1/35 Italeri M108 105mm SP Howitzer, WIP, 05/30/11 Finished

You mean you have to give that one up? I guess it's like having your child married and leaving your home....LOL. I hope you got a good price for it, with the diorama that's a lot of money tied up in plastic, resin and paint, then add the hours of work.........wow.  I started counting the money I spent on my dio and stopped before I started feeling a little foolish. One I hit a grand I was like OMG!!!!!

But Man have I learned a lot in a short period of time. I am now working on making better faces. I am using a pin, I cannot do eyes with a brush. Although I just saw a set of mini brushes in the micro-mark catalog.

If I am feeling up to it I think I am going to put up some pix tonight so everybody can rip it apart...

I don't know how it will come out in pictures but it looks pretty good to me. I did so many things backward because I did not know what I was doing.

Anyway that looks so good I want to eat it, yeah man it kind of looks like a cake. I think if an armored or artillery officer were getting retired hiring someone to make a cake like that would be cool.

I can tell by the way you do your work a certain amount of pride is in there. I felt something as I studied and researched the battle of Hue I found myself being more drawn into it. Not just making a diorama of models anymore but a piece of history. Those little plastic and resin guys were real, I used real pictures and video but embellished a bit. My dio is a tribute now not just some model kits thrown together to look cool.

redleg12

OK.....first thanks for the comments. Now, you will not see it at AMPS as this is a commission job and will be off to the client before then!!

As far as the M110A2, yep, by all means send me your questions. Hit me up on my email or PM!!

Great to see you come up online...have not seen you in awhile!!

Rounds Complete!!

There's the money aspect (obviously!) but I think I would have an AWFULLY hard time giving up an awesome build like that, commission or no commission.

Re: the forum, can finally get online semi-broadband tethering to my phone - limited bandwidth, though, so I have to stay away from pic-heavy threads if I can. Better than dialup, anyway!

As far as the M110A2 - will most definitely contact you (and if you happen to have a line on the Eduard PE set or the Barrel Depot barrel for the Italeri kit, keep that in mind)!

Noah  - I am not normally a "commission" builder. I found it very hard to turn down my "brothers" from 1/40 FA. I have recieved copies of personal pictures, articles about the unit and the history and many emails. It is not about $$$ but brotherhood. The price paid will cover my costs. I have earned a treasure of shared memories. It is not about the destination...it is about the journey. I try to give back in many small ways.

Duty, honor, country...and all my brothers

Marc - The frequency is always open for you....whatever I can help (and yes there is an Eduard PE and a barrel made....I will turn the radar on for availability)

Rounds Complete!!

That's a horse of a different color, yeah if it's for your old unit or any military unit.

Did you checkout my M48? I need a new camera for sure or maybe it's the program. The camera does not show any small details no matter how good the lighting is. Any suggestions?

Noah - The 1/40 is not one of my old units but as far as brothers especially artillerymen are all my brothers. As my "brother" Gino....Heavy Artillery here at FSM would say..." my brother from another mother".

They reached out to me, for a favor.

As far as the M48 and the camera, I have sent you a note on your private push.

Rounds Complete!!

Came out awesome overall Mike...  Its got that good "heavy" look to it but I gotta tell ya that I just love those tracks! I'd be willing to bet that the 1/40 boys are going to be real proud to have this!

Looking forward to seeing it in the pit.

Kevin - Where did you get my picture.....as you can see I am quite handsome!!

Thanks for the fly by.....always appreciate your comments and expecially your humor!!

Rounds Complete!!

A really rare subject, not often seen in modelling contest or magazines .... but I do not know why!!!! ... it´s really nice!! ... you did a good work, it´s not easy to deal with that earth color ...

Jose - Thanks. A color like VN earth is difficult due to the sharp contrast to the OD Green. I love a challange!!

Thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

Yes the mud of Nam, a subject I have made a personal study of since Nam is the only modeling subject I wish to do, for some odd reason.

I have found now 4 different colors of VN earth. It was 3 but now it's four.

It depends were you are, what time of the year it is and what time of the day it is. The afternoon sun will dry it really fast and then it's a tan color. It could start off red and in a few hours it's a chalky tan. But if it's raining it will have a few different colors in there.

I'm trying to get a 3 tone mud on my M48, the normal reddish color and the fully dry color and the color it gets as it dries. It seems to turn into a fine powder that probably got into everything. In certain parts of the country the earth is not muddy but almost clay, it looks like it must have a lot of ferrous oxide in it. That is a vibrant reddish brown color that is actually very beautiful except on your roadwheels........unless it's a model and not for real.

I have cleaned armored vehicles, it's not fun.

Oh I forgot there is also the beach sand so that makes 5.

Really brilliant model there Mike, as I always say, I have a lot of admiration for people who will take on and tackle these older kits. Excellent work.

Terry.

Terry - Thanks, because of what I like to build, many are the older kits. I don't look at it as older or new, just plastic!!   Once you pass 50, old is an unspoken word

thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

It is fitting that I finish this model for the 1/40 FA on Memorial Day weekend.  To all my FA brothers at from the 1/40, Happy Holiday

Well I was down to details. First I drilled a hole in the chassis and thru the base. Using a furniture screw and nut I secured the M108 in position. To make the tracks look proper on the ground, I coated the underside of the tracks with cell-u-clay tinted with Raw Sienna acrylic. I used the same mix tor “glue” all the details sitting on the ground.

As for the details

·         M16s- Dragon M16 kit, painted Tamiya Flat Black on the plastic areas and Alclad Burnt Exhaust for the metal areas.

·         105mm Ammo Crates – Custom cast resin, custom decals, Poly Scale US Earth Base and coated with Tamiya Buff. After flat coat, dusted with MIG VN Earth pigment.

·         Section Chest – Resin cast, Poly Scale Tac Dk Green, Alclad Steel on hinges and latch, dusted with MIG VN Earth pigment.

·         105mm High Explosive – Resin cast, Alclad Pale Gold casing, Tamiya Dk Copper rotating band, projectile Tamiya OD, PD fuse Alclad Pale Gold, MTSQ Time fuse Tamiya Flat Black, custom decals.

·         105mm WP – Resin cast, same as HE except projectile is a mix of Tamiya Olive and Cockpit Green.

·         Plywood – 1/64” plywood, cut to scale for 4 x 8 sheet, grain enhanced using a Winston Oil Dark Sienna wash, dusted with MIG VN Earth pigment.

·         Bug Juice container – Tamiya, Alclad Steel

·         Gas Cans – Resin Cast, Poly Scale Tac Dk Green, Floquil Bright Oil for spilled diesel stains.

·         105mm Fibers – AFV, Tamiya Flat Black, gloss on the end caps

·         Aiming Posts - .040 styrene rod, Tamiya Flat Red and White

·         50 cal Ammo Cans – AFV, Poly Scale US Med Green, MIG Dark Wash.

·         50 cal Ammo Belt – Academy, Alclad Pale Gold and Tamiya Flat Black

·         M2  50cal – Parkerized finish with a 70/25/5 mix of Tamiya NATO Black, Metallic Grey and JA Green. Handles are Tamiya Flat Black   

So without further waiting, here is the finished M108 of the 1 BN 40 FA form Vietnam

As always thanks for stopping by. Your comments good or bad are always appreciated.

Next up may be the M1200 conversion of the M1117

Remember a vet! Happy Memorial Day

Rounds Complete!!

EOM!!

L-O-V-I-N-G it!!!  I have been checking eBay for last few days looking for a good Verlinden base.  There's plenty so I hope to score one soon.  Thanks again for doing another great WIP.  It was fun watching this one...

OUTSTANDING!!! The 1-40 FA guys should be duly impressed.  Great job.

We're all "drōōly" impressed here Mike.

All around wonderful results and suitably finished on the appropriate day too.

Andy - Thanks for all the love!!  As far as a base, be patient when using ebay and good luck

Gino - Thanks, I hoping it help in bringing back good memories.

Steve - I thought today would be a fitting day to finish this one. Thanks for howling out the comments ....excuse me, I have to go walk now

Thanks guys

Rounds Complete!! 

Looks great - I'm sure the guys will be honoured with the end result.

UBIQUE

Gunner - Thanks for stopping by and for the comments. I'm hoping they enjoy it!

Rounds Complete!!

Like Gino said, Mike--"outstanding!". It really came out fantastically! It's just a beautiful composition and a superb model.

I don't know how you guys can give these away. I wouldn't be able to part with it!

                                      Another masterpiece of artillery. Kinda gives you the feeling that one could be there. Always looking forward to the next arty installement,any clues or hints?

                                                                 Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

Karl - Thanks, I understand what you are saying but for me it is for a good cause. This I hope will bring back good memories for my brothers at the 1/40 FA reunion. That thought helps with the separation pains.

It is like letting a child go, after nurturing them and getting them ready it is time for them to make their mark on the world....in my case, albeit in miniature!

Greg - Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

As for my next item, I am going to go back modern, to the M1200 Armored Knight. This is a specialized version of the M1117 armored car. It is used by artillery forward obsevers to get target observation and send target information. I will be using the Trumpeter kit and a resin conversion for the M1200 from Formations model.

Always something different!

Rounds Complete!!

Mike,

A fitting way to spend the holiday and up to your usual standards on the various details and composition. Bravo!

Just as I thought your M-16s have NO slings...........Ha Ha......

It looks excellent, I'm sure they will be amazed and proud of it. A lot of work and I'm sure a little hard to part with. Very neat, very precise and great attention to detail, except for those weapons....LOL.

Get those weapon's slings soldier.......

Another fine subject and another fine piece of art! A real beauty there Mike!

So... Two thumbs up, a pat on the back, two high fives, a noogie to the noggin and a slap in the *** out to you for schtickin' with this. You did your brothers (and well, the rest of us too!) good by providing some real good step-by-step goodness (as you always do!) with this old bugger!!

(The term "Old Bugger" referres to the kit and is in no way being directed towards or anywheres near you. )

BigDaddyBluesman

Just as I thought your M-16s have NO slings...........Ha Ha......

Get those weapon's slings soldier.......

Na... leave them home... they only got/get 'in the way'.

Bill – Thanks, I thought it would be a fitting completion to this build on Memorial Day!

Noah – Thanks for stopping by.

Slings….artillerymen don’t use slings   …..they only get in the way or get caught on the equipment!!  Thanks again.

Kevin – Thank you my friend for the many kind words.

Old….. is a state of mind, I don’t consider myself old, just “certified pre used”     . Like a good pair of boots I’m already broken in 

Rounds Complete!!

Heya Mike :  )

they say 'to be a great writer, write what you know about'.....I think you know where I am going with this analogy .... I follow your stuff.. I just don't write you enough.

metaphorically speaking,

tread :  )

Bill - Thank you so very much.  I may have knowledge but if I had half of your talent I would be twice as good. 

It was great to have you stop in. Hopefully the Treadhead is feeling well these days. All my best.

Thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

What do you mean artillerymen don't use slings, I bet the first artillery was a sling, just ask David and Goliath....

It really does look good, ya kind of don't want to take your eyes off of it, like a pretty woman.

I found another M108 on ebay but it's already built....errrrrr.....eventually I will find one for less than $100.

Noah - LOL..... as far as the M108, you just have to keep your eyes open. There was a kit last week that went for about $55.

Sometimes you need patience like a vulture!!

Rounds Complete!!