Building the IS-2 in 1/35

Subject: IS-2
Model by: Nicola Cortese
Skill level: Master
Kit: DML JS-2 Stalin II, kit no. 6012
Additional detailing 1/35 V-2 Engine from Maquette no. 35024
sets used: Modelkasten SK-14 ‘split-type’ workable tracks
Jordi Rubio replacement metal barrel no. TG-20
K&S Metal foil sheet for the fenders
Sheets of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 Evergreen styrene and rod
Tichy Train Groups various eyelet, nut and bolt details
Athabasca brass-etch eyebolts and liftrings
Aber photo-etch tie downs no. 35 A95
Eduard photo-etch set no. 35 194
Jaguar model JS-II resin interior no. 63501
Detail Associates brass wire
Markings: Eduard Express Masks no. XT 027
Paints: Tamiya XF-13 JA Green
Tamiya XF-20 Medium Grey
Tamiya XF-52 Flat Earth
Tamiya XF-61 Dark Green
Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black

In recent years, photos of destroyed or damaged vehicles have provided a rich

source of inspiration for modellers. Given the amount of detail involved in
recreating such subjects, a highly realistic approach to modelling is essential,
particularly in terms of modification. It is important to note that removing detail
can be just as difficult as adding it, especially when having to open up areas like
hatches and engine bays. This chapter will focus on the more advanced skills and
attention required in doing this.
The DML/Dragon JS-2 kit first hit the hobbystore shelves in the early 1990s,
and has established itself as a favourite modelling subject. Crisp detailing and
the generally ‘spot-on’ dimensions throughout have made this kit one of the
manufacturer’s most enduring.
I initially thought about presenting this model in a destroyed state, but
changed my mind to show it as an abandoned vehicle. The latter would provide
better scope for a demonstration of comprehensive modelling techniques, whilst
the former would only mean that everything would get lost in the rubble! In
addition, one particular double-page spread in Ground Power issue 76 (pages
58–59), showing a damaged and abandoned early IS-2, inspired me to use it as a
basis for this model. This was an extensive build that involved major reworking,
and numerous additional items.

General construction
As was the case for the ISU-152, the lower hull needs to be raised by about 2mm
(see pages 7–8). Among the first things that caught my eye when studying the
Ground Power reference photos was that the vehicle shown was missing its first two
18 return rollers. I decided that this was something I just had to recreate: I did this by

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

Small details like this often have a big impact on the finished I recreated a detached drive sprocket mechanism by studying one
model. specific photo. Although maybe not 100 per cent accurate, I felt
that it looked acceptable.

simply and carefully removing the moulded-in return rollers from the lower hull
with the help of a razor saw.
Only three bolts per side were drilled out, as per the real vehicle, even
though the return roller has 12 bolt inserts. I presume that this was due to the
rationing of parts during this hectic wartime period, it being important to
avoid waste and to only use what was necessary.

The interior
Jaguar’s resin interior is well done in terms of the moulding, although the
instructions are rather vague, and at some point the instruction sheet should
be revised. The driver’s compartment, partcularly the seat, is a nice piece of
work.

The upper hull

In order to display the engine hatch and transmission bay open, a little surgery
and an extra donor IS-2 kit were required. The first thing to be done after

Jaguar’s interior is good, although, as you can see by the white The floor and driver’s compartment have been painted and are
styrene, I opted to scratch-build part of the floor interior with awaiting weathering. I added a makeshift tarp using a chocolate
styrene to open up the bin containers. wrapper. Even though these details won’t be seen, at least I know
they are there! 19

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

 removing the engine hatches was to open the exhaust grills and to ‘box-in’ the
enclosed open area with 0.10 sheet styrene. I wanted to display one of the
exhaust grills in an open position so that the ribbing of the exhaust bay could
be seen.
Eduard’s excellent photo-etch grills were a perfect fit, although I had to
fabricate the three tiny exhaust hinges with 0.10 brass rod. I removed the louvres
from the rear deck exhaust and replaced them with Plastruct 0.10 x 0.80 styrene
strip, which I measured and cut with my ‘Chopper’ cutting board. I added a little
more verism by detaching some of them from the frames, as this was common in
many of the photos I’d seen, and included Tichy Train Groups eyelets to replace
the liftrings.

The engine and drive train

I opted to use Maquette’s plastic T-34 V-2 engine kit as the basis for the engine
and drive train, figuring it would be an acceptable platform to replicate an
IS-2 engine and drive train.
BELOW The rear deck in the
The most intriguing part of the DML kit is the cooling fan, which is moulded
preliminary stages. Once the
moulded-in exhaust grills had been as a solid object. Given the exposed engine detail, I decided to scratch-build the
removed, I ‘boxed in’ the enclosed item, using the kit’s cooling fan as a rough template. The fan filter was fabricated
open area with 0.10 sheet styrene. from styrene sheet, following careful examination of key reference photos. Note
that it is extremely difficult to find specific shots of
engine interiors, and as a result measuring up and trying
to get the final look just right can be a challenging
prospect. I used my Staedtler combo circle template to
make a circular template for one part of the fan – this is
a technique that can be used to make all kinds of small
rings and discs. I then drilled out the inner part with
my Dremel, and cut round the outer edge with scissors,
finishing off with a light sanding to even out the edges.
Because I wanted to display the transmission, I really
had to improve the Maquette plastic offering. After
studying the limited number of available photos, I based
the final transmission on Maquette’s part, which is
rather simplified but still acceptable. The transmission is
a simple, two-piece affair, which, with a little help from

Maquette’s plastic T-34 engine and transmission is a rather basic Hours of detailing went into replicating the transmission and
offering, but with some scratch-building and minor tweaks, it can cooling fan, mainly working with a couple of photos. After
be brought up to acceptable standards. sanding off the top portion, I removed the moulded-in bolt
detail, which I later replaced with various bolts fashioned by my
Historex punch set. Tichy Train Groups came to the rescue
20 once more with some small 0.20 rivets and nuts and bolts.

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

This photo shows how to make a small ring or disc. As you can Made specifically for train modellers, Athabasca’s brass-etch
see a smaller inner circle has been added to a larger outer one. eyebolts and liftrings were a perfect match when it was time
to detail up the transmission.

some styrene, Historex nut and bolt detail and the extremely tiny Athabasca
eyelets and Tichy Train Groups 0.20 rivets, can be much improved. I purchased
two of these kits (the other was for the IS-3 build) – and, with my customary
luck, I found that they came in two different colours, black and light grey! Ever
the optimist, I decided to mix up the two kits when building, just to give an
interesting look to the final product.
The engine ‘plumbing’ was created with Plastruct 0.10 rod, and bolt detail
was from Tichy Train Groups’ ‘Nut and Bolt’ set. I fabricated (what seems to be)
the engine air filter from stacked styrene discs and added a brass disc from my
spares box.

Building the engine bay

Building the engine bay was quite a challenge, mainly due to the lack of clear
and precise reference material. I painstakingly fabricated the interior engine
bay with lots of different-sized styrene sheets and U-Beam strips. Personally, I
find this the most fun and rewarding part of the whole scratch-building
process. The fact that with restricted reference material you can create an
acceptable (albeit not perfect) replica is highly rewarding. It definitely helped
hone my scratch-building skills too!

The turret
After much deliberation, I decided to use the kit turret as a platform to display
some more scratch-building and to add some of the Jaguar bits.
I replaced the kit’s plastic grab handles with 0.19 brass wire. In early IS-2s,
the top grab handles are slightly off-centre. Having attached the grab handles
with superglue I went back and trimmed the brass from the inside of the turret,
because of the small interior bits to be added there afterwards. I also added a
quick coat of Mr Surfacer 1000 to the inner walls of the turret to smooth out
the area for the interior parts. I continued to add a mixture of Jaguar and
scratch-built items here too. Even though most of this work won’t be visible in
the end, it’s nice to know it’s there.
Scratch-building both the commander’s and driver’s hatches were mini
projects in themselves, and the final results were very satisfying: I didn’t feel that
Dragon’s hatches were up to standard. The most difficult part was achieving a
realistic look for the outer lip: the real hatches are semi-oval in shape. I enjoyed
replicating the periscope detail too. 21

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

 I cautiously improvised as I went along, adding bolt and nut detail, After deciding not to use Jaguar’s resin turret, I scratch-built the
constantly referring to reference photos. It took much dry-fitting various interior items with styrene strip and rod.
and measuring up to get the transmission right.

I added the Jaguar commander’s cupola to the kit turret mainly The commander’s hatch was a mix of styrene strip, and
because of the nicely cast texture and the inclusion of the inner aftermarket nut and bolt detail. The periscope comes from the
periscopes. This was fairly easy to do, although the top part of Tamiya IS-3 kit.
the kit had to be widened slightly so that the cupola could sit
properly. The interior of the turret was painted and weathered.

Aber photo-etch tie downs were used for the handles for the Some of Jaguar’s resin items were used in the bottom half of the
driver’s hatch. A thin piece of Tamiya tape was used to simulate turret assembly, though I scratch-built most of the items. When
22 the strap handle. everything is together, it’s quite a ‘tight fit’ – just like the real vehicle.

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

There are some major details missing from the gun cradle and A view of the painted gun. Semi-gloss black seemed like the right
lifting mechanism, so I scratch-built these items. Some of the colour to me.
resin parts were so badly warped too that it was easier to craft
styrene replacements.

The gun
Jordi Rubio’s barrels make a nice addition to any model, although the DML gun
moulding and detail is good. I replaced and added detail with styrene sheet to
areas I thought could be improved, such as the front mantlet cover. One of my
reference photos in particular intrigued me: it showed the mantlet detached
from the turret, and also that the mantlet holding ring was in two pieces. So, I
carefully separated the kit’s one-piece item with a razor saw, keeping it damp
with warm water to reduce styrene dust.

The tracks
The IS-2, and the entire range of Stalin tanks, featured ‘split links’, which were
regular links with every other guide tooth missing. They were used to keep
weight down to a minimum. I decided to use Modelkasten replacement tracks
for this project. Manufactured in Japan, their workable and non-workable
tracks are among the best plastic ones available. As explained in the previous
chapter, a liberal coating of Tamiya’s Nato Black was applied to seal and coat

I slowly took my time to get an even, straight cut when Once separated, I added a styrene backing to the mantlet and
separating the one-piece mantlet. four bolts that are connected to it. The mantlet holding ring
needed some fine drilling and sanding to remove the unwanted
plastic. 23

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

 A close-up photo revealing the detail added to the gun muzzle Modelkasten early split-link tracks were my first choice as a
break, including the tiny photo-etch lifting lugs from Athabasca, replacement for this particular model. Unfortunately, these are
brass-etch eyebolts and Historex-punched discs. I also added marred by two ‘knock-out’ marks on each track link.
styrene to the inner portion and made a new front ‘ring’.

A couple of quick stippled coats of Mr Surfacer 1000 can cover As per my usual routine, I applied a darker pastel tone and a
the ‘knock-out’ marks – better than sanding every track quick dry-brushing of black oils, before leaving aside the tracks
individually! for installation later.

the tracks prior to a quick application of dark earth pastels – very much my
standard procedure!

Creating a simple display base

I wanted to display my finished model on a small diorama-type base. Instead
of scratch-building one, I decided to try the Trakz TX 0018 AFV Diorama Base,
which is made from lightweight polyvinyl.
Painting it up was simple, and I used a mixture of Tamiya acrylics. I started with
a base coat of Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black, and then airbrushed it with various
shades of XF-52 Flat Earth and XF-61 Dark Green, coating it with heavily thinned
layers of paint.

Painting and weathering

Before beginning to paint the model, I had to picture the vehicle in my mind’s
eye, sitting abandoned, with hatches open, parts missing and the mantlet
24 detached. This would have an important effect on the selected finish.

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

The gravel-like texture of the base is perfect for what I was I finished off painting the base with a light misting of Buff colour,
looking for – barren, rough terrain. giving it a dusty look.

A top view of the rear deck before painting commences. How To add to the overall realism, I formed a mangled front fender
the parts are placed is vital to the final overall presentation. from K&S Metal foil sheet, which worked really well. K&S Metal
is available in rolls and each one will last a long time.

Tamiya JA Green XF-13 was chosen for the base colour. This is a nice rich
colour that I’ve used before, and which I know works well in conjunction with
a lighter weathering colour.
A pre-shading layer of Tamiya Nato Black XF-69 was first sprayed over the
entire kit. Next, the painting proper began (as always) with thin layers
of shaded colour, starting off with the ‘out of the bottle’ colour before adding
on lighter shades until I felt the look was just right. Since this vehicle was
supposed to be an abandoned and dusty one, I wanted to add some sort of
weathering, and to do this I used the ‘sponge technique’ described previously.
I dabbed the model with a very subtle post-shade mix of Tamiya paint, which
is barely visible yet works well.
At this point, the weathering is not too heavy still, and markings can be
applied. I chose Eduard’s excellent Express Masks no. XT 027, which are easy to
use and merely require you to spray on the right colour. After placing the mask
on the turret I misted on a couple of coats of Tamiya Flat White until I was happy
with the results. Next I sprayed on a post-shade mix of Tamiya Flat Black and
Tamiya Red Brown acrylics in a ratio of 4:1, carefully adding this where oil
washes would normally go, with the aim of enhancing with paint rather than 25

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

 Eduard photo-etch set 35194 was partially used for the exhaust Getting everything to line up was the hardest part of the rear
screens and mostly smaller items. In this pre-painting photo the engine deck. In many photos I’ve seen of vehicles in this state, the
etch screens have merely been placed on, because when the rear back plate is often hanging off or completely missing, so I
pre-shading starts you don’t want to be spending time spraying positioned it so that the left side was detached and was just held
paint though those screens. I also partially scratch-built the on by two bolts.
engine hatch cover and mounts.

This view of the top of the rear deck shows what I assume is an
engine carburettor of some sort.
K&S Metal foil sheet was again used to form part of the back
fender. To add to the realism I cut pieces of 0.05 styrene strips to
BELOW I also decided to scratch-build the inner workings of one replicate the metal strips that attach the fenders to the hull.
of the road wheels.
with oils. Next a number of washes were applied to
even out the contrast in the model’s colour. I then
mixed some dark pastels into the post-shade mix
and once more used the sponge to apply them. This
produced the encrusted, slightly dirty appearance I was
looking to achieve.
All that remained to be done was to add the final
weathering touches, comprising a little light streaking
with oil paints to represent rust and dirt marks.
Perfecting the look of a vehicle that has been out in
the elements for some time was difficult, and this was
by no means a weekend project. However, I feel the
project was a good learning experience for me and I
enjoyed the challenge of mixing up scratch-building
26 techniques, and resin and photo-etch parts.

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

The interior of the turret and gun, painted and weathered and After a little research, I decided on Tamiya XF-20 Medium Grey
awaiting installation – although it will be hardly noticed! Note the for the engine bay area, which I thought would contrast nicely
chipping effects in and around the sides and corners. with the rich green hull colour. At this point everything was in
sub-assembly stage except for the tracks, which have already
been painted and weathered up.

Turret number ‘222’ was chosen from Eduard’s excellent Express More of the ‘sponge technique’ was carried out, using heavily
Masks XT 027. I misted on a couple of coats of Tamiya Flat thinned Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black.
White to get a nice clean result.

I weathered the turret with various

layers of paint and shades to achieve
a really worn look. 27

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

 The weathering process in its
opening stages.

I added a layer of caked-on mud to the underside and lower hull An easy way to paint the metal wheels is to simply dab a small
using medium-shade pastels and Tamiya thinner. amount of paint on a cloth and wipe it on. The paint is a Citadel
Colour acrylic called Chain Mail.

Applying light rust streaks throughout with oil paint should be Prismicolour pencil was used to add a very faint hint of metal.
done as subtlly as possible. Burnt Umber mixed super thin was
28 applied with a clean brush.

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

ABOVE AND PAGES 30–31: The finished IS-2 installed on its base. 29

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.

30

© 2004 Osprey Publishing Ltd.