Priming the figures with Tamiya Light Grey XF-66

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 12:54 pm

Very good job on the figures, José! I should start mine soon, because I use oils for faces and hands. Takes ages to cure!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:38 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Very good job on the figures, José! I should start mine soon, because I use oils for faces and hands. Takes ages to cure!

Thanks Jens. That's right with the oils, are time consuming. I'm not an expert with the paint on the figures but I follow the technic from Hamilkar Barkas for an easy but satisfactory paint. In this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmvNA7HnFVw he shows the way for get it.

In the research was very important give specific facts of the examined event (I'm a professional historian). It's relevant to me learn more about "Besposhadny" and her epic story. So, I looked through some websites with interesting facts and images.
Here is the first crew of "Besposhadny":
- Commander Paul Khoroshilov,
- Gunner Aleksey Ivanovich,
- Driver and mechanic Yegor Tsarapina,
- Driver Georgy Filippov and the
- Radio operator Alexey Egorov.
This crew fought together for nine months in 1942 until March 1st 1943 when the commander and the gunner died after 700 kms of dangers, crushed german tanks and adventures.

Commander Khoroshilov

The crew

The crew at rest

In the spring of 1943 a new crew took "Besposhadny" to the front again. The tank took the lead in many clashes with german armored vehicles until August 31st when she knocked out and could not go back to the fight for the rest of the war.

Returning with the build, here's the progress with the figures. First I painted a skin tone base. After that I painted the eyes and hair and finally cover the uniform colors:

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

There is still a lot of work to be done with the figures. In the next step I will make the shadows and highlights on them

Thanks!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 6:32 pm

Wow, José, you're really fast with your figures! Great job! I know Michael's video and I'll try it once in a while. I like the oils, because to me it looks more lifelike, but I could be wrong, since I never tried acrylics. Have fun with your build, mate. Jens

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:34 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Wow, José, you're really fast with your figures! Great job! I know Michael's video and I'll try it once in a while. I like the oils, because to me it looks more lifelike, but I could be wrong, since I never tried acrylics. Have fun with your build, mate. Jens

There is nothing wrong with the oils. Maybe a mix of technics could be the answer, he he. I need probe and know more about the oils in the figures. I hope you got a great weekend!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:42 pm

Thank you, José! Hope you'll have a great weekend, too. BTW, I paint the uniforms in enamels or acrylics, just all skin areas in oils. I'll start tomorrow. Pictures as soon as possible.

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:59 am

Great start!
I love the figures, like what you have done with the cups!

Post by **hansolo** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:11 pm

Nice work.
Great pictures of the different stages of the figure painting!

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 2:21 pm

The figures look great!! Waiting for more!

Post by **martin57** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 3:29 pm

Great start , i do like the figures and there poses, good luck with it

Post by **rodrant** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:49 pm

Looking good ! Good luck with your build !

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Wed Jan 13, 2016 9:52 am

fly1ngdutchm4n wrote:Great start!
I love the figures, like what you have done with the cups!

hansolo wrote:Nice work.
Great pictures of the different stages of the figure painting!

felisbarcinonensis wrote:The figures look great!! Waiting for more!

martin57 wrote:Great start , i do like the figures and there poses, good luck with it

rodrant wrote:Looking good ! Good luck with your build !

Thank you, guys! I really appreciate it. I hope you like the tank build.

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:05 am

With the figures waiting the next stage, I started with "Besposhadny" (Merciless in aprox. english translation)

"Besposhadny" was build in the spring of 1942 in the Factory no. 100 in Chelyabinsk. This KV-1 had a simplified turret with the ZiS-5 gun like the other tanks in the production of that year. A tamible beast in the sight of the germans!

Here's some history notes about "Besposhadny" extracted from a compilation in the website tankfront.ru in this link http://tankfront.ru/ussr/nominal_tanks/ ... hadny.html (please, use a translator!)

It all started with the fact that in April 1942 a group of citizens has been awarded the second Stalin Prize. Among other laureates got it: the poet and writer Vladimir Gusev, SV Mikhalkov, a poet, artists Kukryniksy (MV Kupriyanov, PN Krylov and Nikolai Sokolov), the poet Nikolai Tikhonov poet Marshak.

A few days later the poet Nikolai Tikhonov, in his speech on the radio said that conveys its award in Defense Fund. By Tikhonov joined the above poets and artists. After some discussion, they decided to work together to buy and give the Red Army heavy tank.

The tank was built and May 25, 1942 at the ceremonial meeting in the presence of Marshak, Mikhalkov and Kukryniksy transferred to the 6th Guards Tank Brigade (later the 23th Separate Guards Tank Brigade).

To the tank did not get lost among others, it was invited to give it the name of "Merciless". "Fathers" of the tank decided to formalize it: the artist painted on the tower silhouette of the red star tanks, shooting point-blank at Hitler, scattering from the shell apart. Next to the figure on the tower adorned with poems, farewell Marshak:

Assault fire leading,
our heavy tank,
the rear of the fascist call,
Beat him in the flank!
The crew of fearless thy
awake,
perform combat
Stalin's orders.

Profile

"Besposhadny" ready to the front

"Besposhadny" in campaign

Let's go back to the build. Here's the content of the kit. 237 parts counting grey plastic parts, clear parts, brass wire, polycaps and vinyls. It contains tha parts for a KV-8 version, a flame thrower tank.

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 4:35 am

The first step is drill a holes in the upper hull as shown below. I drill the holes with my knife carefully. The plastic is very soft in the area so It represents no problem

Next, I assembled the lower hull

I omitted the join of the exhaust vent and lent (parts A11 and S1) and I will put them at the last step to avoid accidents in the handling of the tank.

Upper hull assembly

The suspension system and track tightener are well detailed. The torsion bars have two option for the caps. The correct for a 1942 production are the the first option caps and not the optional ones.

The rear hatches. Is a shame that the interior details will not seen in my build.

In the front of the hull Imput the siren and make a little detail with a stretched sprue part to make a electrical bridge to conect the lamp as shown below.

Assembling the wheels and put in the hull for a pic.

A view of the drive sprocket and the guide

The kit offers to us two kinds of motor hatches, one flat and other with a dome. For the 1942 production, both are correct but I prefer the domed like the tank in the picture. I drill a hole for

I realized that the ring of the hatch had no hole. With my knife i drill it carefully

For the rest of the lifting eyes I did a scratch rings with a twister tie wire. Maybe the scale is not correct but I'm glad with the results

The turret despite the simplified build is very detailed. Obviously the option for the KV-8 was discarded

This is the build so far. In the next update I hope finish the assembly.

Cheers! with a vodka shot from the gunner comrade Ivanovich

See you next time!!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 6:43 am

That's a beautiful kit, José! Love the scratch built bits you added to make it more realistic. Great progress. Keep it up!

Jens

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 6:25 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:That's a beautiful kit, José! Love the scratch built bits you added to make it more realistic. Great progress. Keep it up! Jens

Thanks Mein Freund! You Welcome!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:15 pm

Let's continue with the build and the fun!

I put the fenders. The plastic parts are well detailed but probably a many few of you will prefer a photoetched parts but this work very well.

I make a damage in the fenders with a mototool. I thinned the plastic and I folded it.

For the brackets of the fenders the kit bring two types: one solid and one in form of right triangle . They are very delicate pieces. I broke two of them.

The lateral shields bring a horrible mold marks. I put masking tape around of the marks and I applied putty on them. When dried, I sanded the shields with a good results.

The tow wires are ready and assembled into the model.

The parts are ready for the primer: Hull, turret, road wheels and hatches. I primered them with Comex "gris primario", a acrilyc paint on spray.

We should remember that "Besposhadny" took the lead in many combats against germans. So I make a bullets and shells damage on the turret and the hull with the mototool. Not many impacts because the diorama depict early autumn 1942 (The party celebrates the October Revolution), around five months before the critical hit that killed Commander Khoroshilov and Gunner Ivanovich.

In this image we can see the turret when the tank was carry for repairs after March 1st 1943, the fatal day for the tank crew.

I preshaded the tank with Tamiya XF-1 "Flat Black". The time has come to open and use the "Soviet Camouflages" kit from Mig

I use Mig-019 "4BO Russian Green" as base color and the base for the modulation.

For darkest areas I painted a mix with a 60% base color, 30% Tamiya XF-61 "Dark Green" and 10% Tamiya XF-1 "Flat Black" mixed with a Isopropyl alcohol.
I painted the flat and exposed parts with a clear mix of 60% base color, 30% Tamiya XF-3 "Flat Yellow" and 10% Tamiya XF-2 "Flat White" and mixed with Isopropyl alcohol.

And here's the result:

See you next time, mates!!!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:36 am

Wow, José, you made great progress on your tank! Looks really, really good. And the bullet and shell hits add to the realism. I'm looking forward to seeing more, mio amigo.

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:49 pm

It looks great! all that scratch work is wonderful!!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:52 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Wow, José, you made great progress on your tank! Looks really, really good. And the bullet and shell hits add to the realism. I'm looking forward to seeing more, mio amigo.

Danke, mein Freund! I'm glad that you like it

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:55 pm

felisbarcinonensis wrote:It looks great! all that scratch work is wonderful!!

Gracias amigo mio! I'm looking a nice weathering effects like yours but I'm far of that, hehe.

Post by **patrickroos** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:04 pm

Nice!

Post by **Avgas** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:08 pm

Great stuff. I always enjoy the back story, makes builds seem a little more personal.

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 9:55 pm

patrickroose wrote:
Nice!

Thanks Patrick!!

Avgas wrote:
Great stuff. I always enjoy the back story, makes builds seem a little more personal

Thanks mate, you're right about the background stories and model builds !

I'm back with the undercarriage of the tank

The tracks present an annoying mold marks. I erase them with my hobby knife and a sandpaper.

The wheels of the KV-1 were of steel. So I put a metallic effect with a HB ordinary pencil. After that I rubbed the wheels with a paper tissue for bright them.

The tracks were built separated and for sections. With a tack putty and sticks from sprue I make them ready for the primer layer

I primed them with two hands of Tamiya XF-1 "Flat Black" (The pic shows the first hand

)

The base color is a mixture of 50% Tamiya XF-64 "Red Brown" and 50 % acrilyc paint Gama Color "Red Rust". I like the effect on the tracks.

Finally, a drybrush with Tamiya XF-11 "Chrome Silver" over the exposed side of the tracks and the teeth. After that the tracks are ready for setting up in the tank and waiting the weathering stage.

See you!

**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:03 pm

looking more than good!!! Awesome results with that pencil effect!!!

Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:23 am

Excellent work and great progress!

Keep up the good work, mate !

Tommy

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:44 am

felisbarcinonensis wrote:looking more than good!!! Awesome results with that pencil effect!!!

Thanks my friend!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:45 am

TommyKillander wrote:Excellent work and great progress!

Keep up the good work, mate !

Tommy

Thanks a lot Tommy. Greetings!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:57 pm

Hi, José! I really like your progress on the KV-1! Seems to be a lot of work with all the imperfections of the kit, but I know the score! I don't know if you feel the same way, too, but I feel happy and proud when a kit that fought me looks really good when it's finished. It means more to me than having built a model from a perfect base. That's not so much of a challenge in my opinion. I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures.

Jens

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:29 am

NonProlificModeler wrote:Hi, José! I really like your progress on the KV-1! Seems to be a lot of work with all the imperfections of the kit, but I know the score! I don't know if you feel the same way, too, but I feel happy and proud when a kit that fought me looks really good when it's finished. It means more to me than having built a model from a perfect base. That's not so much of a challenge in my opinion. I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures. Jens

Thanks Jens. I feel the same. The fixing problems give a great satisfaction at the end. Thanks again buddy!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:49 am

Let's continue with the gloss layer.
I use Future for preparing the tank for decals and washes.

I put the decals on the turret. We should remember that is autumn 1942 and I cut some markings of the decal because still It has a long way to go for "Besposhadny" for a full victory data. I used Micro Set and Micro Sol for a better finish on the decals.

After two layers of Future for sealed the decals the tanks looks good for me.

I don't liked the rust color on the exhausts, so I painted again with the base color for a better finish

I put the rear light

I put a pin wash of burnt umber oil paint diluted in odorless turpentine. I put a wash of black oil paint on the grills and tracks.

In the next stage I will paint the battle damage and chippings also more weathering.

See you!

Post by **RonBurgundy** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 11:01 am

Ohhhh yeah, gotta love those Russian steel monsters. Decals are quite interesting, are they aftermarket or from the kit? Keep up the good work.

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:27 pm

Yeah, looking great! Love the decals!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 3:49 pm

RonBurgundy wrote:Ohhhh yeah, gotta love those Russian steel monsters. Decals are quite interesting, are they aftermarket or from the kit? Keep up the good work.

Thanks buddy. The decals are from the kit. They are a little thick but it's ok.

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 3:50 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:Yeah, looking great! Love the decals!

Danke, Mein Freund!

Post by **MikeyKb** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:24 pm

lovely work!
That looks like it's gonna be a damned good party!

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:11 am

MikeyKb wrote:lovely work!
That looks like it's gonna be a damned good party!

I hope so! Thanks Mikey

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:11 pm

With great sorrow I tell you that "Besposhadny" had an accident. Today, in the final stage of the weathering, I left the tank near the window on the morning and I went to my job. When I returned the fenders and the tracks of the left side were deformed by the sun heat. I hope to find a solution but I will take time. Sorry, I had no pics of the disaster.

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:30 pm

OMG! Have you thought about carefully warming up the material with a hair dryer and try to shape it back as good as possible? Or couldn't you make use of the deformations in the sense of battle damage? Man, José, I feel really sorry to read that! I hope you can fix it! Greetz from Germany. Jens

Post by **MassterOzymandias** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:54 pm

NonProlificModeler wrote:OMG! Have you thought about carefully warming up the material with a hair dryer and try to shape it back as good as possible? Or couldn't you make use of the deformations in the sense of battle damage? Man, José, I feel really sorry to read that! I hope you can fix it! Greetz from Germany. Jens

Yup, I'm trying with the hair dryer but I think that the fenders are gone. The kit comes with a vinyl tracks, so no problem there. Thanks Jens!

Post by **NonProlificModeler** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:00 am

You're welcome, my friend! Good to read, that you probablly have found a solution without the fenders.

Post by **Les0012** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:03 pm

I am looking forward to seeing how this goes, it's looking good so far.

Top work fella very interesting info on the subject too.

Les

Post by **Tiger131** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:41 pm

love the KV tank and your doing it complete justice and those figures will look superb when its all done look forward to seeing more of your work buddy