I understand. A few of my decal manufacturing friends have mentioned that to get rich in this industry is to start out rich. 
It’s all for the love of the hobby.
1 Like
The parcel arrived on Friday. My wife asked me if I had ordered bricks!
So far I’ve been only able to skim it and read a few select chapters that are of particular interest to me. I’m very impressed!
2 Likes
I control my heart, but SWMBO controls the wallet! 
3 Likes
My book will be here the end of September through David Doyle Books. Total USA price - $230. I already put $50 down on it so $180 on delivery. That’s only three kits. Not a big expenditure. I look forward to having this tome in my library and accurizing the eight KV kits that I have in my stash.
3 Likes
3 Likes
OK, fair enough, but I have to disagree his view on available kits in the 1:35 scale.
As already noted above, the Trumpeter kits 00311, 00312 and 00356 to 00360 were well researched, especially considering the time they were released. Of course there are flaws, but no reason to slam them like he did.
His praise for Tamiya is a straight facepalm. The KV-1 had countless flaws: features don’t match the well known pictures of this particular tank at all. The KV-2 was much better, but it also cost much more than Trumpeter’s 00312 for not much value added.
He mentions Bronco, but they have (had?) only the KV-85 and two variants of the SU-152.
Rye Field has the best kits at the moment. The second kit with the reinforced cast turret is a variant not described in Neil Stokes’ book, but fortunately this one: it’s the 2nd batch of reinforced cast turrets with the two “chins” on the overhang, but yet without interlocked turret roof.
4 Likes
They have the KV -122 as well.
I totally agree on the Tamiya kits, they are not as good as the equivalent trumpeter kits.
2 Likes
Sorry, forgot about the KV-122.
So far I’m on page 150 in the book, in the chapter on the KV-2. I have to say it’s very thorough, and the unwritten motto seems to be: “pictures or it didn’t happen”. Every change in production is documented in several pictures. In some cases these are very good pictures. Apparently it was quite a challenge to find pictures showing unusual angles, like slightly from above. Most pictures of KV tanks were taken “en passant” by German soldiers, few of whom took a closer look to inspect technical details.
Also very nice are series of pictures of a particular vehicle, when available. These help greatly in demonstrating combinations of features for specific production batches.
I have on minor nit-pick, though: the KV “large turret” and the KV-2 model 1940 (production batch November/December 1940) had a thinner recuperator cover compared to the 1941 model. On all pictures I could find, the opening for the gunner’s sight in the upper right corner when viewed from the front was not surrounded by a recessed ring. Yet the line drawings all show that recessed ring.
I can only find this feature on the 1941 model, formerly called KV-2 second production batch. There the thickened recuperator cover shows the characterisitc grooves on the sides, to allow acces the the adjustment bolts. But it also had the recessed ring around the gunner’s sight opening.
I had already corrected that detail on Trumpeter 00311 (KV "large turret), which I’m currently building. I’ll also have to remove the second bolt on the top of the cover - the one in the middle - which was also model 1941 only.
Here is a picture before I fixed the gunner’s sight opening:
The same would apply to Trumpeter 00312, if you wish to back-date it to the model 1940. Neil Stokes’ “recipes” tell you to remove the grooves on the sides, but you should also apply the changes which I just described.
4 Likes
The barrel had a seam halfway along its barrel and all the way around. I am also working my way through this Tome and the information is deep and well explained so far.
1 Like
Do you mean the gun sleeve? It’s made of three segments, but you have to look very closely to see the two fine grooves separating them. On the Trumpeter barrel these are much too pronounced (and the tube is too short by 3mm). If you look closely the turned aluminium barrel from Magic Models seen in the picture above has them.
The kit part also has a collar on the end of the barrel, which wasn’t present on the KV “large turret”.
It’s a shame the replacement barrels from Magic Models are so hard to get these days. The ones from Aber are also fine, but they require much more surgery.
2 Likes
Here’s a picture of the aftermarket gun barrel for the KV-2. See the faint grooves for the 3 segments and the collar on the muzzle:
(Source: magic-models.com)
2 Likes
Thank you my eyes are not as good as they were but I can see them in the last picture
2 Likes
Anyone buying the Tankograd tome on the KV family will I believe be very happy with their purchase and the price will only go up as people who waited chase copies that are left.
4 Likes
Pre-ordering it back in January was definitely the right move!
1 Like