Tali-Ihantala's T-54/55 based KV-1 and ISU-152

I was wrong about the KV-1 in the Finish film Tali-Ihantala 1944.  Photos of the KV-1 and ISU-152 used during the filming have now surfaced on the G503 Message Forum. From the photos the vehicles are clearly VISMODs based on a T-54/55  chassis.   Both prop vehicles are very  good replicas considering the inherent visual limitations of the T-54/55 chassis and running gear.  An acedemic case could be made that a post-war Swiss Panzer 61 or Panzer 68/88 might provide a better looking KV-1 or ISU-152 replicas.  Two Swiss Panzers were converted into German Panzer IIIs for the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates and at least one of these vehicles can be seen in trailers for the soon to be released film Defiance.  The layout of the chassis, design of the running gear and size of the road wheels  would suggest that that a Pz.61 or Pz.68/88 could be converted into a very respectable KV-1, KV-2, or ISU-152 prop.  However, the T-54/55 is one of the most widely manufactured tanks of all time and the Finish army was long time user.  The availability of vehicles suitable for film prop conversions,  spare parts and a deep pool of knowledgeable mechanics makes the decision to use a T-54/55 a surrogate for a prop KV-1 a no brainer.

As a final note, Mikko Makela's post on G503 hints that the Parola Armor Museum intends to restore at least one of its two KV-1s and maybe the museum's lone ISU-152 to running condition.

The Hat Tip goes to Daimyo on the Axis History Forum for correcting me and leading me to the Mikko Makela post on G503.