The MSTA-S or 2S19 replaces the 2S3 in the Russian artillery. It entered service in 1989 within the divisional artillery regiments. The 2S19 is designed with a T-72 hull and engine but utilizes the T-80 running gear. The 13-ton turret accommodates 4 crew members: the vehicle commander, the gunner and two loaders. It protects the crew against small arms fire and artillery splinters.

Its 152 mm 2A64 gun can fire any type of rounds (high explosive, illuminating, smoke, antitank, Krasnopol ...) up to 36 km with rocket assistance. The loading system (separate charge and shell) allows a rate of fire of 6-8 rounds per minute. A manual loading system which is installed externally, allows to fire without using the internal ammunition. A total of 50 rounds are stowed. An auxiliary power unit and a NBC filtration system are also present in the turret.
As secondary armament, the 2S19 mounts a remotely-operated 12,7 mm NSVT MG. It also had 6 smoke-grenade dischargers.

From the experience of the conflict in Chechnya, the fire control system was modernized and automated. The upgraded howitzers are named 2S19M1 and entered service from 2008. An export version featuring a 155 mm gun has also been developed. In 2012 a new version 2S19M2 has been developed. It benefits of a new fire control system and an increased rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute, and reportedly could fire simultaneously several rounds on the same target.

Russia has fielded approximately 600 2S19 and used them during the both wars in Chechnya and in South Ossetia in 2008. The 2S19 is also in service in 7 countries from which Ethiopia which used it in the war against Eritrea.

The kit

Coming in a sturdy box, it includes around 460 parts dispatched on 16 light grey plastic sprues, 2 hull halves and 1 sprue of clear parts. 2 bits of mesh, 1 length of thread and 1 sheet of decals complete the kit. The instruction booklet comprises 12 pages.

The level of quality is very good. The details are fine and the molding is perfect. There are a few injection pin marks to eliminate mainly on the tracks. The fit is excellent. The tracks are the length type and the guide-teeth separately come in length too.

It is possible to assemble the external loading system in the travel or firing position. Likewise, the gun travel lock can be depicted in the fire or travel mode. Those options need different parts, so you need to make your choice between both versions as Zvezda names them on the first page of the instructions.

The assembly

It comprises 44 steps which are most the time clearly detailed in the instructions. Unlike the usual way, Zvezda begins with the upper hull. As soon as step 1 there is a mistake in the dimensions of the template for the engine grilles. You need to correct the dimensions before cutting the grilles. Personally, I preferred to use brass grilles from my stash to replace the net given by Zvezda which is not at all true to life.

From step 4, we start the assembly of the running gear and the lower hull which is a no-brainer. At step 5, I drilled out the small eyelet on the dozer blade. The inner faces of the sprockets, the roadwheels and the idlers are glued. The axis of the idlers are not glued to facilitate the fit of the tracks. Their assembly is simple and only requires to fill some injection pin marks. To facilitate the installation of the tracks, the hull halves are not assembled together. Moreover, unlike the instructions, the outer faces of the sprockets, the roadwheels and the idlers as well as the skirts are not glued yet. When the tracks are set, the are put aside for the painting.

At step 13, the bits of net representing the grilles are replaced by some Aber mesh with the right shape of mesh. Again the cutting template has wrong dimensions. The unditching beam C15 is unused. On part E15, you need to thin from inside the U-shaped parts which support the cables. Part F74 also need to be thinned from inside because the hole is too narrow for the cable to go through.
At step 14, take care to put the towing cable eye prior to gluing the towing hook. I used Eureka cables I had in the stash to replace the thread provided by Zvezda.

From step 17, the turret assembly starts with the cupola and the NSVT MG. This one is very fine but fragile. The flash suppressor is drilled out. At step 24, you need to choose your version of the travel lock.
For the rest of the turret assembly, I decided to glue all the faces together prior to adding the various details. At step 32, part E30 in fact is F30.

From step 34 the external loading system assembly begins. You need to carefully read the instructions about the options. At step 39 Zvezda shows parts K30 but omits to name them.
At step 42-a, be careful with the positioning of parts F9 and F10 which are the travel lock "shoes".

The decoration

Even if 2S19 used the three-tone camouflage, Zvezda only proposes plain green decorations with black or green skirts. The markings are given with no unit indications.

I intended to used the new parade markings with the star and the stripes but they are wrong. In fact the star is too large. so I chose the Guard emblems.

For the paint, I applied a base coat of XF-26 Deep Green. Then I applied a pre-shading with some XF-61 Dark Green. The highlights are made with some XF-65 Field Grey mixed with a bit of XF-15 Flesh. Then the vehicle got some layers of XF-65 Field Grey to tone down the effects. Some Klir was airbrushed before applying the decals. A brown pinwash has completed the weathering before some satin varnish was paintbrushed.
Intending to depict a vehicle at the parade, I did not add any dust or stain.

Conclusion

Zvezda released a very good model which builds quite easily. However the grilles and thread issued in the kit need to be replaced. It also is a pity that there are no more decorations in particular for the Chechnya wars.

03/2018