SU-122 “Exploded View”
This is the new MiniArt 1/35 kit of the Soviet self-propelled gun, the SU-122, promoted as the ‘Initial Production’ version in their WWII Military Miniatures Series.
MiniArt have released two versions of the kit, back-to-back – a standard kit, and then the one we find here, with complete interior. A model of more than 800 parts, the kit is not for the faint-hearted. It’s often the case with high-parts armour kits that the parts’ volume arises from the number of individual track links, but this kit has so much packed into it, the track issue is secondary.
To avoid completing all the intricate interior work, only to have it buttoned-up at the end, I’ve opted to suspend the various panels at extreme angles from the main body, which gives it more of an appearance of a piece of abstract art, perhaps, rather than a traditional armour model.
The version modelled is supposedly from the 5th Guards Tank Corps of the Red Army, Voronezh Front, August 1943.
10 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Simon Whitney said on October 1, 2016
Are you sure that it`s 1/35 scale Rob….
Great work mate, a lot of detail OOB too as you said.
Fantastic build.
Rob Pollock said on October 1, 2016
Cheers, buddy.
IT Lahtinen said on October 1, 2016
Great build and very interesting model. Crazy amount of parts – must be challenging to avoid the carpet monster … Fine way to show detailed construction. Applause and cheers! Luckily you took the photos before the explosion 😉
Rob Pollock said on October 1, 2016
Looked ages under the desk for one tiny piece, only to realise I already had it in place…
Craig Abrahamson said on October 1, 2016
Nice piece of work there, Rob….must have taken quite some time to complete in such detail…not much room for any crew, is there!
Rob Pollock said on October 1, 2016
Cheers, Craig. My original idea was to use a couple of female Russian tankers available from Miniature Park in Japan, and create a field workshop dio using a chain hoist from Accurate Armour, but the idea started to run away with itself, so instead opted for a simple standing view, as seen.
Editor said on October 1, 2016
Rob, I do admire your creative approach to modeling – now that you show this model it seems like just the right thing to do with an interior-detailed tank… and the result looks reminiscent of a sports car with hoods open. A big “like”!
http://www.scalereproductions.co.uk/images/models/porsche_917k/917k_main.jpg
Rob Pollock said on October 1, 2016
Thanks, Martin.
I think modellers are probably a little conservative by nature, and I suspect this sort of thing might not appeal to some people, but the practical comparison you’ve offered in the link makes a valid point about creative presentation apart from the build process per se.
neil foster said on October 1, 2016
Rob ,how do find time to eat and sleep ? you produce amazingly detailed work on an industrial scale ,really nice job on this one (as usual!).
N.
Rob Pollock said on October 1, 2016
Cheers, Neil. No time to eat and sleep – too many ideas.😎
Robert Royes said on October 1, 2016
This a great job, so much detail.
Rob Pollock said on October 2, 2016
Thanks, Robert
DE4EVER said on October 2, 2016
🙂 … Greetings … 🙂 :
Very keen work there Rob, this model really gives one the chance to see the inner works of this vehicle and shows your nice attention to detail, very nice job in total. Thanks for sharing the images.
Rob Pollock said on October 2, 2016
Cheers for the comments. Much appreciated.
Terry Schuler said on October 2, 2016
Wow, Rob !, this is really nice / interesting. The first thing I thought of was, “that is really some tight quarters” !. How many crew men were in this ?.
Outstanding work Rob. A real museum piece .
Rob Pollock said on October 2, 2016
Thanks, Terry. Crew of 5, remarkably.
Greg Kittinger said on October 3, 2016
Really cool! Very creative way to display all the intricate detail, and give us non-armor folks a good look under the hood. As always, your work is very nicely detailed and weathered – pleasure to view, and gives a sense of the real thing.
Rob Pollock said on October 3, 2016
Cheers, Greg.
Dirk Derks said on October 5, 2016
Hello Rob,
Excellent build and display of this monster.
Never seen it done before like this.
Regards,
Dirk
Rob Pollock said on October 6, 2016
Thanks, Dirk. Needs must, as they say.
Jeff Bailey said on March 5, 2017
Rob – Awesome! I’ve never seen one displayed this way. What a great way to do one!