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Trumpeter 1/35 M198 155mm Howitzer, Finished, 8/09/09

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  • Member since
    June 2007
Posted by squeakie on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 8:27 PM
 redleg12 wrote:

 the doog wrote:

Gotta admit, Mike--you really take these builds to the "nth degree"--they're a great source of information and detail on a subject that few guys seem to cover. You're definitely the "King of Artillery" here on FSM!
It all looks great, for sure--all the little details really flesh out the whole concept. I'm glad I got to see it!

Karl – With all the add on stuff on tanks this is just spread out. Though, artillery items are specialized.

Yes, I am the odd ball, but it is my life. Glad to see people learning from these posts. It is the main purpose of these forums

Thanks for stopping in LOOOOONG Distance
 SMJmodeler wrote:

Mike: That ammo is like a whole model within itself!Shock [:O] I'm sure it will pay-off though, the detail work really brings it to life!
They all look great but lack depth, IMO. A subtle wash for shadows on the relief might help your efforts.

Steve – OK….always looking to rush the process.

The ammo is set up for a future spray and then custom decals. I am making up the correct markings for each type of round and the powder canisters. After the coat of flat, THEN we can talk about pinwashing the rounds. You didn’t think I would go through all that trouble of the different colors and not refer to TM 9-1300-251-20 for the correct markings!!......You should know me better

Thanks for stopping by and the comments
 squeakie wrote:

just to add the questions about digging in the spades. We would often dig the spades in about three or four inches if the soil was really rocky. Then fire a charge seven to who knows where. The spades would then be dug in to the max, and hopefully not displace very much.
The guns we used would hold a consistent 40 to 50 yards in accuracey using generic HE rounds. But we also had contact lots of rounds and powder. This would get you down to the 40 yard pattern without any problems. And often in about 30 yards at max range (14,000+ yards). We always felt we were capable of shooting within 150 yards of friendlies in a pinch (as long as the ground was solid clay and using contact lots of ammunition). If your adjusting off of the first shot and it's close a good gun crew can really walk those rounds right into your lap. Still 35 yards is about the very best you can ask for in repeatability on a perfect day.
gary

Gary – Shooting the gun in…..been there done that….in our VN and post years I would agree with your accuracy. Today with all the neat toys the do a bit better. I still think everyone should still know the old fashioned way too!!

Thanks for the comments

Andy – Thanks for looking and for the comment. It means a lot coming from you.

 Citadelgrad87 wrote:

Nice, Redleg.

"Target, troops in the open.  I say again, troops in the open..."

I heard that will make an artilleryman smile every time.


CG – Time in effect…..those troops in the open love airbursts

Thanks

Rounds Complete!!

I didn't say anything about the build, but I check on it every week or so. Looks great from what I see already. Kust looks right!

     Couple questions about the kit, and I'll leave you alone. Noticed that the breech is closed. Did you do that on purpose or is that the only way it can be displayed?

gary

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 8:41 PM
I think you got it perfect and then you make it better! Thumbs Up [tup]Bow [bow] Makes my back hurt just thinking about humping that ammo! Whistling [:-^]
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 5:26 AM

Gino - Thanks...PT Shock [:O]....OK, I hate running....how about situps with a round on your chest Wink [;)]

Thanks, you know me...keep the powder dry and the bubbles level!

Gary - First, no problem, I always love the stories. It's our past that has let us build our present!

The kit breech has no inner detail and can only be shown closed. It would have take one or two small molded parts to give a choice, but...that not to be.

Ask on my good man and Thanks.

Aaron - Bengay....an artillerymans best friend..Thanks for your comments and for looking.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, August 2, 2009 7:01 PM

Finally, I am almost done. The summer seems to suck up a lot of time and thus builds are going slow.

The ammunition was tedious work as it required a total of 80 individual decals to create all the markings!

This first picture shows two pallets with HE projectiles. The closest have some fused with PD fuses, the other pallet has some with time fuses. The projectile pallets that come from AFV look plastic. I scratch pallets from 1/32 plywood. Two sheets glued together, the top one drilled for the shell insets. The underside was 2 struts of basswood cut to scale 2 x 4 to allow fork lifting of the pallets. The dunnage for the propellant was also cut basswood to match the 2 x 4 used to pack the propellant. Ammo cans for the fuse cans (fuses packed in 8 packs in 50 cal can size).

Fuse boxes were pin washed with MIG dark wash. The wood grain was also brought out using MIG dark wash as a stain. The projectiles are marked using the AFV ammunition kit decals and were pin washed with MIG dark wash. The propellant canisters use the AFV kit white bands and custom decals to depict both Green bag and White bag propellant.

A third pallet contains two rounds of WP with custom markings (in red) with the yellow band below the markings (closest). Nest was HC smoke with custom black decal markings and lastly Illumination with custom black markings. All the rounds were pin washed with MIG dark wash or a grey oil (white illumination rounds). Also shown is the section tool chest which was pin washed and the handle and box seam were dry brushed with Alclad steel. In the background is the projectile carrier done with Alclad steel

Gun communication is a Plus Model wire reel (RL 50) painted Tamiya flat black for the wires and Tamiya OD green for the reel. The paint was rubbed off on the edges to show normal wear and the reel was pin washed with MIG dark wash. The wire off the reel is 30 gauge SS wire painted Tamiya flat black. The TA312 (telephone) is a radio from an Italeri accessory set. The bottom half is cut off to give the right size for a TA312. The handset is from the same kit. The phone cord is 30 gauge SS wire coiled around a drill bit. The handset and cord are painted Tamiya flat black. The TA312 is painted with Poly Scale dark green then washed with MIG dark wash.

The log book is .020 styrene sheet cut .25 x .3 (scale 8 x 11) then covered with BDU camo decal. The log book is where the crew would keep their record of fire forms and their log sheet to keep track of rounds fired for tube wear.

Lastly is a 5 gallon oil can for bore cleaner. It has a custom decal marking, then a MIG pin wash and then a drip line down the front of Flowquil spilled oil...to simulate spilled oil!!

The pail for bore cleaner was filled half way with wood sealing polyurethane which was tinted with Tamiya Clear red and red brown to simulate RBC in the pail. The bore cleaning rod was styrene rod stock and the fuzzy end of Velcro to make the bore brush.

The rammer was pin washed with MIG dark wash along with the prime box (30 cal ammo box).

View from the rear shows the ammunition preparation area and in the background the rammer and primer box on the ground inside the trails

This photo shows the current state of the build. You can also see the water cans and a box of MREs (Yummmmm).

The spades were "dug" in by mixing up a small batch of base material which was mounded and filled in around the spades.

The last item to complete is the infinity collimator. This was scratch built using parts from the Academy machine gun kit. Parts V17 for the yoke and W12 which is cut up, modified and reassembled as the tripod base are used. The collimator is 0.6" long section of 0.10 styrene tube. The eyepiece is 0.060 rod inserted into the tube. The top was drilled and 0.030 rod inserted for the adjustment knob.  It is painted with Tamiya OD.

I will be making up some sandbags to hold the collimator and finishing up the collimator for installation on the base. I still have to do the tall grass and bush thing and then I am done. I should have finished photos of the complete build next week.  

Total hours this update - 13.5 hours

Total hours this overall build - 64.0

Thanks for looking and as always, all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Netherlands
Posted by Grem56 on Monday, August 3, 2009 1:25 AM

As I said before: the odds and sods really add to the whole dio. Great workmanship here !

Julian Thumbs Up [tup]

 

illegal immigrants have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.....................

Italeri S-100: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/forums/t/112607.aspx?PageIndex=1

Isu-152: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/forums/t/116521.aspx?PageIndex=1

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Monday, August 3, 2009 9:16 AM

Mike,

The attention to detail is just awesome...all kinds of little things to draw the eye and your patience with the decals really paid off.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Monday, August 3, 2009 2:31 PM
WOW, man; you guys sure know your stuff with this artillery stuff! It's looking impressive, Mike! Love all those shells and doodads alongside! Those shells are worth a trophy themselves! Thumbs Up [tup]
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, August 3, 2009 7:20 PM

 Grem56 wrote:

As I said before: the odds and sods really add to the whole dio. Great workmanship here !

Julian Thumbs Up [tup]

Julian - Thanks for stopping back...I love my odds and sods!!

 wbill76 wrote:

Mike,

The attention to detail is just awesome...all kinds of little things to draw the eye and your patience with the decals really paid off.

Bill - God I'm tired of decals....for a while. The ammunition and other items are a build unto themselves. But....I do love my artillery!!Wink [;)]

Thanks for the kind words!

Wayne - It is always a pleasure to hear from Vegas!!! Shock [:O] Thanks

 the doog wrote:
WOW, man; you guys sure know your stuff with this artillery stuff! It's looking impressive, Mike! Love all those shells and doodads alongside! Those shells are worth a trophy themselves! Thumbs Up [tup]

Karl - Thanks. The doodads are the propellant canisters. The 155mm is separate loading ammunition so those "doodads" hold the powder so you can PSGGB (Pull string, gun go boom)Laugh [(-D].

Thanks for the comments...I appreciate them coming from you.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Schroon Lake, NY
Posted by SMJmodeler on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:26 PM

Really impressive Mike!  I love all the ammunition...the hard work and time was definately worth it!

I like how she's dug in but I don't quite understand the color of the dirt/mud.  Is it supposed to be clay?  Is the whole groundwork yet to be painted, including the spade areas...Confused [%-)]

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 3:46 PM
 SMJmodeler wrote:

Really impressive Mike!  I love all the ammunition...the hard work and time was definately worth it!

I like how she's dug in but I don't quite understand the color of the dirt/mud.  Is it supposed to be clay?  Is the whole groundwork yet to be painted, including the spade areas...Confused [%-)]

I still have to "dust" that dirt with some MIG pigments so the color is not perfect. That said....freshly dug soil is usaully darker than undisturbed soil.

As I said above, after I finish the colimator and sand bags the last few items of cleanup deal with the base.

Hopefully I done this week and will post finished pics.....

I know, you having the love of dirt and mud the color is very important to you.....For me, thats not as important as the above soil items.Wink [;)]

Thanks for stopping in and your comments

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Schroon Lake, NY
Posted by SMJmodeler on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:24 PM
 redleg12 wrote:

I know, you having the love of dirt and mud the color is very important to you.....

You got that right!Burger [BG]...I just eat it up!

I'll wait for your final pic's, I'm sure they will be great!  I expect this is AMPS bound...correct?

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:10 PM

 SMJmodeler wrote:

  I expect this is AMPS bound...correct?

Yep....not too much to show this year since I went to AMPS International in April....but I will emplace this in Danbury!!

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 5:40 PM

Finally finished... here are the last few details

The infinity collimator after painting with Tamiya OD and wash with MIG dark wash, the adjustment know on top was dry brushed with Alclad steel. The lens is a small MV lens and the 0.10 tube is drilled to fit the lens.

The sandbags are made from air set clay. I wet the clay to get it soft and form the basic shape. Using a putty knife I cut off the excess on the ends at an angle and try to flatten as I cut to create a seam look. Once the bag is shaped I cover and wet a fine swatch of fiberglass and form it to the bag. As it dries I remove the fiberglass which leaves an imprint in the clay to give it the fabric look.  After setting the bags were painted with Tamiya Tactical Dark Green and weathered with  MIG Dried Mud pigment.

When artillery gets into a position, the Fire Direction section will issue safety cards  known as safety Ts. These are written normally on 3" x 5" index cards and there is a different one for charge and for high angle and low angle fire. Many times than are "hung" on the weapon using 100 mile an hour tape....green issue duct tape!

Here I created some safety Ts with duct tape on the top ....scale sized them and attached them to the weapon. (The white cards with a green line on top...on either side of the breech, just below the yellow warning label)

Well a few blades of tall grass here and there, a couple of small bushes and that's it.

Total hours this overall build - 68.0

 Next up the AFV M40 155mm SP gun in the Korean winter.  First I will be doing some improvements around the bench and as usual...cleanup so the next build may not start for a few weeks.

For those at AMPS East, yes I will be bring this and hope to see you there.

Thanks for looking and as always, all comments are welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

EOM!!

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

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:11 PM
Very nice work all around Mike! You can definitely see the 68 hours in all the little details and those index cards are just the icing on the cake! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:28 PM

Bill - I love cake Dinner [dinner]....Attention to details....though at times the can frustrate you!!

Thanks for always stopping in, giving your thoughts and words of encouragement. Now its off to clean the bench and wash the floor in the studio (yes....I am anal) before the next build.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:35 PM
Dude I just love little details like those cards.  Way cool.

Marc  

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:37 PM
 A very fine finish to a most outstanding build. The small details like the index cards are priceless.  I just am thrilled with what you have done and already is an award winner in my eyes! Thumbs Up [tup]
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:57 PM

Marc - Thanks....too many years on the 1 to 1. I did leave one detail out.....the big black garbarge bag for all the little dunnage and packing items.

Thanks for the comments and as always for stopping by

Aaron - Thanks for the comments and the award in advance Wink [;)].

Showing a WIP...costly and time consuming.....comments from the forum....truly priceless

Thanks guys

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:58 PM

FIRE MISSION!!!    Deflection 6325, Quadrant 549, HE TI: 12.5 sec.  Over.

She came out great Mike.  Excellent job as usual.

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 Sunday, August 9, 2009 8:15 PM
 HeavyArty wrote:

FIRE MISSION!!!    Deflection 6325, Quadrant 549, HE TI: 12.5 sec.  Over.

She came out great Mike.  Excellent job as usual.

Gino - Hummm...have to shift the trails for that deflection Shock [:O]....thank god I put out the aiming posts! (Now where the hell is my fuse wrench)

Thanks for stopping in and a resopnse only you could give.

Great having you back around on the forums on a regular basis!Wink [;)]

Fitting that my response to you is my #2,000 post...the old soldier hangs in there!

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Everett, WA
Posted by Schnobs on Sunday, August 9, 2009 10:17 PM

Mike this turned out fantastic!

I really apprciate and identify with your attention to detail!  You shoud make a little CEOI of the day and shrink that to size.  I authenticate Bravo Delta Charlie Over!!

Great Job!! 68 hours well spent!!

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, August 10, 2009 6:47 AM
 Schnobs wrote:

Mike this turned out fantastic!

I really apprciate and identify with your attention to detail!  You shoud make a little CEOI of the day and shrink that to size.  I authenticate Bravo Delta Charlie Over!!

Great Job!! 68 hours well spent!!

I set Tango Alpha.....I send Tango Hotel Alpha November Kilo Sierra....God, I hated those books....I have the feeling on my left leg....it was always stuffed into the left cargo pocket......what a nightmare....!!!!!

Thanks for the comments

Wayne - It is always "cool" to hear from you!!! Thanks my friend.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 10, 2009 8:32 AM
Very nice build and presentation!
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, August 10, 2009 3:07 PM

Manny - As always thaks for stopping in and for your comments.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Monday, August 10, 2009 3:20 PM

Very nice build, Redleg, and a realistic presentation, too.  Very very cool, thanks for sharing.

Bill

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Bournemouth UK
Posted by Bodge on Monday, August 10, 2009 3:42 PM
Sign - Ditto [#ditto]Thumbs Up [tup] very nice.
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Monday, August 10, 2009 5:36 PM
Looks like the crew just stepped out for a while, left everything in place.....Thumbs Up [tup]

Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:27 AM

Bill and Andy - Thanks for stopping in and for your comments.

 RBaer wrote:
Looks like the crew just stepped out for a while, left everything in place.....Thumbs Up [tup]

RBaer - The crew is wareing the new inviso-camo!!Shock [:O] Thanks for looking in and for your comment.

Rounds Complete!! 

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

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: The Plains of Kansas
Posted by doc-hm3 on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 6:56 AM

 Mike, as usual great build. Looking at this I can see the fireteam in my mind along with the lanyard being pulled, and then the ground shaking with the dust rising! Thumbs Up [tup]

                                                                                  doc

                                                                                 

All gave some and some gave all.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 11:15 AM

Doc - Thanks, the idea of seeing what is not there is what I like about the build!! A whole bunch of figs would be nice but I perfer to convey the equipment and read into the rest. Figs for this guy would have been like another separte build.

Thanks for being able to see past what is presented and your comments.

Rounds Complete!!

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

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