"New 15mm IS2 tank kit from PSC" Topic

We are delighted to announce that the new 15mm IS 2 tank kit will be released at Salute at the Excel Centre, London on 12th April. 5 tanks in the kit and each sprue has options to build IS1, IS85 or IS2 variants and comes with commander figures.
The tool is going in the press on monday and, provided there are no mishaps, we may be able to ship IS 2 pre-orders later in the week before its official release at Salute on the 12th.
Available to pre-order now in the Plastic Soldier Company webstore. Alternatively, pre-order and you can collect at Salute to avoid missing out and we will refund the shipping at the show.

5 tanks in the kit and each sprue has options to build IS1, IS85 or IS2 variants and comes with commander figures.

Actually they are: IS-1 or 85,IS-2 obr 1943,and IS-2 obr 1944.
LES

Rivet counter!! :)

Well, if the manufacturers had counted the rivets properly in the first place there would be no need for gamers to count rivets. Some of us actually prefer the contents to match the sales description, instead of passing off model A as model B (or worse, turret A and hull B as model C).

That's wonderful news CATMAN2!

or IS2 variants

Actually they are: IS-1 or 85,IS-2 obr 1943,and IS-2 obr 1944

Well, if the manufacturers had counted the rivets properly in the first place there would be no need for gamers to count rivets

Well when I was at school the phrase 'IS-2 variants' would have included: 'IS-2 OBR 1943, and IS-2 obr 1944'!

Maybe instead of nit-picking and showing off our arcane knowledge we should instead rejoice in the plethora of cheap good looking models this company is providing for us!

So, mister "rivet counter", how many variants are there of the IS2? Just 1943 and 1944, or is there a 1945 or later version to keep track of?

Well….

The final production batch was similar to the obr 1944, but the hull front was constructed of rolled plate welded together instead of a one piece casting. Same shape though. The Russians referred to it as "sharp-nose". Probably indistinguishable from the obr 1944 in 15mm.

cheers

showing off our arcane knowledge

Some people wouldn't be able to wake up in the morning if they knew they couldn't come here and flex their E-Peen by listing off all of their arcane knowledge on crap like this. I don't care if my model has some slight inaccuracies. If I can tell what it is by looking at it, that's all I need.

How many people are going to make up the 85mm versions anyway?

Anyhow, something else to buy at Triples.

Lots of people! The 85mm version is loads more useful in FoW, and far more worth the points.

@ Sparker

options to build IS1, IS85 or IS2 variants

That is the correct quote.
Yes i will be getting a box just for the IS-2 obr 1944 version.
LES

I thought I would repost my reply to Tim in the other PSC thread here too, just for completeness…

I think your criticism is fair Tim, and to be fair in return, making plastic kits for a new company is also a learning process. Those doing the design work are 3D designers, not WW2 buffs, and things do get missed, and mistakes do happen. The M3 side panels for example are hinged as on an M14.

But some of the things you see as issuses, are occasionally by design. The T70 barrel for example was made thicker to keep it from breaking in gameplay. Lets keep in mind these models are also trying to have an eye on the design side to lasting on a wargames table and the rigours that brings on occasion. PSC also listen to the comments and take it onboard. The T34/85 frame has been retooled to get rid of the tree trunk barrel, and the same mould, along with the Panzer IV is looking to get a revamp with one piece track units in response to customers views.

So criticism is vital for a company to listen to and improve.

To help out on the historical side, I have taken a small consultation role with PSC in reviewing renders and working with the design team. Given the long lead in times on kits, and coupled with the limited windows for production, its only just now that the kits I have helped on are going into production. The Loyd was the first design I helped with, the JS series was done before I came onboard, but I have looked the designs over and its pretty good. Good enough I aint bothered finishing the JS2s I already have… they will be replaced with these.

Getting the names and designations is another thing we need to get right. We recently spent a saturday getting the right designs and designation for the next Panzer III frame… its a cracker of a frame allowing alot of variants to be built. But my god my head was fudge afterwards… and thats a Panzer III? Working out Sherman variants can reduce me to tears!

But despite this, mistakes will happen, especially when under pressure in a small firm like PSC… I think the entire design team is three of us, including Will the owner. You can also only do so much with the production and tools, certain things are simplified or omitted in order to keep models as fast builds and reduce production costs. Will these models ever become like Dragon kits (and they too make mistakes)? Nope, but I can tell ya the effort is put into the design work, and its a nightmare when mistakes creep in. My job with PSC is to try and reduce those mistakes as much as I can. But even I know I will miss something… im already kicking myself for letting the Panzer III render go with two headlight housings on it instead of one. It can be said though that PSC is trying its hardest to get the best gaming kits out there.

But anyway, my long rambling point is that criticism is welcomed by the firm, it helps them to improve and revisit designs. But also to give them a little slack on occasion, as up till I joined them, it was a two man effort. They are also constantly trying to push the boundaries with what they can do and add detail and realism while keeping low costs and ease of build. So dont feel you cant comment, I for one welcome it to feed it back into the next process (though I may kick myself if I miss something).

Now there is three people involved, we have less excuses!

Well said sir! I love PSC and appreciate there work and dedication!

I hope it doesn't have the scaling issues like the M-5 Stuart kit did. Though I was disappointed with the Stuarts; all their other stuff is top notch! Salut y'all!

Bruce the Texas Grognard

@Piers,

I welcome and appreciate everything you have said.

BUT…

I do hope this is not just a case of PSC (through you) saying the "right" thing. As I have said many times, both here and elsewhere, I am a big fan of PSC and what they are trying to achieve. However, up to now it has certainly never been my experience that they appear to welcome or even respond directly to criticism; I am not talking about issues with customer service and deliveries, I mean significant historical inaccuracies with some of their kits.

And while I agree with you that some mistakes are inevitable, I just cannot understand why PSC does not publish pre-production proofs or even drawings, which would surely alleviate some of the more glaring errors. Andy put it best on the recent Panther thread:

Post picture of prototype.
Tread heads would be all over it like a rash and point out the obvious stuff.
Read feed back.
Fix obvious.
Sorry guys… only time for one iteration…
Filter out stuff doesn't matter so much….
Done.

TMP link

Enjoy the product. Inaccuracies are inevitable. PSC has giving us a cheaper and in most cases better alternative to Battle Front.

Inaccuracies are only inevitable if you don't have all the rivet counters you can shake a stick at checking your plans over.
For free.

Elect a knowledgeable diplomatic spokesman if you don't want to deal with the milling shouting crowd.

Setting aside how expert Piers is.
( I assume reasonably so ).
Why just have the one reviewer?

On nomenclature.
Those who don't care – well by definition their opinion doesn't matter since their opinion is they don't care.
Those who do care about getting it right are therefore the only ones whose opinion matters.

It's all very well for some people to say they don't care if this that or the other is wrong.
They're not the people who go buy something else instead.

My order arrived today in the Great white north and I've had time to put one model together.

I'm really happy with the kit so far,but not sure how I want to handle attaching the Dshk honestly..I'm just letting it sit in the hole loosely atm the plastic shaft is bound to snap soon.

I might try just pinning it and only putting them on when I want them, or perhaps add an officer as a gunner so to create a better support for the guns.Not sure yet.

heres some pics showing it side by side(IS-2 obr 44 with Battlefronts IS-2 obr 43)for those curious how they compare for scale etc.

overall it appears that they are the same length,but slightly narrower. The Battlefront tracks themselves are bulkier and taller and lift the tank higher tho i don't think the hull is actually taller

I really like it, I think its a brilliant model and I like the single piece track. I have a ton of their T-34's with the multpiece tracks and these are nice and detailed but much easier to assemble.

Looks like I'm about ready once they are build for some Fall of the Reich games

Thanks for the comparatives. Definitely make me even happier in my choice to stick with plastic as far as possible for my WWII tanks from now on.

I think I will end up either pinning or magnetising the Dshks on my IS-2s.

The only question now is how many to buy? I am thinking 25 makes sense. Then I can do half of the turrets as IS-85s, the rest as IS-2 and do the same with hulls so I can have a best of both worlds force.

That is a superb model of a really pretty tank :swoon:

I think I will end up either pinning or magnetising the Dshks on my IS-2s.

Think that will be best,otherwise i can see them being lost.

That is a superb model of a really pretty tank

+ lots
LES

Plastic hulls, dill a hole in tank riders clump put a magnet on the bottom, glue another magnet under the top part of the hull!

Step 3 profit!

Plastic hulls, dill a hole in tank riders clump put a magnet on the bottom, glue another magnet under the top part of the hull!

Excellent idea!

I'm going to be doing that for my T34s, once I get around to that massive PSC order (20 T34s, full Red God of War artillery battery) to support my Engineer-Sapper battalion.

For the second model in the kit, I tried using the parts supplied to convert one of the officers into a gunner for the DshK.

I carved out the back side of the one officer so he'd lean back then cut the hands apart basically where the binoculars were.

I cut the turret hatch in half so it could be posed open.I tried to position the elbows on the edges of the hatches for additional strength, the hands around the handle of the Gun. Between all that and the gun post, the gun is extremely stable now and the barrel would snap off before the post would.

I think it works for a quick and easy conversion if you(like me) want to model the DshK but am worried about how easy it will snap off on its own.

Just need to let all the cement and glue set well before trying to clean up and fill cracks then its ready to prime and paint.

Looks good!

Looks good!

Agree,but have they got to make the crew look like Cyber men ?

LES

Google soviet tank crew uniform and you'll see a shed load of pictures show that headwear.

Just got mine today!

there's a little part of me that just wants to paint up the gunner in all silvery garb just for Les :)
maybe throw in a Policebox in the photo ;)

there's a little part of me that just wants to paint up the gunner in all silvery garb just for Les

Yes please.

LES