JS-2 Stalin Model 1943
Russian Late-War Heavy Tank

Italeri 1/72 Scale (Special Value Pack)

Reviewed by Glen Porter

Summary

FirstLook

The JS-2 was a Soviet response to the appearance of German heavy Panzers on the Eastern Front, and the failure of the KV tanks due to reliability problems. First issued in 1943, it was quickly realized that the stepped front plate represented a weak point for late-war German anti-tank guns and the 1944 model was produced with a straight front plate with no step. This model, however, has the stepped front plate of the 1943 model JS-2.

This is a new moulding by Italeri and not one of the ex-Esci kits that Italeri has recently been re-releasing. This is evidenced by the inclusion of a wargamer’s “Fast Assembly” kit which Italeri has only done with their own mouldings.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

	The "Fast Build" wargamer's kit

PST also produce a 1/72 scale JS-2 and although I haven't seen it, I am reliably told that this Italeri kit has a more accurate turret shape and better tracks and wheels. Quite frankly, with link and length tracks, separate tools, open hatches and no flash I could find nothing worthy of criticism. The front plate and turret sides and back have a very convincing cast texture and the pioneer tools, and grab handles are suitably thin.

Decals, by Zanchetti Buccinasco of Milan, offer three pairs of turret numbers for two vehicles in Russia, 1944 and one in Berlin during 1945. One of the tanks in Russia with white 222 on the turret has an interesting camouflage scheme of overall Russian Armour Green with Sand and Dark Brown wavy lines top to bottom of various thicknesses. The other two are in overall Russian Armour Green. A fourth vehicle is also included in the overall green with no turret number, Berlin in 1945. All the paint colours quoted are Model Master which is normal for Italeri.

This looks to me to be a very good kit indeed. As an avid Braille Scale Armour modeller I can only look forward to what else Italeri might serve up.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample.