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1/35 Academy M50 Ontos, WIP 6/12/10, Completed

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  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Monday, May 24, 2010 6:17 PM

MIke, saaaahhhhh weeeeey man.  Your custom mix for the parkerizing is simply perfect.  And those tools man....great job!

Brian

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, May 24, 2010 12:08 PM

Tony - Thanks....It all depends where the hair is!! Surprise

Kevin - Thanks....it's the anal detail stuff that keeps me sane Stick out tongue....too many years in the woods!!!

BTW....Love the new avatar.

Thanks for the additional info on the spotting rifles.

Based on my reading, most of the crews did not have to wait for the tracer to impact....once it was about 2/3 downrange it was close enough and they would fire the 106. Now....once you fire the 106, the entire planet knows where you are....especially at night!!

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by minimortar on Monday, May 24, 2010 9:14 AM

Looking AWESOME there Mike!! The RR's are coming out just gorgous and that tool rack (BII Kit?) is absolutely stunning! Freaking WOW!

Another reason for the .50 cal spotting rifle (nothing larger, nothing smaller) is the fact that the .50 round had similiar flight characteristics as the 106 RR round. Don't ask me the specifics, I just recall reading that somewhere. Keep in mind that tracers work both ways and you had to be really quick/good zeroing in on target in those days.

Thanks,
Kevin Keefe

Mortars in Miniature
A Scale Model (Plus!) Collection of the Infantryman's Artillery

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Monday, May 24, 2010 9:08 AM

Great progress LegsYes That looks like some very tense hair pulling hard work to me.Bang Head

Tony LeeSmile

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, May 24, 2010 7:53 AM

Karl - Thanks, always appreciate you stopping in

Bill - Well, to some extent it is simple.....at the time it was the only thing in the inventory with enough range and balistics to match the 106mm. It had a large enough round such that the tracer was very easy to see at a long range and ammunition was very available.

Anything larger would have had a recoil.....does not work well on a recoilless rifle....the 50 cal is most likely the largest round which could be in a fixed mount without much more reinforcement.

Also a 20mm though larger may/would not have "added" anything and the 30 cal was too small and lacked the range.

It is an interesting setup. The funny part was the weapon was not empoyed as originally designed...an anti-tank weapon....but was a great ground troop support weapon. In VN, sweeping the turret and firing beehive rounds a single Ontos could clear a lot of jungle.

It was in the right place at the right time!!

If you look at the concept....the Stryker 1128 Mobile Gun System is a similar concept and give the troops on the ground a powerful shot when they need it.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Monday, May 24, 2010 12:12 AM

Here's a curiosity question for you Mike...why did they use .50 cals as the spotting rifles? I understand why they needed spotting rifles in terms of insuring that the recoiless rifles were properly sighted in...but the use of .50 cals for that is something I've always wondered about. Huh?

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Sunday, May 23, 2010 10:34 PM

Very nice, Mike--those painted tools look especially good. I like the chipping and old paint on them.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, May 23, 2010 9:08 PM

Thanks Bill...Yep, 3M heavy duty double side tape works wonders. Having the turret mounted makes gluing and lining up MUCH simpler

Thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Sunday, May 23, 2010 8:59 PM

Sweet work as always Mike, the idea for the turret with the wood/tape is a good one. I can imagine having an extra 'handle' to deal with made all the difference. Yes

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, May 23, 2010 8:15 PM

Busy week and weekend all keeping me away from the bench. I did get in some time to finish some of the details.

On the right side I finished up the pioneer tool kit. The tools are Tamiya Flat Black and Testors USMC Green on the wood parts. The paint worn off the wood is Tamiya Buff dry brushed. The metal parts with ware are Alclad Steel dry brushed. The rack still needs some straps to finish

On the other side, from front to back is an Academy MG set 30 cal tripod. The tripod is also parkerized. There are two PE clips from the PE set holing the tripod on. Still need to add a strap across the clips. The spare track cleats are painted with Alclad Steel and their holding bars are USMC green. Each cleat has a mold seam across the thickness.  Leave the seam as the cleats are a two part split assembly to bolt through the track band.  At the end is a gas can which is a PE holder in USMC Green, The can is in Tamiya XF-74 JSCF OD, the scratches are Alclad Steel, The strap is Tamiya XF-62 OD with Flat Black buckle and some brass show through for ware.

On the turret, I began to assemble the recoilless rifles, first, the lower two and then moving across through the upper four. I had to be VERY careful as the line up and fit is not that good and care needs to be taken in order to get the barrels mounted straight and all even. In order to make working on the turret a little more east, I mounted it to a small piece of wood with double stick tape.

After getting all the rifles mounted I then added the 50 cal spotting rifle receivers. Here are the rifles mounted with the spotting rifles.

Take note….the instructions have you mount all the spotting rifles in the same direction. This is incorrect as one is mounted in the opposite direction. Since the spotting rifles are keyed, the one to be reversed needs to have part of the key removed to allow opposite installation. Without the key, this needs to be done carefully to get the rifle and barrel to line up straight. Here you can see the one opposed spotting rifle which is second from the left.

That’s it for now. I have to add the 30 cal MG, radio antennas and scratch the electric firing cables to the turret. Then onto decals and weathering in the road wheel/track area.

As always your comments either good or bad are appreciated.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Thursday, May 20, 2010 5:17 AM

Steve - Thanks, I always appreciate your thoughts Wink

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: N.H.
Posted by panzerguy on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 9:07 PM

  The six shooter is looking sharp there MikeYes I'm looking forward to seeing this one in September. I just know my monitor isn't doing those barrels justice.

 

  

"Happiness is a belt fed weapon"

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Michigan
Posted by tonka on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 7:13 PM

Redleg,,,Thanks for the advice on the color mixing,,,I'm going to give it a try on the body of the old renwall one I am redoing,,then use it for the bbls once I get them built up.

 

]

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9:33 PM

Marc - You know me....I love the strange and obtuse!!.. thanks for coming by and no apology needed!!

Ben - The green is Testors Acryl USMC Green #4724....for the best match to the color used on the Ontos, look here

http://www.paint4models.com/paintchart/paintconversionchart20100101.html#

The correct color is FS34052 Marine Green. You can find all the manufacturers that have a match

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Rugby, England
Posted by Hinksy on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 5:08 PM

Hey Red,

What colour green did you opt for in the end? I'm looking at XF-74.

ATVB

Ben Cool 

On the Bench - Dragon Pz. IV Ausf. G (L.A.H.) Yes

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  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 2:31 PM

Mike sorry for not getting to this 'til now.  Looks good as usual.  I am not so much the modern guy but I sure do like this weird little subject.

Marc  

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 11:48 AM

Gino - Thanks...yep...I was smelling something.Surprise

Kevin - LOL....I can hang it up next to the minfield marker and the condemmed building signWink

Constructor - Thanks. Yes the line up is by eye. Just takes some patience!

Tonka - Yep...those smells and a few others like spices added to a soup.....really bad soup

Glad you like the color. If you do make up the same, mix the black and metallic grey and add the green in small amounts. Mix and check a swatch of color so you don't go tooooo far with the green!!

Thanks guys

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Michigan
Posted by tonka on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 10:18 AM

Mike, You missed the tobacco and soiled trousers smell added in with the rest,, now that is a 'recipe' to label and bottle!!  Ick!

Seriously,, really good job and the colors look great on my screen... I think i will use your recipe ..for the parkerizing,,not the odors...

Look forward to more pics!

Tonka (AKA Kevin)

]

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Monday, May 17, 2010 9:41 PM

Looking at your painted body, looks like the kit has a good fit. The rear door is spot on.  You mentioned that the rifles (metal) has no latch so align the other components of the gun. Did you eyeball the alignment? Looking very goood!t

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by minimortar on Monday, May 17, 2010 9:05 PM

Something for your 'small room' there Mike...

Thanks,
Kevin Keefe

Mortars in Miniature
A Scale Model (Plus!) Collection of the Infantryman's Artillery

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, May 17, 2010 7:59 PM

She's coming together great Mike.  Yup, its starting to smell like a Jar Head track.  Can't wait to see it finished.  Another contest winner as usual.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, May 17, 2010 7:47 PM

Kevin - Ahhhh...the smell of sea salt mixed with old gym locker and a touch of wet dog Ick!. ....I hope not, my bench is in a small room!!! .....(OK now I'll get the whole modeling USMC after me!!)   

 Need to get the smell of muzzle blast.....won't be long now

Thanks buddy

Dave - Thanks for stopping in and for the comments

Tony - Thanks....glad you like the colors (but still a GREEN motif Wink)

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Monday, May 17, 2010 12:15 PM

This is going to be another great one Mike. Colors are killer.Toast

Tony LeeSmile

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Eugene, Oregon
Posted by hughes2682 on Monday, May 17, 2010 11:40 AM

Mike,

That is looking mighty fine sir!  I really like what you've done with the color on the guns.

Cheers

Dave

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Aaronw/Groupbuilds/ClassicAviationGB2010bomb.jpg

With enough thrust, pigs fly just fine.

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by minimortar on Monday, May 17, 2010 9:36 AM

Ooooh My... I bet that it's even beginning to smell like... like... the USMC! (In a good way of course!) Construction and paint looks swell there Mike... keep 'em comin'!

Stick out tongue

Thanks,
Kevin Keefe

Mortars in Miniature
A Scale Model (Plus!) Collection of the Infantryman's Artillery

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, May 17, 2010 5:14 AM

Thom - Thanks for stopping by and for the comments

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Connecticut, East of the River
Posted by tlivancso on Monday, May 17, 2010 3:49 AM

Mike,

Looking really good, the colors are coming out excellent.

Cheers, Thom

IPMS Member #42958 /  AMPS Member #2091

IPMS Central Connecticut (President)

IPMS Northeast Military Modelers Association (Web Master)

Like Alice "I try to believe in three impossible things before breakfast"

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, May 16, 2010 9:08 PM

Brian - Thanks

Bill - Thanks, early on I standardized on a particular mixing jar and picked up a labeler....just for that purpose.  A few years later and a bunch of jars on the shelf....I don't end up with any mysteries!! Wink

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Sunday, May 16, 2010 7:24 PM

Mike,

Looks like today was a great day for painting for both of us! I like the way you've documented your "parkerized" mix, I learned a long time ago to write down recipes that work and label just like you do. Wink

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Sunday, May 16, 2010 7:19 PM

Mmmmmmmmm paint!  This is where the beast comes to life!  Looking great Red!

Brian

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