A Reformed Stalinist

Historical Background

The Soviet IS (Iosef/Josef Stalin) heavy tank was introduced in 1944 as a successor of the KV series tank. It was mainly used as a breakthrough tank, using its heavy, high explosive shells against bunkers and entrenched positions. It was also heavily armoured against German 88mm weapons while its 122mm gun was also highly capable against the German Panther and Tiger tanks. Entering service in April 1944, the IS was used as the spearhead of the final Soviet offensives into Germany. In late 1944, a follow-up design, Obyekt 703 was developed by ChKZ. Known as the IS-3, the tank had improved armour layout and introduced the 'inverted frying pan' semi-hemispherical cast turret which became the hallmark of Soviet post-war tanks. Although having improved protection, the low, hemispherical design diminished the working headroom, especially for the loader (the Soviets simply work around this problem by specifying that only men no taller than 5' 4" would be conscripted for tank service). The low turret, although reducing height and allowing better concealment, also reduced the gun depression angle, since the breech had little room to pivot downwards. Thus the IS-3 (and subsequent Soviet tanks) was unable to take advantage of a hull-down position on a reserve slope. The pointed prow (to deflect shells) earned the IS-3 the nickname of Shchuka (pike) by its crew. The IS-3 was first publicly revealed on 7 September 1945 during the Allied victory parade on Charlottenburgerstrasse in Berlin.

The IS family received further upgrading in the shape of the IS-4. The tank is basically a lengthened IS-2 (adding an extra set of road wheels) with improved engine and armour. Armament was still the IS-2's original 122mm gun. Problems with mobility and speed caused only 250 units to be built. Another project was the IS-6. There were two of these. The first, Obyekt 253, was an attempt to provide a practical electrical transmission system for heavy tanks while the second, Obyekt 252, used a different suspension system and using mechanical transmission. The IS-6 project was halted as it offered no significant advantage over the IS-2 / IS-3. In 1948, the heaviest and largest member of the IS family was developed. This was the IS-7, weighing in at 68 tons, armed with a 130mm S-70 gun and was thickly armoured. Mobility wasn't affected much as it was powered by a 1,050 hp engine, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 15.4 hp/ton, a ratio superior to most contemporary medium tanks. In tests, the armour proved immune not only to the wartime 12.8 cm PAK 44 rounds, but also its own 130 mm rounds. However for reasons unrecorded, but most probably arising from its mass and the attendant issues of bridges and rail transport, the project was cancelled.

After tinkering with mostly experimental designs, the Soviet authorities concluded that an updated IS-3 design would satisfy their needs. This design, the IS-8 began its development in 1948, using many components from the experimental designs such as electrical turret traverse and elevation from the IS-7, engine derived from the one used in IS-4 and IS-6 while the D25TA 122 mm gun was a slightly improved version of the gun arming the IS-2 and IS-3. The turret resembled the IS-3 turret but armour thickness was raised to 200 mm. The increased weight of the IS-8, coupled with improved engine cooling system led to a lengthened hull (with an additional set of road wheels). Production began either in late 1950 or early 1951 at Chelyabinsk. As part of de-Stalinisation programme following the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, the IS-8 was redesignated T-10.

As production went on, improvements were added to the basic design. The T-10A incorporated the D-25TS gun with stabilisation in the vertical axis and also a bore evacuator. To help the loader, a simple ramming device was also added. Further improvements include the replacement of the sighting devices, the addition of a gyrocompass and a TVN-1 night vision device. In the mid-1950s, the T-10B was introduced. Externally similar to the T-10A, the T-10B added a two-axis stabilisation system and a new fire control sights. In 1957, the final variant, the T-10M was introduced. It has the longer M-62-TS gun which had a better armour penetration capability than the D-25 (185mm against 160mm at 1,000 meters) using the normal AP round. The gun can also fire the BP-460A HEAT round which can penetrate 300mm of armour. It was also fitted with a two-axis stabilisation system and having a distinctive multi-baffle muzzle brake. The DShKM 12.7mm co-axial and anti-aircraft machine guns were replaced with 14.5mm KPVT. The latter has a closer ballistic match with the M-62 gun and can be used for rough ranging of the main gun. The T-10M also has an uprated (750 hp) V-12-6 engine.

The concept of the heavy tank ended with the introduction of the first-generation main battle tanks which have the same amount of firepower and protection but on a lighter, more mobile platform (in the case of the Soviets, it was with the introduction of the T-64 in 1965). Production of the T-10 ended in 1962 with about 8,000 built, making it the most numerous of the Stalin tank family. However, unlike the IS-2 and IS-3, the T-10 was not exported to Soviet satellite and client states. After the type was retired from active service in 1970, the turret of some of the decommissioned T-10s found a new role as static defence emplacements along the Soviet-Chinese border. Nevertheless, as many as 1,000 heavy tanks remain in reserve until the late 1970s.

The Kit

Because of the closed nature of the Soviet society, model kits for their hardware are not readily available in the years gone by. Even if they exist, they are mostly inaccurate. As for the T-10 series, there were none save for the ancient and inaccurate Tamiya 'JS-III T-10' kit dating from the 1960s. Like the proverbial bus, new-mould T-10, specifically the T-10M version, came into the scene in 2015 when Meng and Trumpeter released their kits of the tank. The Meng kit won me over because of the rather dramatic presentation, with the large hammer and sickle flag in the background. The kit is comprised of 328 parts in dark green plastic, 10 in clear, 192 separate track links with separate, handed track pins (a la Modelkasten, which would present a new challenge to me), a two-piece track assembly jig, 18 PE parts, 20 poly caps plus the usual decal and instructions sheet. The parts look well-moulded while the cast pattern was restrained (this is after all a peacetime-built tank).

Some variation is allowed in the shape of whether one wants to have a plain turret or one which have tarp wrapped around the rear of it or having a stowage box. The decal sheet provides markings for four vehicles:

- 13th Guards Heavy Tank Division, 1st Guards Tank Army, Soviet Forces in Germany, Operation Danube 1968 (with a choice of three individual tank markings)

- 20th Independent Tank Battalion, 20th Guards Motor Division, 1st Tank Army, Soviet Forces in Germany, 1972-74

- 1st Guards Tank Army, Soviet Forces in Germany, Berlin Parade 1960

- 'A certain Soviet Army Unit', late 1960s-early 1970s (at least Meng didn't use 'Unknown Unit'!).    

Construction

As usual, construction started at the lower hull. The first step is concerned with wheel assembly but I skipped them and go straight for the lower hull. The suspension fairings were moulded separately needing some time to cement all 12 of them. The torsion bar limiter and the drive joint were made moveable so that they can be adjusted during the fitting of the tracks. The torsion bars were then fitted and they mimicked the real thing by being workable. As per my usual style, the lower hull and the wheels were painted at this time (with the wheels still on the sprue). The paint were touched-up after the wheels had come off the sprue. While assembly of the wheels was straightforward, some care need to be taken into account to avoid misalignments. The contact surface of the wheels were then covered with pencil graphite to simulate the wear. The wheels were then mounted to the lower hull.

I then moved on to the upper hull. I started by sub-assembling the storage boxes, smoke generators and the external fuel tanks. No problems here except that the seam lines would have to be cleaned from the latter two items (clean-up went well for the smoke generators but not for the fuel tanks). The smoke generator slotted into their place in a particular manner so you really have to follow the instructions. The various fittings were then cemented to the rear hull plate before the latter was cemented to the upper hull. There are gaps between the upper hull and the left and right sides of the hull plate. I used quick-curing superglue to join the parts as it seemed to be caused by warped plastic. To ease painting, the smoke generators and the external fuel tanks were left off at this time. While the headlights were easy to assemble and fit, I find it slightly difficult to align the brush guards. The PE parts were last dealt here. There were no problems with them save for Parts W2 and W3 which did not exactly meet on the prow of the forward hull and needed to be coaxed a bit.

As I have already chosen an Operation Danube vehicle, holes were drilled on the back of the turret to accommodate the storage box. The various turret fittings were then cemented into place with the exception of the hand rails and the ammunition boxes (although the holders were cemented). It could be just me but there was a bit of a gap between the turret and the commander's sight. The gun can be made moveable through the use of poly caps inside the trunnion. The gun barrel is a two-piece affair with just a little bit of clean-up to be done after mating the halves (I still prefer a one-piece turned aluminium barrel). Thankfully the multi-baffle muzzle is moulded in one piece as it would be quite problematic to clean up the seam if moulded separately. The commander's and loader's hatches were multiple piece affair but they have a better definition than single-piece ones. The co-axial MG was left off at this time and so did the AA MG on the loader's hatch. The latter was assembled but left off the model for the time being. I found that the barrel can be placed later, and that helped for the painting.

Finally, the tracks were assembled. I must say that the most tedious thing about the kit's track assembly is just the cutting and the clean-up of the tracks. The rest was a breeze as the track assembly jig was a big help with just time constraint on my part (I did my work after 10 pm) prevented me from finishing assembly in one sitting. The instructions mention 87 links to complete the run but after test fitting, I found that the right-hand track needed 88 for a better fit. Nevertheless the instructions was quite fuzzy as to the orientation of the track links on the assembly jig (the tracks were shaded dark grey and so it wasn't very clear). I ended up studying the illustrations on the box top and even my Tamiya JS-2 for reference. (Actually the holes in the link lines up with molds on the jig and you know the link is wrongly placed when you can't insert the track pins through the slots in the sides of the jig)

Painting and Decalling

The tracks were painted XF-64 Red Brown and was then given a wash using AK Interactive Track Wash. The whole tank was painted a mix of Tamiya XF-51 Khaki Drab mixed with XF-3 Flat Yellow to approximate Russian Postwar Green (XB518 Zachchitniy Zeleno). The white 'invasion stripes' were painted XF-2 Flat White. To prepare the surface for decalling (even though there were just two of them), the entire model was sprayed Gloss Clear. There were actually three sub-options for the Operation Danube markings (just different numbers and diamond markings) and I chose the second one. There were no problems here. Although not really used by armour modellers, I applied AK Interactive Paneliner Wash for Green/Brown camouflage to enhance some panel lines. The tow cables were painted a mix of metallic colours (make that steel lightened with silver). The machine gun barrels were painted flat black, after which I applied graphite powder from a pencil. The unditching log was a combination of XF-55 Deck Tan, XF-59 Desert Yellow and XF-64 Red Brown.

Finishing

I started by wrapping the tracks around the wheels, pushing in the last track pins and retouching the paint. The lower hull and the tracks were then given a light application of Mig Productions' Rubble Dust pigment (as the real tanks were operating in an urban setting, although virtually no combat took place) . Not much pastel/pigment application nor weathering was done to the model as photos show that the T-10s were fairly clean during Operation Danube. The excess was then removed using a stiff brush.The smoke generator pots and external fuel tanks were next. The AA MG barrel was cemented into place, together with the ammunition boxes. The holes on the hatch were quite undersized so I had to enlarge them to allow the pegs on the MG mount to slot in. The tow cables were then attached and this step is one of the reasons of why you should read the instructions: the eyes won't fit into Part A9 if you have already cemented the latter onto the hull beforehand. A length of a guitar string was cut, painted steel and stuck in the aerial base (a hole was drilled into it beforehand). A final spray of Mr. Hobby Flat Topcoat finishes the build.

Conclusion

The T-10M was my first armour model from Meng and I must say I'm impressed with it. The parts feature well-moulded details and the fit was excellent - effectively no putty was necessary. Any misalignments, gaps and unnecessary ridges are all my fault and not of the kit. The build was straightforward and also quite importantly, no huge mass of eeny-weeny, tiny parts to test my eyesight and tweezer-handling skills. The Modelkasten-style track links were easy to build, especially with the help of the  assembly jig. Being practically a virgin in this kind of tracks, I found it refreshing. It looks like a T-10M to me and there is barely any bad words about this kit although one website showed the difference between Meng's and Trumpeter's offering and comparing them with available plans and it looked like Meng's T-10M was a bit 'off'. Anyway, with a number of modern-era (make that Cold War and post-Cold War) armour kits in their catalogue, I am looking forward for more builds of Meng kits - I already have the Leopard 1A3/1A4 in my stash and hoping to add their Merkava 3, AMX-30 and T-90 in my collection.