ISU-152
Italeri 1/72 Scale (Special Value Pack & Fast Assembly Kits)

Reviewed by Brett Green

Summary

FirstLook

The ISU-152 was a heavy self-propelled gun based on the chassis of the very successful IS-2 tank.

Italeri has followed up its IS-2 with a brand-new 1/72 scale ISU-152 kit. This kit comprises 152 parts in olive drab plastic and markings for three vehicles

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The kit is extremely well detailed for this small scale. The road wheels are especially noteworthy, with authentically fine ribbing. Detail on the link-and-length track sections is equally good.

Cast texture on the hull and mantelet is also very well done.

The hull has all the grilles and vents on the rear deck moulded in place. Detail here is also very crisp. Hatches are supplied as separate pieces, so you will be able to crew up your "animal hunter" if you like.

Although it is not mentioned in the instructions, a 122mm barrel is also included on the sprues.

Also included in the box is a wargamer's "Fast Assembly" kit. Apart from the lower hull, this is a completely different kit from the fully detailed version. Simplification and ease of construction are the priorities here, and these objectives are achieved by delivering an entire vehicle in just nine plastic parts! Naturally, detail is nowhere near the standard of the regular kit, but you should be able to build a full division in an afternoon.

I knocked the "Fast Assembly" kit together in about 15 minutes. Fit was generally very good, but I found that the lower and upper hull fitted better after I sliced off the vertical mounting posts moulded to the inside of the lower hull.

The Fast Assembly version is also available separately with two kits in a single box as Italeri item number 7501

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Italeri has delivered another winner with this nicely detailed and accurate ISU-152. I do hope that they continue to work through the Soviet arsenal in 1/72 scale.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample.