Italeri 1/72
ISU-122

Background

The ISU-122 was the designator for the Istrebitel'naya Samakhodnaya Ustanovka (combat self-propelled gun platform) - 122 (based on a 122mm gun). In this case, the ISU-122 was a Josef Stalin 2 tank chasis that was modified to carry the 122mm A-19S inside an armored fighting compartment.

The ISU-122 was actually the result of shortages of the 152mm ML-20S gun that equipped the ISU-152 as production of this tank fighter was being ramped up. The A-19S 122mm gun would fire the BR-471 armor-piercing round that was effective on most Wehrmacht armor, and even with those vehicles that the round could not penetrate, the high kinetic impact force would usually disable the target.

The Kit

Italeri has released this nice rendition of the ISU-122 self-propelled anti-tank gun in 1/72 scale. The layout is similar to ealier ESCI armor releases in this scale and may have come from those molds. This is a good thing as the ESCI kits were easy to build and had lots of details to work with.

The kit is molded in olive-drab styrene and presented on three parts trees (duplicate wheel/track sprues not shown). The kit has neither rubberband track nor individual track links. Instead, the ESCI kits would provide styrene track sections for as long as the track was straight, and individual track links where the tracks curve around the drive sprocket and return roller.

The layout and details of the kit, especially around the lower hull, is very similar to any 1/72 T-34. This kit provies a nice set of details including:

• Positionable crew hatches
• Separately molded pioneering tools
• Four external fuel drums
• Commander's machine gun
• Movable main gun

Markings

Markings are included for five examples:

• White 15, Unknown Unit, Berlin, April 1945
• Unmarked aside from 5 kill marks on barrel, Unknown Unit, Berlin, April 1945
• Red Star, Unknown Unit, Poland, Winter 1944
• White 104, Unknown Unit, Poland, Summer 1944
• White 23, 'In the name of Mikhoyan', Unknown Unit, Summer 1944

Conclusion

Here's another nice addition to the 1/72 collection whether you are a modeler or a war gamer. Recommended!

My sincere thanks to MRC for this review sample!