1/48 Russian Heavy Tank KV-1 w/Applique Armor Tamiya #32545 Shrink

I need to clear some space on my shelves, so I have to part with some of my collection. Over a decade ago, the major model companies launched lines of 1/48 scale armor. I saw it as a “Goldilocks” fit in between the standard 1/35 scale and the diminutive 1/72 scale armor lines. The nicest thing is the compatibility with the extensive line of 1/48 aircraft kits available from so many suppliers. The KV-1 monster tank was dominant when it first appeared in combat and played an important role in stopping the blitzkrieg targeting Moscow, making it a great candidate for the new 1/48 Military Miniature line for Tamiya. The diecast hull adds some needed heft to this little tank. There are a handful of eBay listings for this kit (from Japan and elsewhere), but as a Top Rated Plus US seller, I have this item in stock and can reliably ship it to you very quickly. Here is what I found about this wonderful kit around the web: The Tamiya site has some amazing photos of a finished model and the following brief blurb on the important KV-1 tank: Withstanding the German Invasion The KV-1 heavy tank, together with the T34 medium tank, formed the backbone of the Russian tank forces in the first half of WWII. While the early production types produced in 1940 featured formidable 75mm frontal armor and a powerful 76.2mm gun, it was foreseen that more protection would be needed to counter new German tanks. Thus additional 25-35mm bolt-on armor plates were installed on the turret of the KV-1, resulting in a powerful 50 ton tank that was impervious to most anti-tank weapons. · Highly-detailed 1/48 assembly model kit of the Russian KV-1 Heavy Tank. · Length: 141mm. · Additional spaced armor accurately reproduced complete with attachment bolt details. · Die-cast chassis provides added weight and realism. · Easy to assemble tracks feature one-piece straight sections with realistic sag effect. · 4 types of decals included. Scalemates.com has a listing showing this is a 2007 release based on the new tool from 2006 with some new parts. The site provides a link to the complete 10-page instruction set and tons of links to reviews, aftermarket parts, books, walk-arounds and galleries of completed kits. Andrew Birkbeck did a two-part Review on the IPMS USA site. The first part is a First Look Review which starts with a history of the KV-1 and ten covers the construction steps of the instructions. He provides photos of the sprues and explains the small differences between this kit and the original KV-1 kit (TAM #32535). He highly recommends the kit for a number of reasons, saying: “ Excellent parts together with superb instructions and simple paint and decal schemes would make it an ideal first kit as well for anyone looking to get into modeling armored vehicles. ” The second part is the Build Review which talks mostly about the finishing and painting of the kit. Most of the construction information was in the previous review. His model turned out phenomenally well and he reiterated his praise, saying: “ I might sound like a broken record, but I must say, this whole project was nothing short of a blast. In my humble opinion the KV-1/2 series of 1/48th kits from Tamiya are by far the most trouble-free kits on the market today, just perfect for a non-AMS build! ” There are also reviews of the base kit (TAM #32535) which is the same kit minus the additional armor plates, so the comments should apply equally well. Terry Ashley did an outstanding Build Review of the #32535 kit on the perthmilitarymodelling.com site. He breaks down the review along the major components (Lower Hull, Tracks, Upper Hull, Turret and Decals), providing photos of all the parts and pieces, even major assemblies under construction, including the decal sheet. He highly recommends the kit, saying: “ Another sound kit from Tamiya with the main features of the model 1940 KV-1 captured well and the fit of parts back to what we expect from Tamiya ”. Frank Portela did a fascinating Build Review of the #32535 kit on the armorama.com site with 15 photos of the parts and his expert build. The build was smooth and quick (about 5 hours) and his verdict was: “ Another good model choice from Tamiya. Together with the KV2 and the Hobby Boss variants, 48th scale fans now have unlimited choice in modelling the KV tank. ” This kit is in a with dramatic box art. As you can see from the pictures, the package is pristine and still sealed with the original shrink wrap, so it is factory sealed and absolutely gift-ready. This item contains one complete injection molded plastic model kit with a hefty diecast chassis, about 180 olive drab plastic parts, including Link and Length tracks and a set of colorful decals. It requires cement and paint to complete as shown. I use eBay Managed Payments, but I no longer ship internationally. Auction winner pays the winning bid and for a limited time, this item is offered with $9 Flat Rate Shipping in the US! No reserve and a low starting bid. Check out my other great auctions and listings for combined shipping. Good luck! Those familiar with my listings can tell that I really enjoy these products and the modeling hobby. I like to provide more than just the bare facts about the items, trying to lead you into discovering more about the subjects and optimizing your builds (if that is your goal). I started out picking up models that I was interested in, with the eye toward building them when I had time. Always a bargain-hunter, I accumulated many more than I can build, so I found myself in a Collector status (sounds nicer than a hoarder). As I am sure you have noticed, my items are almost always sealed and in mint condition (I call them Gift-Ready), since I only open them when I am ready to build them. Now I enjoy making these products available to my fellow modelers; both Builders and Collectors. For the Builders, there are probably better (at least cheaper) ways to add to your project lists than buying from me, but you know you are getting top quality. For Collectors, my goal is to save you a few bucks over the competition for the same item in factory sealed and collectible (or resellable) condition.

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