Soviet 203 mm Howitzer M1931 B-4 "Stalin's Sledgehammer" 1:72 Zvezda 5085

Plastic military model kit: Soviet 203 mm Howitzer M1931 B-4 "Stalin's Sledgehammer" 1:72 Zvezda 5085

We present the model kit of the Soviet 203 mm M1931 B-4 howitzer. This detailed 1:72 scale model was created by the renowned company Zvezda and is an excellent choice for enthusiasts of military history and modeling.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:72
• Manufacturer: Zvezda
• Catalog number: 5085

History of the original:

The 203 mm M1931 B-4 howitzer was designed in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s as a high-powered weapon. Serial production began in Leningrad and Stalingrad, and by 1942 a total of 1011 units were produced. The howitzer was capable of firing shells weighing over 100 kg at a distance of up to 18 km. A specially designed tracked carriage was developed to withstand its weight and recoil.

The B-4 howitzer made its combat debut during the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940, where it easily destroyed Finnish concrete fortifications on the Mannerheim Line. It earned the nickname "Stalin's Sledgehammer" at that time. It was also extensively used during World War II, particularly in assaults on German cities, where its heavy 203 mm shells effectively destroyed fortifications and buildings.

During the Battle of Berlin in 1945, the Red Army used B-4 howitzers to destroy German fortifications at close range. In the spring of 1944, a self-propelled version of the howitzer was developed on the chassis of the KV-1S tank, known as the S-51, but due to recoil issues and transmission damage, the project was canceled.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.