CGM Prod. 1/35 M3 105mm Mountain Howitzer, Complete, 5/11/09

Sweeeeeeeet lookin' piece of arty there Mike!! Any plans to add a figure or two to this for size comparison? Nice rarity for the collection fer sure!

Kevin - Thanks for stopping in. As far as the figs...I think I am looking at the Dragon airborne figs....just have to get them in some artillery positions. But in concept..Gino and Joe will be in this one.

Yep, this is different and rare, but you know me...different is my middle name!!

Gino - Thanks for looking in. It won't be long now and things can go back to normal!

Marc - The fall may be interesting this year!!

Thanks to all of you for looking in and Happy Easter and Passover to all!!

Rounds Complete!!

The build looks good, Mike!

You have to get some better lighting for your pics though; either that or try a white or gray background. The light you have there is casting a weird, ethereal blue pall on your finish, similar to the problems I think "CitadelGrad" (Bill) was having in that Sherman build.

 Mike, I have never seen this piece before. She's got a very menacing look about her. She's looking great.

                                                                 doc

Karl = Yep.....I usaully use two lights but one of them....went the way of OOPs on the floor...need to get a new bulb.

OD I have the felling does not do well wilth blue background...especially low light....will change to white until more light....Thanks.

Doc - Thanks for looking. That's my....trademark....the different

Thanks for looking and for your comments.

Rounds Complete!!

I really enjoyed reading through your W.I.P the kit looks brilliant so far. All theh hard work is paying off well.

Terry.

Bill - Always a pleasure to have you stop in!!

Terry & Steve - glad you are enjoying it. It makes the time to post worth while. as far as the hard work....so so resin kits can be a challange.

Thanks to all of you for your kind comments. (yes Karl.....I'm looking for a bulb!!)

Rounds Complete!!

I'm enjoying the build alot and its great to see resin kits being used. I don't know why more people try them, well saying that I tried a wodden boat, no more about that.

I think there is factors like cost, clean up, quality of parts and I could go on and on......

You seem to have the bull by the horns here.

Keep up the good work.

Terry.

Terry - Thanks for looking in.

Your question on resin is somewhat complex. Some people stay away because of the cost for sure. Others who look for "mainstream" vehicles can find the in styrene. Quality variation is another issue. Some manufacturers like Real Model or Hobby Fan produce excellent quality kits. Others are not as good and lack detail, they also are a major task to clean up and fix molding problems.

While most modelers are not afraid of resin figures or AM kits, an entire kit can be daunting and if they are looking for just mainstream, they don't need to go there.

Heavy show people I also think shy away from resin kits. a resin kit is percieved as more work and may not "do" as well...again going back to mainstream.

I have a "number" of resin kits on the shelf but I am a modeler who has a specific area I work in, US artillery and support equipment from WWII to present. Many of the subjects I want, like this one, will most likely never be made into styrene. I also never started modeling again to win medals. I go to shows but recieve enjoyment just showing my work and watching the faces of the people looking and going "hummm, whats that, never seen one of those before".

Lastly, I think it is fear. Many people are afraid of resin and comfortable "in their zone". Everyone is different. I will try EVERYTHING...once, "you have nothing to fear but fear itself". For all of those who are not into resin, I still have the utmost respect for their work.

It's like music, country, rock, pop, jazz, blues and classical but its all still music.

Rounds Complete!!

Redleg, this is an awesome and unusual build, sorry I didn't comment earlier, but my connection kept timing out yesterday.  Very cool.

Bill   

Bill - That's me.....unusual....I try to expand the horizons a bit. Thanks for the comments and for stopping in.

Rounds Complete!!

RBaer - Thank you. It is much more of a challange than a "super kit" how to do more with less and of lesser quality....but the subject is fun!!

Chris - Thanks for looking in and you comments on the WIP.

Rounds Complete!!

It has been a while with AMPS and spring chores slowing this build down. I have been trying to fit a little in here and there as time permits. I finally had the time to sit down and update the WIP

First the M3 howitzer itself

• 1. Installed a set of sights from the Italeri kit
• 2. Using MIG Faded OD the open areas of the howitzer were given a fade brushing
• 3. High scratch surfaces were touched with a graphite pencil
• 4. The firing lock was installed on the breech
• 5. I fabricated a lanyard from some waxed ship string painted OD attached to .020 rod painted wood.
• 6. Lanyard was attached to the firing lock
• 7. Section chest straps were made from some scrap PE, painted and installed

Time hack on the M3 - 6.5 hours

Total Time on the M3 - 29 hours

Now on to the base;

• 1. Cut, routed, stained and sealed base.
• 2. Cell-u-clay base with dig out for the spades
• 3. After drying, added some light grass and medium static grass
• 4. Positioned and glued the M3 on the base
• 5. Packed in the spades with cell-u-clay tinted a light earth color

Time on the base - 3.5 hours

Lastly, on to the figures (Dragon 1944 Airborne set) and misc equipment;

• 1. Used two figures from the set. The uniforms were done in Tamiya Khaki Drab, their gear in Testors Acrylic OD. Then they were washed.
• 2. Boots were in Testors Acrylic Leather, then the lace area was pin washed darker and some lighter scuffs on the main boot.
• 3. Helmets were in a mix of Tamiya OD and Green Yellow. Then the mesh was dry bushed with Tamiya Buff.
• 4. Faces and hands painted with Vallejo flesh then washed with a mix of flesh and burnt sierra oil.
• 5. Section chest was taken from the Italeri kit. It was painted with the same OD/Green Yellow mix. After drying it was also given a fade dusting with the MIG pigment.
• 6. The 105mm round was from the scale ammo dump (always have plenty of ammo) which is painted with a point detonating fuse.
• 7. The ammo crates were painted with Testors Wood then washed with a light burnt sierra wash.
• 8. The handles were painted with a mix of Testors Wood and Leather. The end plates were painted white.

Here is what the build look like now. Please note I am experimenting with a new background and increased lighting. But...some of the pics are a little dark. I working on it!!

The ammo crates are not quite done yet and still need their stencil decals. I will finish those up this week along with some final touchups this week.   

Total time on the M3 - 29 hours

Time on the base - 3.5 hours

Time on the figures and misc (so far) - 9.5 hours

H Hour Total 42.0 hours since start

Thanks for looking in, all comments welcome

Rounds Complete!!

Pretty nice little dio there Mike!

The only thing that I noticed was--wouldn't there be some kind of tire tracks in the base work from the weight of the gun? I would also say to maybe add a little more variety in the vegetation?

As far as the models go however, they all look great!

Bill - Thanks for stopping in....always a pleasure.

Karl - Addressing your points.....dio....AHHHH....lets just say a model on a base with emphisis.

Hummm...tire tracks...well you caught me in an OOPS. Even if they are on the front side...I can work on it. They would not be deep so I will rut up the grass. The M3 weight was ~2,500 lbs.

As a note when employed by airbore, they used 3 gliders. One carried the M3 and half the crew, the second a jeep and the other half of the crew and the third carried ammunition. The crew would push/pull the M3 out of the glider and could position it to fire nearby.

More green....well that is like when you get a haircut, they show you how everything looks but they always have a little more trimming...wait....hummm do you understand that analogy

I be looking at that as last little dress up but thanks.

I surprised....though they are not the greatest (boarder on "reverse wind"), no comments on Gino and Joe going airborne!!

Thanks guys.

Rounds Complete!!

Psstoff - I will be curious to see the new Dragon kit. It will hopefully be an upgrade from the old Italeri kit. It should lend itself well to many dio ideas.

as for bench space....there is alway room on my bench for artillery

Rounds Complete!!

Looking good Redleg. Ive never done Arty pieces myself, you've done a nice job on this one.

Rob

Mike.

A lotta effort here to a good end and with an informative wip.

That tire color formula is a good match.

Scratch - Thanks

Manny - Your "kind" words on the figs is greatly appreciated. They are no where near "Manny" standard....but I at least feel (I think) I am getting better at figs. At least they are no longer an embarassment . Thanks for looking in.

DM - My man....its always great when you drop in. Thanks for the peek. The tires never look right in flat black and rubber...well, this is a public site . The NATO black on its own is too light but the 50/50 mix of FB & NATO black gives a good tire/rubber look. Glad you like it.....and noticed!.

Rounds Complete!!

Gentleman, final touch up done, ammo crates stenciled some high grass and two little flower bushes (for you Karl ). Also wore down the grass a bit in the front where the tires would have rolled. So here is the finished M3 105mm Mountain gun with Gino & Joe.

Total Build Time 44 hours

Next up, Trumpeter M198, emplaced, NATO Camo circa late 1980s (maybe in snow)

As always, thanks for looking in, all comments welcome

Rounds Complete!!

EOM