Below are photos of my completed M270 firing during Desert Storm. The kit itself was good with a couple of exceptions. The fit of the top body to the lower hull was difficult. Even after much work I was still left sealing two large seams. The M26 missle pods were a problem. The tubes were fine but the rack around them was a nightmare to line up without a fair amount of putty work. Lastly it was clear that the kit was not originally designed to have the missle pods with their racks and lifting boom installed in the loaded position. Since I was going to have the laucher raised, I needed the pods loaded so a gap was not visable from below. This required the removal of the lifting boom and some butcher work (internally so it is not visable) to the top of the pod and extension rack. Otherwise this was quite an enjoyable kit.
Some of the added items were the missle and flame trail made from 5/16 dowel. Smoke was a raid on the box of cotton in the bathroom since time began. Also added the mud flaps and full antennas.
Before anyone says anything, I know the sand is not exactly the right color for Iraq sand. I decided to go with a fine sand which was colored and looked better next to the model rather than using play sand which was larger in size and looked like stones. This was the best color available. Besides, as it has been said many times in these forums, we do this for fun not perfection. I get driven nuts at work, modeling is supposed to be my release.
The hardest part in making this model was I am old school. Heavy artillery during my career was a BIG tube. During my career the BIG tube was phased out and the MLRS came in. I love technology, and it was a step in the right direction but I sure miss the smell of "muzzle blast". Enough complaining, here is my M270 for review. Thanks for your comments and don't take any high angle primers!
