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M777A1 Lightweight Howitzer conversion...

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
M777A1 Lightweight Howitzer conversion...
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 2:01 PM

I have been toying with the idea of converting an M198 into an M777A1 Lightweight Howitzer for a while.  I recently had a customer ask me to do one.  Here is the result.  It isn't an exact copy, but captures the essence of it; I think so anyways.

The actual M777A1 Lightweight Howitzer.


My rendition of it.  The gray parts are modified Trumpeter M198 parts, while the white and other colors are scratch or from other kits.







Now that I scratched it up, Trumpeter or somebody else can make a kit of it...You're welcome.

Let me know what you think.

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
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 3:42 PM

Hello Gino!

While I don't know the system too well, I've already seen the towing hook-up at the muzzle brake - what an idea! I like your model a lot - keep'em comin', thanks for sharing and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 6:46 PM

Thanks Pawel.  I am happy how it turned out.

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
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 7:05 PM

Looks cool to me. Ya know of course that now that you've done all this work on the conversion someone will come out with a kit!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 8:58 PM

Thanks Gamera.  I know, I know.  That is part of the reason I did it.  Hopefully we will see the kit soon now.

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
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 10:08 PM
Gino have you tried kit bashing the Russian version with the M198 it has a tow hook similar to the M777 in shape and length and the frame looks similar too.
HeavyArty

I have been toying with the idea of converting an M198 into an M777A1 Lightweight Howitzer for a while.  I recently had a customer ask me to do one.  Here is the result.  It isn't an exact copy, but captures the essence of it; I think so anyways.

The actual M777A1 Lightweight Howitzer.


My rendition of it.  The gray parts are modified Trumpeter M198 parts, while the white and other colors are scratch or from other kits.







Now that I scratched it up, Trumpeter or somebody else can make a kit of it...You're welcome.

Let me know what you think.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, October 30, 2014 5:05 AM

Mikeym_us - no, it is the US M777A1, which is the latest 155 being used by the US military.  No idea if it is based on the Russian version or not.  It is the first US howitzer with the muzzle-mounted tow ring though, like Russian versions have had for years.

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
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, October 30, 2014 9:43 AM

Ah so that thing on the muzzle brake is a tow hook, I didn't think it was a bayonet! Indifferent

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Thursday, October 30, 2014 9:58 AM

The Russian version came out before the M777 it is the D30 122mm howitzer. I have both the late and early versions from Trumpeter and the framework looks similar to the M777 so you can use that as a base and work from there.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, October 30, 2014 10:03 AM

To me, the D30 is nothing like the M777 other than possibly the position of the wheels and the muzzle-mounted tow pintle.  It is better to start with the M198 since the barrel is the same and the M777 is much larger than the D30.

D30

 

M777A1

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
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Virginia
Posted by ygmodeler4 on Thursday, October 30, 2014 4:51 PM

Well it looks like the real thing to me Gino, and knowing you, if it isn't then it's pretty darn close

Yes

-Josiah

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, October 30, 2014 9:02 PM

Thanks Josiah.  I laid some paint on it today.  I should have some pics of it close to done by the weekend.

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
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Friday, October 31, 2014 12:34 PM

Impressive work, nice job

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Friday, October 31, 2014 2:05 PM

Thanks Rob.  It has been a fun build so far.

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 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Saturday, November 1, 2014 1:39 PM

Nice work Gino, should look good under paint. Counting down the days until Trumpeter or similar announces a kit...let the waiting begin! Wink

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Saturday, November 1, 2014 6:50 PM

Outstanding.....very nice work. The art of scratch building is a lost art. Fantastic....very nice. Cannot wait to see the final finished product.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Saturday, November 1, 2014 8:34 PM

wbill76 - Thanks for checking in.

Mike - Always good to have a fellow Redleg's approval.  I should have some pics of it finished soon.  Just detail painting and markings left on it.

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
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Sunday, November 2, 2014 12:24 PM

Yeah, that's a nice piece of work, Gino. I expect to see it on the shelves soon too, given some of these companies' track records. But you can say "I had it first!" :)

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, November 2, 2014 5:02 PM

Thanks Doog.  Yup, I'm sure we will see one soon now!! :^)

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
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, November 6, 2014 1:38 PM

The M777A1 is complete.  It is lightly weathered so it doesn't look overly used.  Hope you like it.




More pics here.

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
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Virginia
Posted by ygmodeler4 on Thursday, November 6, 2014 2:24 PM

Very well done, I like sand effects on the tires and the other dark crevices where you can see it

-Josiah

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, November 6, 2014 3:56 PM

I remember when building kits for coworkers; they did not like a lot of weathering and preferred the track to look like their crew just spent hours getting it ready for a change of command display inspection.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, November 6, 2014 5:13 PM

Thanks Josiah and Rob.  I like how it came out.  It looks like it is in use, but not a muddy mess.  

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 Thursday, November 6, 2014 7:32 PM

OFS.....time for the salute battery to fire for you and this build! Looks great, love scratch building and love the way this turned out.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, November 6, 2014 9:14 PM

Thanks Mike.  It was a fun build and very rewarding.  

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
    March 2013
Posted by LonCray on Friday, November 7, 2014 7:55 AM

Maybe it's because I'm used to the big heavy WWII German artillery pieces, but that's the spindliest looking gun I've ever seen.  Guess that's the 'Lightweight' at work.  Gorgeous model though - great job!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Friday, November 7, 2014 8:40 AM

LonCray - It does look spindly, but is a great system.  Glad you like it.

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

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