Introduction
The following introduction is taken from Zvezda:
The Soviet B-4 high power howitzer with a calibre of 203.2mm (8in) was developed in 1931. The howitzer could fire shells weighing more than 100kg at a range of almost 18km. The weight of the gun was 19t in transport position. A special caterpillar carriage was developed - a large tracked bearing surface prevented the howitzer from sinking into the ground, and the strong carriage withstood the powerful recoil when firing. The first combat use of the B-4 took place during the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-40, when it was used to destroy Finnish concrete fortifications. The Finns nicknamed the gun “Stalin’s sledgehammer”. The German army captured a number of these guns and used them under the designation 20.3cm H.503 (r). The howitzer was used through the whole WWII. The gun was successfully used in storming fortresses and in battles in the streets of large German cities.
Review
This offering from Zvezda in 1/35th scale of the 203mm Howitzer arrives is a very sturdy flip top cardboard tray, with an additional card carton. The parts are packed within 2 plastic bags. An examination of the sprues reveals no obvious issues with the mouldings, beyond ejector pin marks that I believe will be hidden within structures. There are not an excessive number of gates between the sprue and the moulded parts, with the size of the gates being small in size. This is going to be a build review of the model, and it will be measured up against the 1/35th scale schematics in the Tankograd title B-4 Soviet Hammer of God.
This title has been reviewed previously, and offers a huge quantity of written, photographic and schematic detail. I have no reason to believe the information presented in the title is anything other than accurate. I have checked a number of the major components against the schematics in this title, and my findings so far is that the barrel is accurate in the dimension I have checked, with only the muzzle opening at the end not verified. The carriage of the artillery piece is accurate compared to the drawings overall dimensions. The mounting point for the loading arm is exactly its width further back from where it should be. Rivet detail has been replicated faithfully, except where the mounting point previously mentioned is out. The cradle sides have a problem, being significantly smaller than the dimensions in the schematics - but does have the correct height. The front of the elevating arcs is where the issue is being 3mm short of the overall dimensions. The wheels supports are an accurate match for the drawings, and again rivet detail appears to have been faithfully replicated.
The upper face of the trail has some issues being 3mm short at the rear end, but the arms overall do appear accurate. While looking at the upper surface of the rear trail, the rivet detail provided is accurate in what is replicated but there are rivet details missing in between the two outer rows of rivets. Zvezda has provided us with intermittent rivet detail is this area, where as both schematics and photographs show rivet detail as a continuous detail. The rivet detail as presented does appear to be accurate for a B-4M version of the trail, but that is not the model provided here. So prior to starting the build I have found some issues regarding scale and detail with the elevating arcs being the area I do not believe it is possible to correct. The only model to compare this to is the Trumpeter release and I have not checked to see how that measures up scale wise. What the Trumpeter kit does offer you that this one does not, is the towing carriage that goes between the towing vehicle and artillery gun.
The Build
Beginning the construction as per the instruction, the barrel causes me some issues in that I could only find 4 very small locators which makes the alignment of parts more difficult than it needs to be. This is eased if you put together the breach and add the muzzle as these give you more robust connections. This offering from Zvezda is generally straight forward to build so far but there are no bells and whistles included. This means details such as the breach is all closed up and when assembled to guns elevation is set by Zvezda due to the locations of some parts when cemented in place. My only word of caution in this area is make sure everything is correctly orientated and placed as it is easy to make a mistake in this portion of the model.
The wheel assemblies are pleasing to put together with very good detail throughout all faces. The track links are a pleasure to clean up and assemble as no issues were encountered. The drive wheels replicate the teeth very well. One thing I discovered when adding the tracks was it is a better idea to work from the ground up as it does a better job of placing the track horns correctly for the teeth that are secured in place. It is the easiest area of the model to put together as long as you take care to clean up the gates left where separated from the sprue.
Next the hard part in the form of the main body of the gun that needs a high level of care to correctly place even large structures together; not due to fit issues but it’s the lack of mating surface and connectors that makes life hard. As you progress you hit the next issue which is the ease with which some parts can be broken. Improvement wise outside of aftermarket parts there are some chains that belong on the model and replacement with metal chain will be a big improvement over the moulded parts which are weak area detail wise.
One part I found particularly difficult to place is a metal tray that sits in the space of the trail. I spent the best part of an hour looking through reference in the book title mentioned and studying the instruction booklet before I realised it was mounted on legs and not the obvious location of two angled plates in that area. I really like the detail on this model which is accurate from all my observations and judgement, but it does suffer from accuracy in scale issues such as the angled plates that support the gun and if you check down the sides of the carriage there are some areas that do not match location wise.
I have assembled almost to completion this model of a Soviet 203mm Howitzer M1931 B4 from Zvezda in 1/35th scale and given it a blow over of Tamiya undercoat to help bring out the detail for you to see. I have not secured the wheel stations and I have not assembled the shell carriages or added the crew steps but this is I feel enough to aid you all in making a decision. One complaint that bugged me through the build was the lack of positive locators for many of the parts that caused me issues at times.
Conclusion
Well as indicated this is not a perfect model scale wise compared to the schematics in the Tankograd book offering and some of the details seem to be misplaced even if accurate in detail. I am questioning myself as to if some of the carriages produced for the weapons system were so different in detail location? This is the second model of the Soviet 203mm Howitzer I have tackled and is by far the most enjoyable I have tackled despite he issues I have raised on aspects of the model. the build progressed at a pace with the instructions failing me on a few locations concerning clarity of location but some back and fourth and checks of my reference got me there. Despite the issues I have raised I think many modellers will enjoy tackling this kit despite its issues which many will not even be aware of due to the details being present if off location.