WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY: KV-1S Running Gear Assembly Begins — Soviet Steel is Different...

MUSIC: "Summit" by Ardie Son A huge milestone on the KV-1S this week — assembly of the running gear begins. Beau finishes the left side drive sprocket hub with a custom stub axle, preps the right side final drive housing, fits the front idler assembly, return roller axles, swing arms, and the enormous drive sprockets — which are bigger than a Tiger I's. Kurt steps in to help fit the left side housing and sprockets, with predictable results. We also answer a question we've had from a lot of viewers: why can we use MIG wire on the KV-1S when almost every other piece of WWII steel we work with needs stainless stick welding rods? It comes down to the composition of Soviet cast armour versus German rolled plate — the Soviet steel has less carbon and fewer alloying elements, so it doesn't go as hard and brittle around the weld when it cools. It's not better or worse, just a different recipe that happens to be more forgiving. Plus we test fit the right hand wheel and track tensioning unit, discover a bearing that looks horrifying but is actually perfectly usable, and Beau tackles a pair of original mud scrapers — both for the wrong side. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Removing the Strongbacks 01:44 – Finishing the Final Drive Housing from Last Time 03:42 – MIG Welding WWII Soviet Armour 04:51 – Prepping the Right Side Final Drive Housing 05:53 – Fitting the Front Idler Assembly 07:46 – Kurt Helps Fit the Left Side Final Drive Housing and Sprockets 11:34 – Terrible Manufacturing Standards of the KV-1S 13:51 – Fitting the Right Side Sprocket 14:36 – Does it line up? 15:18 – Swing Arms 21:50 – The Mud Scrapers (Finale) 🎥 Videography and editing by Ella from AusArmour The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum is home to the largest collection of armoured vehicles and artillery in the Southern Hemisphere, located in Cairns, North Queensland. We are dedicated to the collection, preservation, restoration and display of military vehicles from the 1800s to present day. Our collection includes over 220 armoured vehicles and artillery pieces from 15 countries. 🔧 Visit us: https://www.ausarmour.com 📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausarmour #WorkshopWednesday #KV1S #TankRestoration #SovietTank #WWII #MilitaryHistory