Soviet KV-1S/85 Heavy Tank. TRUMPETER 01567

Assembly plastic kit of a Soviet KV-1S/85 heavy tank. The kit contains more than 430 pieces, including the metal gun barrel and photo-etched parts.

KV-1S A lighter variant of late 1942 with higher speed, but thinner armour. A new, smaller, cast turret and redesigned rear hull were used. A total of 1370 units were built. In response to criticisms, the lighter KV-1S (Russian language: ??-1?) was released, with thinner armour and a smaller, lower turret in order to reclaim some speed. Importantly, the KV-1S also had a commander's cupola with all-around vision blocks, a first for a Soviet heavy tank. However, the thinning-out of the armor called into question why the tank was being produced at all, when the T-34 could seemingly do everything the KV could do and much more cheaply. The Soviet heavy tank program was close to cancellation in mid-1943.