Clearwater Models: July 2020

This is the old Airfix 1:75 scale model (A01307) of the Объект 703 (Object 703) Ио́сиф Ста́лин Joseph (Ioseph) Stalin 3 (IS-3 or JS-3) heavy tank introduced at the end of the Great Patriotic War Вели́кая Оте́чественная война́ against Nazi scum.

This tank was originally named PROJECT 703. The tank was built by the Chelyabinsk Kirovskiy Tank Factory #100 (Челябинский тракторный завод or ЧТЗ ChTZ) from 1944 through 1947. This was actually a tractor factory converted to tank production. Over 2300 were built. It had a 122 mm main gun.The very wide tracks and the multiple bogeys gave it a comparatively light footprint and an ability to move over soft ground and snow. The first tanks reached Berlin too late for the final defeat of the Nazi scum armies, but it did take part in the giant Moscow victory parade that September. Superb armour meant the design was almost impregnable from the front, but the 46 tonne tank was not suitable for fast manoeuvre warfare, especially in hot or desert climates. The most recent known use is by the Russian-sponsored groups in Eastern Ukraine in 2014.

There are 46 individual wheel components. The original paint is matte Russian green from Vallejo; covered with Future floor wax for the decals; then matted and weathered. I drilled out the muzzle brake recoil compensator and the end of the gun barrel as these were solid. The railings are very thin rod pushed into holes drilled with a very tiny bit. I added a wooden log across the back, which has tiny metal tie down straps. The tanks treads have pencil graphite rubbed on to simulate bare or worn exposed metal. The pencil edge was also used to accent metal corners on the body and turret. The Guards regiment crest comes on the decal sheet, as does the red star for the bow. Extra decals were used to put the hull number (37) on the turret. The coaxial gun was replaced with some metal-looking item found on my table. The hull-mounted rear fuel tanks were a mess, and I toyed with replacing them, but gave up and used the kit ones. I added the rusted chain on the bow. The street scene is resin. I added snow. The graffiti on the wall says FOR COUNTRY and FOR STALIN in Russian. This is a three day build during the COVID-19 period. The model arrived unexpectedly via post from a dear musician friend in BC. I built it immediately in honour of his recently deceased father.

What it really needs is a Hungarian holding a Molotov cocktail, emerging from a manhole behind the tank. That would be brilliant!