[Legio LXXII]

That is Hobby Masters competition, the currently available 1/72 prebuilt version from Easy Models.

[mbv]

Regarding the slogans on KV-2's debate here is a great image resource for knocked out KV-2's during the first year of the war in Russia. Most of them are taken by German troops. Other than a cross appearing on some turrets most of the graffitti is German, added after the tanks have been captured/knocked out. There are certainly no Za Stalina! slogans anywhere to be seen, or even other Russian slogans for that matter. Here is the link http://mechcorps.rkka.ru/files/kv2/kv2.htm

[chascbv]

I finally received my Centaur. Other than the already mentioned "invasive" tyres, the model is a real gem - it exhibits a "C" hull, which is correct for this version, and has a convincing "khaki brown" livery. This was the overall colour for military vehicles before "khaki drab" was prescribed in 1944, and was still in use by some softskins and RMASG Centaurs at the time of the Normandy landings.

The model represents a vehicle of 2nd Battery, 1st Armoured Support Regiment, Royal Marines, a unit that landed at "Gold Beach", the shore strip by the small village of Arromanches-les-Bains in Normandy, in June 1944. These guys disregarded orders received to stay on the beach, and moved on inland to lend a hand in the combats raging everywhere around the area!

Well done, HM. A much needed model IMHO!!

[chascbv]

I found this interesting story in several web sites and publications. This KV-2 alone pinned down a major part of 6.Panzer Division for almost 2 days at a bridge across river Dubysa near Raseiniai (Lithuania) in June 23-24, 1941. Read a brief account here: http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=11415.




I really want to have this tank in my collection as a memorial for this brave crew! The only thing HM has to do is issue a version of their KV-2 in overall 4BO green (FS 34102: the lighter of the two greens in the South East Asia scheme used by - for instance - F-4 Phantoms for decades all over the world), with no markings at all. An easy one, isn't it?

Any votes?

[MoMo]

chascbv

Yes, chascbv, the heroes deserve to be immotalised in diecast...they get my vote! Thanks for the informative post.

[chascbv]

Thanks for your vote, MoMo.

Now let me introduce to you Lieutenant Kolobanov, another tank hero. You can read about his feat here: http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/show...?t=4073&page=2

Unfortunately, I could find no photos or drawings of his tank. From the picture below, it would seem his mount was a KV-1E, as a couple of heavy rivets may be seen on the turret side. The tank was probably overall 4BO green with no markings, the quoted "864" being probably part of the vehicle's serial number, rather than a tactical number displayed on the turret. Anyone knows better and can shed light on this topic?

Zinoviy Kolobanov is the one at the centre of the lower row.