JS-2 (IS-2)

Gaso.Line, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

FirstLook

Gaso.Line has been producing 1/48 scale armour conversions and kits for some time now, but the recent explosion of Tamiya and Hobby Boss onto the market must have seemed like a incredible stroke of fortune. Suddenly, 1/48 scale armour was transformed from a niche interest, its exponents scrounging parts and searching for kits long out of production, into a mainstream interest with state-of-the-art models.

Gaso.Line has now added the IS-2 Soviet heavy tank to its range of full resin kits. This is a nice complement to their earlier KV-85 conversion.

Gaso.Line's 1/48 scale IS-2 comprises 128 parts in grey resin; brass-reinforced resin gun barrel; one length of brass wire; short brass tube; a piece of white string; plus four pages of instructions and reference photos.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The resin parts are very well cast.

The focus of the kit is the resin turret, hull and running gear parts. The turret is a large, solid casting. The characteristically rough casting texture is authentically represented, as are the heavy weld beads along the bottom of the turret. Smaller raised weld lines are also present on the turret roof and cupola, as appropriate. The cupola is supplied as a separate piece.

The upper hull is another one-piece casting. Even the track guards are cast in place. The engine vents are cast as part of this solid casting, but they are well done and should look convincing after careful painting and weathering.

Gaso-Line has supplied the correct style of steel wheels for the IS-2. These are in one piece each, and have been cast with holes for mounting on their separate resin axles.

Additional resin parts include external fuel drums, hull fittings and link and length tracks.

Brass wire is supplied for the turret rails and lifting hooks, while fine tube is provided for the rear machine gun.

Instructions comprise construction diagrams and reference photos over four pages. These are fairly basic, and additional reference will be helpful.

Conclusion

Gaso.Line's 1/48 scale IS-2 is an impressive kit of this powerful Soviet tank.

Casting is very good, detail is well done and fit looks as if it should be relatively trouble free. In common with all limited run kits, however, extra time should be allocated for thoroughly preparing the resin parts and continual test fitting for the best possible result.

This full kit will be warmly welcomed by Soviet armour modellers.

Highly Recommended to experienced modellers.

Thanks to Gaso.Line for the review sample