Also in The Flying Mule now is HM's new KV-2, this time a white-washed version with no markings whatsoever (that's how most KV-2s were in fact; thankfully, gone is the "Za Stalina!" legend).
What we get is a correct and accurate KV-2 for our shelves (the solid triangles on the track guards notwithstanding...) in a striking white wash through which some of the underlying green colour may be seen. The effect is very nice, though somehow pastel-like, and again the weathering is virtually absent, which is particularly noticeable around the running gear and tracks.
The vehicle represented was a tank in Kalinin Front during January 1942. I've enclosed a colour illustration borrowed from the rkkaww2 website.
Kalinin Front is a military unit, not a geographical term; it was named after General Mikhail I. Kalinin, and included Armies 22nd, 29th, and 30th. It took part in the Soviet counter-offensive around Moscow, and seemingly recaptured the town of Kalinin from German hands (all very confusing... Kalinin is the name used in Soviet times to designate the Russian town of Tver'; is it a coincidence that the unit named after Gen. Kalinin was operating near Kalinin in January 1942? Or is there confusion with this word "Kalinin" somewhere in the references?). To which of the Armies and subunits in Kalinin Front did this KV-2 belong, I just don't know.
All in all, this is basically a very good representation of the original tank, and my display area has already a place reserved for it.
