Pair of Duces M35A1 and M102 Howitzer (pics)

redleg12,

  Looks pretty good, although I must admit the pictures are rather small for these eyes.

 The one thing that jumps out at me is, everything looks so clean. Your stowage is too uniform in color, you need to vary the shades some.

 I think with a bit more weathering, you'll have a winner.

 Very good start, with attention to detail and good construction. I'd go .

                                                                                              Regards,

                                                                                             Joe

Builds look good overall and it's clear you know your stuff about emplacing arty. Are all the accessories, such as those gizmos on the poles scratchbuilt? Nice work in getting them so equal in shape and size.

Rather than putting your ground cover/grass product directly onto the base, put a layer of Celluclay, spackle, plaster of Paris down first. This will allow sliight variations to the surface, giving a more natural feel to scene.

I like the looks of the deuce bed, very realistic. All you need to add would be a bag of trash tied to a corner of the tailgate and some of those green paper coffee cups sitting around!

P.S. the gizmos are called spreaders.

I actually made a few expermental bags. As you describe, that was the normal practice for all the dunnage. I didn't get one to look the way I wanted. Still working!!

Thanks

The gizmos are spreaders used for the camo nets. The poles and spreaders are scratch built along with the collimeter (telescope to the front of the gun, used for alinging the gun) safety stakes on either side of the tail, ramming staff on ground in front, powder bags in crate in front of the truck. The remaining detail items were resin sets, photetched and parts from other kits.

Thanks

PS... Normally you would emplace a towed artillery on a flat spot. Its tough to make gun corrections if the gun is cocked!!  But in general your point is weel taken. Even if flat would allow for tire tracks, etc.

Thanks 

Very Nice indeed, noticed the Camo Pole Spreaders as well(I think thats the first time I've seen them modeled). Only thing I can see a little fugazy is putting fused 105mm rounds upright on a tailgate(somehow gotta think it would be a "Chief of Smokes" big no-no if they fell over). Maybe hang the rucks over the side of the truck, & add some Rolled Sleeping Mats as well.

Nice work redleg, very nice. Is that the AFV Club kit of the M102? If so, could you please tell me if it comes with 2 or 4 springs.

BANSHEE3Actual wrote:

Very Nice indeed, noticed the Camo Pole Spreaders as well(I think thats the first time I've seen them modeled). Only thing I can see a little fugazy is putting fused 105mm rounds upright on a tailgate(somehow gotta think it would be a "Chief of Smokes" big no-no if they fell over). Maybe hang the rucks over the side of the truck, & add some Rolled Sleeping Mats as well.

The rounds on the tailgate were illum. We usually kept them seperate from the he, wp & smoke (on the ground standing in the crates). I did not have enough split rounds but we would keep the joe and casing separate on the tail. Its not perfect but close.

Thanks

shaun68 wrote:

Nice work redleg, very nice. Is that the AFV Club kit of the M102? If so, could you please tell me if it comes with 2 or 4 springs.

Two springs and the ones supplied I shortened slightly since they were too compressed otherwise. Took off about 1/3. It should fill the distance but be open slightly.

GlennH

Only thing I have not found is the 5 ton of my era.

Unfortunately, there are no M54 or M800 series 5-tons available in plastic.  Both are available from either Hobby Fan or Real Model in resin though.  Another option is to convert one using the Italeri M900 series 5 ton, an M35 , and a bit of scratch-building.  Here is a guide on how to do it:   http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=301

I followed the above to build the Vietnam M54A1 guntruck "King Cobra".