NAM's 'Beast Killer" 1/35 Trumpeter SU-152 Late

[NAMBiohazard]

Hit here ladies and gents....
So here is entry for the GB



First some history:

The first Soviet heavy SPG
The “Zveroboy”, or “beast-killer” ,as it was popularly known in 1945, was certainly not intended as a tank-hunter. But, at the end of the battle of Stalingrad (Operation Uranus), it was realized that, unlike the Germans, the Russian infantry lacked some mobile heavy artillery support. The standard tracked 203 mm (8 in) howitzer was totally unprotected and certainly not suited for the kind of operations necessary in an open battlefield, dealing with direct fire against buildings, concrete fortifications, bunkers and pillboxes. And the mass-produced SU-76 was too light for the purpose. This need became more urgent after Kursk, when the Soviet Army was preparing for a series of massive counter-offensives.

Development
The effort to design such a vehicle had been already kickstarted by the State Defense Committee in November 1942, ordering plans for a heavy SPG capable of carrying the 152 mm (5.98 in) ML-20 howitzer. The bad experience from the KV-2, already carrying the short barrel, ML-10 version, was useful. Too tall, unstable, the KV-2 concept had to be abandoned and the new project had to keep, above all, a low profile. The longer barreled ML-20, which came as a requirement, had to be hull-mounted due to its massive recoil. The lack of a turret would also have positive consequences in terms of cost, maintenance and ease of mass-production.

By December 1942 various engineering teams presented plans for a “pillbox killer”. All were based on the KV-1 heavy tank. The project of Joseph Yakovlevich Kotin was chosen due to its simplicity and cost. The Object 236 (or KV-14) construction started on 31 December 1942, and was completed for trials at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant (CHKZ) on January 24, 1943. Plans to start mass production during the next month already began, as approval from the State Defense Committee came on February 14, 1943.

SU-152 design
The chassis of the KV-1, complete with the drivetrain, powerplant and suspensions, was adopted without changes, except to the central floor, due to the lack of a turret. There were six sets of roadwheels suspended by torsion bars on each side, drive sprockets at the rear, and 61 cm (24 cm) wide tracks made of 90 stamped links. The 12-cyl., 4-stroke diesel V-2K was fed by an internal fuel capacity of 600 liters, distributed along three tanks, the main in the engine compartment and the two others in the crew compartment, with an addition of four drum-type connected external tanks, for an added capacity of 360 liters. Electrical current was provided by a 1 kW, GT-4563A generator coupled with a RRA-24 voltage relay regulator and four 6STE-128 accumulator batteries. This fed the ST-700 electric starter motor, the TPU-4-BisF intercom, 9R/10R radio set, external and internal lights and the illumination of the gunsight scales.

All the efforts were put in the design of a compact mounting for the modified ML-20S heavy gun, and a suitable casemate around it. The hull compartmentalization was straightforward, with a fighting compartment under the casemate and the engine compartment at the rear, separated by a fireproof bulkhead. The protection was provided by rolled armor plates. Compared to the regular KV-1, 75 mm (2.95 in) on the glacis and front plate seem inferior, but the plate was angled at a 12° slope. However, the side armor (60 mm/2.36 in) was vertical. The rear was 30 mm (1.18 in) and 20 mm (0.79 in) on top and bottom.

The ML-20S was mounted slightly offset to the right, in order to leave room for the gunner (left) and his telescopic ST-10 (СТ-10) and panoramic sight. The commander and loader sat behind him. The gun modifications included new relocated handles for the gunner comfort, and a long muzzle brake to reduce the recoil inside. Performances were unchanged compared to the regular howitzer, muzzle velocity was the same. However, due to the length of the two-piece rounds, only 20 were carried inside the crew compartment. All the roof hatches had periscopes. There was no secondary armament except two PPSh submachine guns and some 25 F1 grenades for close-quarter defense. This was corrected later with the adoption of a roof-mounted DShK heavy machine gun.

Production
Production was assumed by Chelyabinskiy Kirovskiy Zavod (the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant). The SU-152 was the last derivative base on the the KV chassis. The production chassis changed, in December 1943, to the KV-1S and was replaced in mid-1944 by the ISU-152 on the same ChKZ production lines. Delivery numbers differ even in Russian sources, ranging from 670 to 704. The design was slightly modified during production to improve reliability and providing a DShK 12.7 mm (0.5 in) anti-aircraft gun mount was developed in the summer of 1943, others being converted in depots during or after repair.

The SU-152 in action
According to its combat designation, the SU-152 could be either a heavy tank destroyer or a heavy assault gun, and indeed, in practice, it was discovered the 152 mm (5.98 in) muzzle velocity and the heavy high explosive rounds had surprising, unsuspected qualities against German armor. This was the origin of its popular nickname of “beast fighter” in reference to the German Tigers, Elefants and Panthers encountered at Kursk. Although, in practice, the 152 mm (5.98 in) round did not penetrate the thick armor of these tanks, the excessive shock of the explosion on impact was enough to jam a turret, gun mantlet, blast tracks or do other significant damage. Tests performed on captured Tiger tanks early in 1943 had shown that the SU-152 was able of “decapitating” them (blasting the turret off) at any range, with a good degree of reliability. At that time, this was the only Russian tank capable of doing so. The consequence of this was that the SU-152 operationally functioned within regular mobile artillery units, which could be used as ersatz heavy tank destroyer battalions on demand.

The SU-152 saw its combat debut in the summer of 1943 at the Battle of Kursk, where it was proven to be equally effective against German tanks and an excellent self-propelled gun. The most active units of SU-152s saw action during the second half of 1943 and early 1944, but their numbers steadily decreased as a result of combat losses, severe deterioration of the chassis, engine and transmission. This was because of a still relatively crude manufacturing quality, very intensive use and lack of maintenance. Also, its replacement by the ISU-152, more largely produced, accelerated the process. The last offensive where SU-152s were committed en masse (alongside ISU-152s) was during Operation Bagration in June 1944. A small number of SPGs managed to survive until the end of the war and served in the postwar years until 1954, when these were decommissioned, scrapped, and the remainder sold (to Syria and Egypt). Only four are still in existence today.



SU-152 specifications
Dimensions (L-w-h) 8.95 x 3.25 x 2.45 m (29.4 x 10.8 x 8 ft)
Total weight, battle ready 45.5 tons (100,300 lbs)
Crew 4 (commander, loader, gunner, driver)
Propulsion V-2K 12-cylinder diesel, 2368cu in/39 liters, 600 hp (450 kW)
Speed 43 km/h (27 mph)
Suspensions Transverse torsion arms
Range (road) 330 km (205 mi)
Armament 152 mm (5.98 in) ML-20S howitzer
Optionally: one DshK 12.7 mm (0.5 in) heavy machine-gun
Armor thickness 20 to 76 mm (0.79-3 in)
Total production 704



And then some Schemes:





And just for interest, here is picture of the gun

[NAMBiohazard]

So here we go

First off the kit and its content....







Enough part to make it detailed but not too much to make it difficult

The instructions..........













And then all the sprues.......

























and some PE


Glossy decals


and a very generic paint call-out


And now we can start the build.....

[Gav0909]

That thing is a beast! Looking forward to seeing this come together.

[felisbarcinonensis]

Great kit mate I did the early version and had loads of fun

[martin57]

Great kit , its going to look superb when you are done .

[PrivatePublic]

Ooh a fellow Zveroboy, looking nice

[NAMBiohazard]

So here is update 1.....

Put the hull side on the hull



did the rear bottom hull. I did not use the PE parts for the rear except for the grill. For the amount of work needed to install the PE guard.
The plastic part is very thin and not less detailed as the PE build would be.



Next i installed all the suspension arms ant the front top deck and also the top rear deck







Up to now all the parts fit very well and it took me not long to reach this point..

Next I build up the super structure and just lightly drilled to location marks for the rail to make them fit better.



The cast mantle does not sit as flush to the hull as it should so some persuasion and clamps was needed....
I also bent some of the mudguard br5acket to give a bit of " not as new"
All the parts glued to the super structure again fit well and it was easy to assemble..

One small modification I made to the kit was to cut off the fuel drum handles and replace them with home made handle cut from the PE fret..





So next fro me is to attach the final parts and prime to see all the joints.....

Very good kit so far.......

[felisbarcinonensis]

Great progress mate! KUTGW

[NAMBiohazard]

Time for a long awaited update

I did not use the metal gun barrel as its mounting point was too short to fit through the mantel and attach to the breach.

Got it all painted and decal ready for a my first try at a winter wash...









And here is how it looks after winter wash application..
First I covered the model in hairspray and then....
I used Americana White Wash and thinned it down to apply with the airbrush.
Once it dried I started moistening areas and rubbing down the wash.....









As all the was came off at any scratch made I used White oil color to do a was to create a streaking affect off the was running off and also to dull the green areas where the was was scratched of.

Next up is mud and dust effects.....

Thank you

[OliveDrab]

Your nailing the look of this "Beast Killer"! Love it

[NAMBiohazard]

So here is is the next long awaited update......

Done some detail painting on the SU 152 such as the exhaust has there base cote applied and the tools are also painted..







Next I did the chipping on the wheels...



Then using some pastel chalk and pigment fixer I did the rusting of the exhausts







I was so very nervous doing mud effects for the first that it took me a week to convince myself to just start but here is the results of my first try..

Wheels



and then the lower hull..







All this was done using MIG Europe Earth set No. 8

I also Installed the front light and the rear convoy light.... as can be seen on the last two picture of the mud effects...

Thank you for your interest and please, your welcome to leave comment or criticism

Regards
Bjorn Ebrecht (NAM_Biohazard)

[NonProlificModeler]

Hi, Bjorn! I didn't know that you participate in this GB, too! Wow, I just looked at all the pics and I'm stunned! They display some serious skills, mate! Will you build a dio for the SU? Take care! Jens

[TheTroyster]

What a beast! Love the winter camouflage.

[NAMBiohazard]

Hi, Bjorn! I didn't know that you participate in this GB, too! Wow, I just looked at all the pics and I'm stunned! They display some serious skills, mate! Will you build a dio for the SU? Take care! Jens

Hi there.. Sorry for replying only now, I have a dio planned for the future but not now.And thank you for the kind comments.

I will post my final pictures later today in the Final Reveals section
Thank you for watching..