Tank KV-1 (Ekranami)

thingiverse

KV-1E HISTORY: A SOVIET PERSPECTIVE During the early stages of WWII, the European nations at war generally conceptualised tanks being in two main categories, namely Cruiser tanks that perform reconnaissance missions and Infantry tanks that support the army. The Germans were among the European countries that materialised the concept, resulting in a terrifyingy lightning fast army. But when the Germans launched a surprise invasion into Soviet territory, they were stunned to discover that their new adversary had added a new category to the list- Heavy tanks. Behind the events leading up to WWII, the Soviet approach to tank doctrine was mostly influenced by harsh cold weather conditions and soft muddy terrain of the Eastern Front. This meant developing tanks with great priority given to mobility, armour and most important of all- firepower. BLUEPRINT: KLIMENT VOROSHILOV'S FINEST After disappointing results with early Heavy tank designs that suffered from poor mobility and taking lessons from the Spanish Civil War that demonstrated the need for more heavier armour on tanks, Soviet engineers offered competing designs to meet the army’s new requirement on the battlefield. Out of such proposals, the KV (which was Kliment Voroshilov’s design) was ordered directly from the blueprints. The KV-1’s strengths included armour that was stubbornly impenetrable by any tank-mounted weapon then in service, had good firepower and decent mobility on soft ground from the use of its wide tracks. Despite its vast superiority, the KV-1 suffered from complex mechanical use and maintenance and also poor ergonomics such as a cramped crew space. Nevertheless, Voroshilov’s impactful design paved the way for newer series of KV Heavy Tanks, though mostly were prototypes, and later on succeeded by the IS series of tanks which kept many features from the KV-1. FRONTLINES: A NIGHTMARE FOR GERMANS Accounts of KV-1 tanks in service vary but its prowess during the early stages of WWII was displayed in a number of battles, earning it the nickname "The Russian Colossus". The Heavy tank made its mark in the Battle of Raseiniai on June 1941 and Battle of Krasnogvardeysk on 14 August 1941. During the Battle of Raseiniai, a lone KV-1 (or KV-2, according to some historians) defended a crucial road across soft ground and was encountered by the 6th German Panzer Division. The KV tank was hit multiple times by 50mm anti-tank guns of the 6th division, yet it remained intact and proceeded to destroy the said guns thereafter. In the night of the same battle, German combat engineers still failed to destroy the KV tank even with satchel charges and only managed to damage its tracks. On the morning of 25 June 1941, the same KV tank was further engaged by German tanks from the woodland while an 88mm anti-tank gun targeted it from the rear. Of several shots fired, only two managed to penetrate the KV tank. The KV tank resisted and the fight was finally ended by grenades that were thrown into the Heavy tank’s open hatches. In the aftermath, the 6th division were reported acknowledging the lone KV tank’s ability to delay the German army’s advance possibly for days. On 14 August 1941, the German 8th Panzer Division approached Krasnogvardeysk city near Leningrad and were about to receive a deadly surprise- 5 well hidden KV-1 tanks dug in within a grove at the edge of a swamp and awaiting the German advance. During the successful ambush which sowed confusion among the 8th Panzer Division, a total of 43 German tanks, mostly consisted of Panzer IIs and IIIs, were destroyed by just 5 KV-1s on that day. After the battle, the crew of Tank No. 865 had counted a total of 135 hits on their KV-1, which amazingly did not penetrate the armour on the Heavy tank at all. MODEL: KV-1E This is a update to TigerAce1945's readily available model of the KV-1E tank on Thingiverse. The KV-1E is an upgrade to the KV-1 tank with the addition of riveted armour screens or plates around the hull and turret for extra protection in the frontlines. Hence the designation "E" for "Ekranami". Here at Garage 434, our Engineer and Mechanic have both made several additions and rectifications to the hull and turret of TigerAce1945's KV-1E. The latest model on display here is the iconic, fully equipped KV-1E that proudly served in the 109th Armoured Division 43rd Army, a Soviet reserve army for when the Germans invaded the Eastern Front. The updates to the TigerAce1945's model are as follows:- HULL: An additional riveted armour screen was added to the bottom front of the hull; A horn was added to the side of the headlight; An updated viewport on the front slope of the hull; A 'V' shaped armour bump on the top of the hull; An updated engine deck with accurate air grilles, realigned rivets and hooks; Another toolbox to complete the look of the hull (now altogether 4 toolboxes); An added saw blade tool on the side of the hull; Added armour screens under the tracks of the hull (to complete the design) [Note: TigerAce1945 has recently updated his original model to include additional armour screens under the tracks of the hull and you can now obtain the latest original model from him as well. Nevertheless, the remixed version posted here is also historically accurate as possible and fully equipped based on researched materials]; Minor rectification to fully link the tracks at the front of the hull; & Minor rearrangement of details (i.e. rivets, armour screens, etc.) for a cleaner look. TURRET: Amendment on the gun mantlet to include rivets and viewport; Modified the flap on the gun mantlet to extend into the top of the hull (according to most references found); Modified additional armour screens on left and right of turret to be identical; Additional rivets on the back screen of the turret; Added small handles on top of the turret; & Re-positioned the air vent slightly into its correct place. [Note: The size of the Turret base should now match the size of the ring on the hull. The row of rivets on top of the Turret are removed, to imply that these were riveted deeply into the armour, and so that the details on the top of the Turret will stand out more.] RADIO ANTENNA: The new radio antenna for the hull is split for ease of printing, which would otherwise snap off from the hull if joined together as a single stl. file. Our Engineer and Mechanic both recommend having a professional printer to print the hull and radio antenna separately and later to be attached together as a complete set (together with the separate turret). LATEST UPDATE AS AT 4.5.2022: There is now an added support underneath the horn of the KV-1E hull for ease of printing. In addition, our Engineer and Mechanic have smoothened the undercarriage of the KV-1E hull. In particular, its road wheel suspensions are now more historically accurate while at the same time able to provide support for the road wheels during the printing process. FURTHER NOTES: This updated KV-1E set comes complete with stl. files of the full model combined and also its hull, turret and antenna detached for viewing and printing pleasure. The models should already be scaled at 1/100 and we recommend interested or potential tank crews new to the hobby to print out the models through an expert printer for tryout. Like the models we've posted? Feel free to support us on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/garage434 for more incoming content. Alternatively, do leave us a like or a comment so that we can update our post from time to time to rectify the errors on the KV-1E set if any. Like the original model from TigerAce1945? Go show your interest and support by following TigerAce1945 for more tanks and armoured fighting vehicles from the original creator! The picture used to display the KV-1E tank is merely for reference by Garage 434 and is the property of its unnamed owner. Beside the KV-1E in the picture is a captured KV-1 tank previously marked and used by the Germans, which signifies its influence even on the German army. All written materials and blueprints for the KV-1E mentioned in this post are sourced from Wikipedia, the Tank Encyclopedia, World of Tanks, Google Images, etc. This latest KV-1E is a remix from TigerAce1945's very own KV-1E set (Do check him out and his wide range of readily available designs!).