Have Gun Will Travel: SP Artillery GB 2011

Looks like your making great progress Mike..the gun breach assembly looks great!!!  Its really amazing how long that gun tube is, when sitting next to the othe rkit parts!

Pvt mutt...the  amount of road wheels on german armor is one reason I shy away..you made i tlook easy though!!

Redleg -- marvelous links, those are great resources. I see, well, i find myself tempted to have a crack at that conversion one of these days myself, the M41 155 howitzer was certainly a weapon with some visual interest about it.

Beav -- it's great to see the kit at this stage, i've often looked at the parts and tried to visualise the interior painted up. It'll be a real looker when it's done!

I've pressed on with the M110 and my opinion of Italeri hasn't improved. It's a good job I have a few scratchbuilding skills and am not afraid to take superglue, drill and styrene and adjust a detail or a bit of engineering as strikes me as necessary. At this point I've built up every part possible before entering the painting phase. Here she is:

Next it's time to mask everything that needs it, axles, the gun slides, attachments for yet more fiddly bits to go on. Then into colour -- Olive Drab with preshading, fade and shade treatments, and West German decals, plus rust, dust and dirt.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Alright, here are some poor pictures, but they do show my progress.

The problem with Italeri is the plastic and their molding. The make nice, well detailed kits but......you get plenty of practice filling sink marks and injector pin marks. Also the removal from the sprue always needs help with Italeri. Keep the Mr Putty liquid putty ready and finish with Mr. Surfacer 500 and 1200.

The M40 is based on the M4 long carriage...."jumbo". The only howitzer to use the M26 frame was the T92 240mm gun. Only 2 were built. here is the remains of one of them

http://www.redleg2scale.com/walkaround%20gallery/T92.html

As for the M41... the M41 155mm howitzer is based on ye M24 Chaffee frame

http://www.redleg2scale.com/walkaround%20gallery/M41.html

As is ye M37 105mm

http://www.redleg2scale.com/walkaround%20gallery/M37.html

If you are looking for the different kits, you can look here

http://www.redleg2scale.com/RBMI%20Info/SP%20kits.html

hope that helps....at least create some conversation

Rounds Complete!!

Kevin -- Oh, now I can see it has HVSS suspension, of course it's Sherman-derived... Sorry! The one I'm thinking of was the M41, one of those instances of two vehicles sharing the same number, which always puzzled me. At least that's what I'm remembering.

I look forward to seeing this one built!

Cheers, Mike/TB379 (Yep, Italeri varies in the same model between beautiful plastic molding and rubbish enginering. They're one of those companies that doesn't believe in locator holes and thinks tiny parts will stick perfectly well to flat surfaces all by themselves...)

Thunderbolt379

Kevin -- that M40 kit is a beauty! And a most interesting subject! Is this the one based on the M24 Chaffee chassis? If so, there was a marvelous conversion feature in FSM many years ago as a howitzer from one source was mated with Italeri's unique M24 kit with a lot of scratchbuilding in between, and to see it kitted at last is great. Don't be put off, jusrt go for it!

Cheers, Mike/TB379 (who glued a few more bits to the M110 last night... Italeri should be condemned to spend eternity building their own kits...)

Thunderbolt379,  the kit is well detailed IMHO.  I believe that the M40 is based on the M4 chassis.  I think I will give it a go and throw some rounds down range.

I heard that some of Italeri's kits are PITA's.  I guess they put all their engineering in their helicopter kits.

Hans -- great video! Yes, the droop and the flex can both be seen. I guess medics used to get sick of being asked if there was any cure for droopy tube...

Kevin -- that M40 kit is a beauty! And a most interesting subject! Is this the one based on the M24 Chaffee chassis? If so, there was a marvelous conversion feature in FSM many years ago as a howitzer from one source was mated with Italeri's unique M24 kit with a lot of scratchbuilding in between, and to see it kitted at last is great. Don't be put off, jusrt go for it!

Cheers, Mike/TB379 (who glued a few more bits to the M110 last night... Italeri should be condemned to spend eternity building their own kits...)

redleg12

Kevin - Don't let me scare you off. It is a complicated kit wit a lot of parts. You can use te WIP to find the land mines. When built it is a nice model.

Rounds Complete!!

I guess.  This B-1 is taking a lot out of me.  I am being a little gun shy I suppose, if you pardon the little pun I threw in there...

They used to have about seven or eight  M40s out on the direct-fire range at Graf back in the /70s..... Shot 'em up to hell & back, lol... Those things never "looked American" to me...

Hans - Why did you go and do that.....I was forced to watch it.........now I am all aroused in the middle of the afternoon

Heh... Could almost smell the Wolf-puzzy, couldn't ya... You could take it up with ol' Aiming-Post Amy, Redleg...  I imagine she's done with the Fisties by now and can get yer tube back in battery...

Hans, awesome video!  Thanks for sharing.  That is one heck of a gun!

Yer Welcome... Nothing like a little visual stimulation from hot steel on a cold & snowy day...

-End of Mission

Kevin - Don't let me scare you off. It is a complicated kit wit a lot of parts. You can use te WIP to find the land mines. When built it is a nice model.

Rounds Complete!!

Hans, awesome video!  Thanks for sharing.  That is one heck of a gun!

Nice job on your builds so far everyone!

Thanks for the link redleg12.  Great build sir!    After seeing it though, I think I might build a different kit as I know I won't come close to your rendition.  You set the bar quite high on that one.  The kit itself isn't daunting....its making it look good is what might propel me to choose another kit.

Macattack80 - Before you go too far on the M40, you may want to look at my build log from a year ago

/forums/p/117939/1180092.aspx#1180092

It will save you some time...aggravation and maybe help!!

Rounds Complete!!

Even more pics

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The kits supplied rubber band T66 tracks.  The detail looks pretty good although from what I have read, the units in the field used T80 tracks.

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So I bought some of AFV Clubs T80 indy link tracks.

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One of the many sprues

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Some of the smaller parts of the 4 part per link assembly.

I got this big girl on her feet today.

I made an appointment to get in the sheet metal shop tomorrow.

Tony Lee

Some more pics

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The lower hull in a "special" box

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The aluminum gun barrel

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I tried to get the rifling

Here are a few pics of some of the contents of AFV Club's M40 Big Shot in 1/35 scale.  I didn't take pics of all the sprues as there are a lot.  Detail is quite good IMHO. 

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The box art

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the box of goods

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The clear parts

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The PE fret and a string for the tow cable.

Hey guys..I'll start cutting sprue as soon as they release the Dana. I've been waitng for this one since November.   There was a mention of an issue w/ the kit ..I guess the rear of the turret was incorrectly shaped, or was it the stowage box..?

If anyone has any pics, or info..drop me a message  thanks 

JeffB

Hans von Hammer

It stretches the mind to think of a gun barrel visibly flexing during discharge!

Here's a video (no sound though) of an M107 firing from a firebase in Vietnam. You can see the tube's droop starting along about 1:08:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675067360_artillery-fortification_M107-Self-Propelled-175mm-howitzer_bunkers_soldier-carry-shell

 

 

Hans - Why did you go and do that.....I was forced to watch it.........now I am all aroused in the middle of the afternoon .

 Note the nice "small" powder carge. The M107....a howitzer with cahones    Ahhhh....the memories!

As far as participating.....those who know me know I usaully have my WIP posts in armor. I am starting a commission build of an M108 105mm howitzer for the 1 Bn 40 FA reunion. Interesting notes....they may be the only army unit to recieve a USMC citation for their support of the Marines during Tet. The 1/40 fired 165,000 plus rounds in about 15 months of deployment.....That is a lot of steel!

When I have updates I can drop the link here and if anyone wants to comment, you can in either place

If that works, let me know

Rounds Complete!!

It stretches the mind to think of a gun barrel visibly flexing during discharge!

Here's a video (no sound though) of an M107 firing from a firebase in Vietnam. You can see the tube's droop starting along about 1:08:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675067360_artillery-fortification_M107-Self-Propelled-175mm-howitzer_bunkers_soldier-carry-shell

Redleg -- thanks for the insight, there's nothing quite like hearing it from the guys who did it! Welcome to the unit, hope tou stick around and build! It stretches the mind to think of a gun barrel visibly flexing during discharge!

Beav -- no worries, post when you can, and THANKS for the Type 95 pic -- I wish Trumpeter would issue this animal based on their common chassis kit! It cries out for scratch/conversion, but a whole lot of info would be needed for that...

Cheers, M/TB379

@ Redleg: Join in!  Theres more than enough shootin-an-scootin fun to go around!  

All, I would have just posted pictures of my progress...but my cameraphone decided to be out of batteries.  If I remember to jump back on after my field manual/technical manual study time I'll try again.  I've got most of the interior bits in and ready to go, and I've started on the exterior.  While I'm happy where I am with this build, its my little GAZ-MM truck that I'm really looking forwards to.  I've got a compulsion to...I'll just post pics if it turns out.  Anyways, this is the link to the tutorial I will be using to paint her up (I've got to figure out how to get around painting camo on the 40 rocket barrels).  

http://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=157067&page=1&ord=1

And since I feel bad about the pictures, here is some awesomeness based on the same chassis as my type 89; the type 95 SPAAG!

I'm watching!!!

All I have to say is you have not lived until you are the AG (Assistant Gunner) on an M107. And yes you had to account for barrel droop with your boresigt but the best was watching the barrel bend when you fired. Needless to say it was not an accurate weapon. But effective for fear factor

The M110A2 looks good in 3 color NATO or in a nice ODS sand. As for the M109A3...that sould be a treat.

Looks like everyone is laid and safe....some nice fire missions here

Rounds Complete!!

Howdy Folks

I think I won the wheel lotto,each one has two halves but they're all sanded and ready for paint.

I'll get those Friulmodel tracks assembled and fitted next.

We got some snow last night and now it's cold as a well diggers destination, 9 degrees last night and going down to zero tonight plus windy windy.

Tony Lee

I've always painted tanks and other AFVs the way they looked rolling out the factory doors, then weathered them according to the particular climate they're operating in, and how long they've been out in it...   

Pvt Mutt -- looking good! I have the same kit and am looking forward to seeing howe this animal goes together.

Beav -- wow, this digtal camo is interesting stuff! I know what you mean about all the engine parts on thise kits, they're beautifully made and very tempting to go to town on.

Cheers, M/TB379

Well, sorry to say that there are no real pics as yet, mostly because I just built the 12 cylinder engine tonight...and it takes an entire sprue of parts to do it.  My goal is to get the interior to painting readiness by this weekend, but to get there I need some bits from the hobby shop (and while I'm there I also want to get some balsa for another project)  Trumpeter's detail on these kits is pretty fantastic for their moderate age--5 or more years; and should be really looked at.  

Some other finalizations; I want to paint it with the new digi cam scheme that they've come up with; and have as many of the hatches open as possible.  I'm not that good at scratch building, so...don't expect a whole lot of that.  

(the above is my inspiration, from Stroju @ armorama)

While my subject looks pretty neat (to me) apparently the PLA's Type 89 MRL is basically just a soviet BM-21 MRL mounted on an indigenous tank chassis with an added (and I must say, really ingenious) magazine that houses an entire set of reloads for the 40 launch tubes (80 rockets total).  Its all old tech, but even outdated weaponry that hits on target is devastating to the defender.  This build will probably be pretty clean, but who knows.  

The best part about chinese armor?  Whitewalls.

Spent a little time with the Sturer Emil today and trimmed all the parts for the lower hull from the trees.

Tomorrow i'll get out the sanding sticks and clean up the sprue gate scares and attach the parts to the tub.

See Ya Later

Tony Lee

Thanks Mike and Steven. I even thought of researching whether the cam on the Sturmtiger was field or factory applied. Therefore I'd paint the sand and tracks separately, then fix the tracks and apply the camo.

However I think Mike's advice about not risking a good build is sage advice, I'll probably go down that route.

Cheers

Tony

Well, just for the sake of completeness; sometimes vehicles are painted with the running gear on.  I remember a thread over at armorama where an guy is building at least 3 (maybe up to 6) M113s in UN white/Vietnam colors.  His reference pics show the overspray.

I got my SP MRL today!  I'll be starting him (I suspect the Chinese assign masculine nouns in the way we assign feminine nouns to objects, I'd accept correction) tonight!