Samokhodnaya Ustanovka

And I am back! Not that people missed me so much (maybe), but maybe you missed my 15mm and 28mm tanks… so here we are… this time we are talking late war Soviet Union (i.e. 1944-45), with some self propelled guns and tank destroyers.

First of all a trio of Zvezda ISU-152. I needed some big HE stuff just in case my soviet troops encountered pillboxes (and whatnot, maybe even tanks…). They are plastic, they are cheap, and you could build them either as ISU-122 or ISU-152. I think I will grab another trio soonish to have the 122 mm guns, just in case.

Now I like them but there are some caveats. The sides are quite flat compared to their direct competitors (Battlefront), this is due to the different moulding process and sprue configuration. On the other hand because the rear plat of the casemate is a separate piece it does have good detail. The really weak point are the tracks, not so much the wheels (quite nice) but the tracks themselves. They are just softly sculpted with a generic ‘impressionistic’ representation. They also miss commander and hmg.  Said that they cost much less. Said that the vehicle is also well represented. It is up to you. I am happy with 3£ per tank.

Now let’s stay in the land of Comrade Josif for the ISU’s (Iosif Stalin Samokhodnaya Ustanovka) little cousins, the SU (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka) -100/-85.  Why -100 or -85? Well because this trio is a mix of old and new. There is a new Zvezda SU-100, and two old, resin, BF Su-100 or Su-85M. I was 100% sure they were 100, but the gun is shorter, but this could be a product of old BF castings (ladies and gentlemen I bought these two before getting my MA… more than 10 years ago…). There are also small errors in the hatches on the casemate, and they look smallish as the BF model of the first generations (I think one of them was even a sandy coloured resin… not even a gray one!) but the round TC ‘sponson’ (It is not a cupola) gave them as Su-100 hulls, so they could be -100 or -85M.

I like the Zvezda much more. One particular thing is that the casemate plates were separate pieces so they have more detail. If you want to read more on the whys of this, there was an article on the Flame of War website months ago on the problems linked to plastic injection and the loss of detail on the sides, but it boils down to the fact that for plastic injection you use a hard two pieces mould. Being hard it means you cannot have detail in area that you cannot remove (or you get a fancy slide mould…).

Okay for today this is all. Enjoy the terrible rattling of the steel tracks of the proletariat!

Stalins!!!!!!

Well this post had been written in May... and never got round to post it... 

At the time I was a bit tired of typing in front of my PC and what I was doing was not typing of the fun  type… anyway the bulk of work has been done (only a new article to do in June…) and thus I did not  feel again in the mood for some blog updates. Well, in May I left you, my dear readers, watching the awesome power of the soviet communism and its armoured forces… but people had asked for some close in shots. Well here they are, with a review of the models I used, the extremely excellent Plastic Soldiers Company 15mm Stalins.

First of all I want to say that I consider Will, the PSC owner a friend. I try to pop at his stand at every show I am able to attend. I also try to support his company as much I can because I am really pleased with his products. Said that I am also someone who is brutally honest in his reviews so do not think I am cheating just because I know Will…

Anyway straight to the subject matter, the tanks. The attractive box included five sprues that allow you to build five (one per sprue) 15mm tanks. Each tank can be made in one of three models: IS-1 (85mm gun), IS-2m43 Is-2m44. For my build (being tailored to summer 1944 onward) I skipped the IS-1 tank (also the IS-1 was not really widespread) and instead concentrated on the m44 model with a single m43 throw in. The sprue gave you two guns, two upper hulls (the main difference) and two different mantlets, a wider one for the later model, and narrow one for the IS-1 and the m43 model.  The plastic was of a nice light grey with really crisp detail. The Stalin has a very peculiar turret shape and it is well rendered in the model. Not only the shape (hybrid between rounded and angular) is here, but also the infantry rails. The latter is a really nice touch as it is the rear firing machine gun. As in their latest offering the tracks are one piece. No more small details to assemble ( not that I was complaining earlier), and, even more important, the track details are crisp. The sagging is well done and the track detail is here, even if it is not the same of the T-34, the Sherman or the Tiger. My reactions to the new approach are mixed. It does not detract too much from the appearance and, certainly, it is faster to build, but when you take it close to you… well I miss the individual links detail (yes I am picky).  The hull is really well done. The front of the tank is quite bare, as in reality, but the engine deck is really, really well done.   Accessories include four furl drums, two crewmen (in two different poses) and an exceptional machine gun. I really like them. I saved a couple for my T-55… 

Here for the details. As far building them was concerned I will say it was breeze. Not a lot of pieces to put together, but everything is falling into position without an hitch… except for the fact the if you look at the underside of the tank… you will realized that on one side the torsion bars on the hull and on the track are not aligned… well mine are based so no one will notice.

The painting job has been very quick. Black primer, base of Vallejo Russian Green for the tank and Cavalry brown for the track, black Vallejo wash, overall Khaki dry-brush lightened with some desert yellow in some areas. Then details added.  I had some old BF decals from my T-34/76 box lying around and I used these for the slogans. 

Now what I think of this effort? Well I am quite satisfied with mine, and very happy with Will’s (and of his design elves). I think that the shape of the turret is much better than the one of the BF model. The model is a massive improvement on the old command decision one for sure.  I like the opportunities for customization offered and the fact that three versions are included.  In conclusion a very nice addition to my collection, a really good representation of the Josif Stalin tank, and a good price. With hindsight I think that more dry-brush could have been useful, to lighten the tanks (maybe I will try some retouches but probably not).

1st of May parade... in 15mm...

Ok it is the first of May... I am sure the tanks are rolling on the red square in Moscow to make mr. President proud (or they are along the border ready to make mr. President owner of a large chunk of land...), but in my forward HQ I have taken the opportunity to line up my 15mm WW2 soviet armour in parade. Well, I have quite a bunch of green clad tanks and vehicles as you can see, collected, built, and painted in the past 11 years...

as you can see by yourselves..

there are a mix of manufacturers, some metals, some resin, several plastic. On the first row there is my 1929-42 tank force. From right to left: T-35, T-28, KV-2, KV-1E, T-34m41, BT7, Ba-6, T-26.

Following the early war stuff we have the mid war line, with plenty of T-34m43 with hexagonal turret,  two Su-76s, and five T-70.

The third line has SU-100, a Lend and Lease M4A2(76), five T-34/85 (and you will argue that the paintjob is not Soviet but it is from the KPA and the PAVN... it is true they are PSC T-34 with switching turrets, I decided to give them a bit of flesxibilty... probably I will procure an additional box to have them painted in proper Soviet livery), and five JS-2 (4 model 44, one model 43). The fourth row as a Katusha on GAZ truck and two GAZ trucks. 

Well this is pretty much my whole soviet force for WW2. I have 9 other M4A2(76) in various stages of preparation and then I am done. I do not reckon I will add to this force. I have plenty of toys. Infantry will follow (I am upgrading them). But I was really tempted to line up the whole horde...