Interesting... I just went and had a look thru my Squadron Half Track In Action book for the photos of the real beasts. It appears to be the same two piece GI Pick Mattock stowed there in most cases with the mattock head attached to the handle. Although there is a photo in there of an M15 GMC with their sledge hammer stowed there instead. I guess that crew did not read the load plan in the TM. ;) Then I went and looked at my Tamiya Half Track kit builds (M3, M21, M16), those have the sledge there too... go figure. Well, now I know for my Dragon M2 and M3 whenever I get around to those...

stikpusher: for the halftracks -- it was always a one-piece pick axe.  Dunno why vs other stowage configurations.

Tojo, I really like it! Very nice work! Not enough US Half Track builds on here.

Question for T26. GI pick mattocks were regularly stowed on US vehicles (to this day even) as 2 part items with the head stowed separately from the handle. This is not the case on US Half Tracks? Or just on the T19?

CapnMac82

I've often wondered--perhaps Roy's research will help out here--if these vehicles were organized with either a general cargo trailer, or an ammunition trailer to carry ammo beyond the first volley.  Or if a 3/4 ton or 1 1/2ton truck was (if only on TOE) assigned.

Even with an abbreviated gun crew, that ought to be a crowded vehicle--so the outside ought to be covered in crew gear.  Yet, none of the photos seem to show that.  So, I tend to suspect cargo vehicles and/or trailers.

It is a howitzer and would only fire from a fixed, sighted in position. They probably trained to "hip shoot" hence the 8 round ready racks, but normally would stop at a surveyed firing point, lay the guns, register them, etc. The same steps that a towed howitzer would go through except without all the human muscle to emplace the trails and position the gun.

Ammo would be provided by an ammunition supply vehicle. While the gun crew is going through their prep, the ammo humpers would be readying rounds for the gun crew.

These were only interim vehicles; the Army knew the future was going to be fully tracked self-propelled vehicles. Half tracks served our armed forces for barely a blink of an eye.

Hey CapnMac82: I never researched the TOEs of units I depicted.  Seeing as the T-19s were rarities, I'll bet someone can nail down the actual units and discover their TOEs.  You make a good point about the lack of outside cargo on those HMCs.

I've often wondered--perhaps Roy's research will help out here--if these vehicles were organized with either a general cargo trailer, or an ammunition trailer to carry ammo beyond the first volley.  Or if a 3/4 ton or 1 1/2ton truck was (if only on TOE) assigned.

Even with an abbreviated gun crew, that ought to be a crowded vehicle--so the outside ought to be covered in crew gear.  Yet, none of the photos seem to show that.  So, I tend to suspect cargo vehicles and/or trailers.

Wicked cool, man. That looks neat. For some reason it makes me think of "Kelly's Heroes". :)

Looks great, very nice build and finish.

Mike

Thanks Roy, I may have to take you up on that offer whenever I get around to one. If I build one it will probably be just the standard personnel carrier version though.

Gamera: Sure!  Feel free to contact me.  Like I said, I've built four DML halftracks and have two more on the workbench as the donor kits for extensive conversions -- IDF M9 Halftrack and T-28-E1 CGMC.

The IDF M9 needs me to modify the entire halftrack into the International  Harvester M9.  These mods are extensive but I converted an M16 MGMC into a Soviet lend lease M17 MGMC already so I have experience (and lots of research).  Then the internal IDF-specific changes aren't small either.

The other one, the T28-E1 Combination Gun Motor Carriage (CGMC) requires only modest modification to the donor kit. Basically I need to rebuild the back deck of an M16 kit.  However, the HUGE job that I need to do is to scratchbuild about 98% of the 37mm + 2 .50 cal MG gun mount (M3E1 Combination Gun Mount).  I have Tech Manual drawings of the M3E1 gun mount and the Commanders Series resin M15 CGMC kit to use as reference.  The Commanders kit is not as detailed or accurate as I'd like.  However, it's good to have even a rough 3d example from which to construct mine.  This will try my patience!

As you can imagine, I've amassed tons of drawings, pics and manuals for the US half track series!

Very cool Tojo! I built the old Tamiya kit some years back and have looked at this one from time to time but never got around to picking one up yet.

Roy, thanks for the advice, when I do get one I'll have to print out your comments and put them in the box with the instructions.

I like it, well done.

I kind of expect Kelly to holler at the driver (Tex?) to "get that d@## thing outta here!"

Thanks Bish and Plasticjunkie

Thanks Roy, I am poor when it comes to references but I see what you mean about the pick, it does look silly.I just figured it was the way it was supposed to be.And the same thing about those plates.The PE parts looked so good, but without checking, I wouldn't know.But glad you commented and liked the build.

Great looking build Tojo. The weathering looks very good. Not a common variant seen.

Nice work! I've built four DML halftracks -- never got around to the 105mm HMC however.  I can't imagine the recoil on that when firing!

Two things for to note: 1) the pick axe on the lower left sidewall below the drivers door -- DML depicts it with the top part omitted.  This accomodated DML's poor jerry can holders on their other halftracks.  Although the T-19 did not have the can holders, DML didn't furnish a pick axe with a complete head.  

2) For future DML halftracks with the front bumper roller, know that DML mistakenly used a restored half-track as its model and depicted those two rectangularish front plates on the bumper (with six bolts).  In reality, this did not exist.    You can see their absence in this pic (behind the chains)

www.odfever.com/.../100_3951.JPG

Hope these help.  Keep up the great work!

Nice looking build Tojo, don't often see one of these.