"BF's SU-152 (15mm)" Topic

So my friend with all the heavy armor (King Tigers, ISU-122, etc.) sold his collection without telling me. While I could complain about feeling betrayed by this, I have a bigger bone to pick.

Feeling the need to replace some of his stuff so we can play with the widest variety of stuff possible, I bought myself some Battlefront SU-152s. And was appalled with them when I received them. Because they aren't SU-152s (based on KV chassis), they are ISU-152s (based on IS chassis). They have the engine deck and back end of a KV, but these have been grafted onto an ISU model. There are other, more telling differences between the two, namely the shape of the fighting compartment (SU-152's is longer, wider and lower) and the running gear (the models have IS running gear, not KV). There are probably other differences, but those are the major ones.

I know I'm being kind of a rivet counter, but given BF's willingness to make models of every type of, say, Pz III possible, this seems like kind of a major blunder, or possibly just laziness.

Compare for yourself.

Su-152:

ISU-152:

So am I being unreasonable? More to the point, does anyone make an actual SU-152 in 15mm? I suppose Old Glory does, but I've never received a well-cast model from them, and QC's (now 19th Century) are nice, but smaller than my T-34s. Anyone else?

Most of your points regarding the hull are valid and easily changeable but if you expect BF to make a new track set based on the small differences you say exist then you must also expect the cost of your models to increase proportionally.
You might also consider a larger modelling scale like 20mm .

Most of your points regarding the hull are valid and easily changeable but if you expect BF to make a new track set based on the small differences you say exist then you must also expect the cost of your models to increase proportionally.

I'm pretty sure BF make KVs, do they not? What's hard about putting a set of KV tracks in the pack instead of IS tracks?

I think you are missing the point. BF use the same track set for their KV1 that they use for their SU 152 and ISU 152.
The small differences in the SU 152 and the ISU 152 tracks are not represented. To make a new track set for the ISU 152 would make the model more expensive to produce and the cost would be passed onto you. Many model companies do the same thing, who do you know makes their Panzer IV tracks longer when fitted to a Hummel or a Hornisse. I even know of some companies that use the same short tracks from their Sherman M4's on their M4A4's and none of their customers are aware of the fact or seem bothered.

BF use the same track set for their KV1 that they use for their SU 152 and ISU 152.

This is simply not true. Here's a picture of their KV-1:

Notice how the front idler wheel is different than the road wheels? That is how it should be for a KV. Now here's the IS:

On the IS series, the idler is the same as the road wheels. I've actually seen an IS-2 (at IWM's facility in Duxford) and can verify that is correct for IS (and ISU) vehicles. If you don't believe me, I can find plenty of photographic evidence to back me up.

So no, they aren't the same.

Here's their supposed SU-152:

Which does it look like to you, IS-series or KV series? To me there is no doubt it is the IS track set, which I doubt is any cheaper than the KV track set.

The small differences in the SU 152 and the ISU 152 tracks are not represented. To make a new track set for the ISU 152 would make the model more expensive to produce and the cost would be passed onto you.

Again not true. They already make the correct track set for the SU-152 – it comes with their KV-1 model. They also make the correct one for the ISU-152 – it's the same one as the IS-2.

As to the exorbitant cost of making different track sets, look at GE031 (Pz IIIg) and GE032 (Pz IIIh). The only difference between these models is the drive wheel (in front for German vehicles), which is molded as part of the track set. You can't claim that it's too expensive to make two different track sets if they differentiate between two German tanks solely on the basis of the tracks they come with, but can't be bothered to include the correct track set with the SU-152 when they already make it.

I even know of some companies that use the same short tracks from their Sherman M4's on their M4A4's and none of their customers are aware of the fact or seem bothered.

My British-playing friends do!

That diagram of the ISU-152 in the first post is the postwar 1956 ISU-152K modernization running gear modified with components of the T-10 heavy tank…

That diagram of the ISU-152 in the first post is the postwar 1956 ISU-152K modernization running gear modified with components of the T-10 heavy tank…

Do you like this one better? It shows the IS suspension just as I described it, with the idler wheel the same as the road wheels:

Well, that changed since I posted it. How odd…

Try again. This is an ISU-122, but everything is the same as the ISU-152 but the gun: