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

Great work on all those fixes.     I am looking forward to seeing this one a painted up.

Nice work on the details and looks like the patient will survice the surgery efforts Mike! Got to love power tools!

Not a lot of time this week but enough to get some detail work done. First I started on the chassis. I removed all the plastic blobs that were supposed to be handles, tie downs and latches.  The hatch handle I made with 26 gauge stainless steel wire. The latch handles are 20 gauge wire for the post and flattened solder then bent to shape and glued on top of the wire. The tie downs are PE leftovers.

The exhaust is a big blob of plastic. With increasing drill bits, I drilled out the end for exhaust.

The kit rear door is a one piece door. The M108 had a double door setup. First I used a panel scribe tool to etch in the seam for the two doors. Then using .020 styrene, I created a set of hinges for the left side.

Next, I cleaned up the seam where the side panels meet the decking and install Archer .025 weld bead raised detail.

Now it was on to the turret. The turret has 3 boxes molded onto the roof which are for the M109 and did not exist with the M108. It was time for surgery with the Dremel. Here is the rough cut to remover the boxes

After cleaning up the cut and squaring it off, I used some .040 styrene sheet to fill the hole. After gluing and installing some pop stick cross braces inside the turret, the first coat of putty was installed in the seams

That’s it for now. Next up, some more putty and Mr. Surfacer to dress up the turret roof, then a bunch of tie downs for tools.  Getting close to paint!!

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

Rounds Complete!!

Nate - Nice to have you drop in....stay warm and keep dry!!......Don't hurt your knee in the snow!!

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Lookin good Mike. I'll be watching this one.

Nate

This week the surgeon goes to work on the molded on blobs.......I am working on it!!

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I meant the detail from this picture:

The five rods in front of the hatch, on top of the turret. Wouldn't it be good to replace it, if it's a cleaning rod? Good luck with your build, have a nice day

Paweł

Kevin - Thanks for stopping in and for leaving a comment!!

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Redleg12, great job so far.  Keep up the good work sir. 

The red and white poles are aiming posts....the items on top are tools and maintenance items.....the aiming posts you need to take out and use at every position. The are usaull in a case and would be stored down below.

Page 26 lists much of the stuff we carry...  http://redleg2scale.com/RBMI%20Info/Artillery%20Modeling.pdf

The picture shows a "candy cane" set

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Redleg, see i wasn't able to tell the difference.

couldn't those rod things be the red white pole things you guys haul everywhere?

Beav – Thanks, the one “down there” (Fort Sill artillery museum) is an early test version of the M108. Some minor differences like the headlights mounted on the turret and the barrel has no brake…..but generally the same. Thanks again

Pawel – Thanks, as I write this I am having a brain cramp  and forget what that item is on the front of the turret. The ramming staffs are on the top of the turret…..when the light comes back on I will get you an answer…..for now thanks

Jeff – Thanks, yep small tube……big butt…..ok, I won’t go there. That was exactly the reason the discontinued the M108 and the 105mm only became a towed weapon used by light divisions. The 155mm M109 gave them more punch and range for almost the same $$$$. Thanks again

Bill – Yep…as I said in the beginning this will be a putty dream. With what I am working on now, I will really be going for the putty…..removing the molded M109 tool boxes on the turret roof which the M108 did not have . I will be using the holy trinity of modeling….the Dremel, Putty and Sandpaper……amen .   Thanks again

Aaron – Speaking of heavenly bodies, it is always great to hear from Mt Olympus . I deeply appreciate you stopping in. Thank you

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Nice work as always!

Lots of putty/elbow grease being put in on this latest round Mike but will look great I'm sure once you get it painted.

Lookin good so far redleg!!!   I can't believe the spg is large, with such a tiny barrel tube.  you've done a great job reviving an older kit

Hello!

That gun is lookin' good! Is that "ladder thingy" on top of the turret, on the left side, supposed to represent the cleaning rod?

Good luck with your build, have a nice day

Paweł

Wouldn't be able to tell the difference between that one and the one thats on display here!

This week I moved on to the turret.  In step 7 the gun and mantlet are assembled. The mantlet requires a fair amount of filling as it has a seam down the middle and is very uneven due to sinking. The barrel itself has a seam which requires work. After putty, and Mr. Surfacer I mounted the elbow telescope and here is the view.

Next was the turret itself. The turret on the kit was made to mount the M109 and M108. The mounting for the 105mm gun does not fit correctly and requires a shim at the top side. A small strip of .020 styrene does the trick.

Some minor touch up on the sprue removal points and with the howitzer mounted this is the completed step 7

Steps 8 adds the lifting hooks and bustle racks. The storage bins and a number of tools were left off for ease of painting. Step 9 adds the hatches and I will come back later after painting with a better Ma Duce.

At this point here is the turret

Next up is some detailing, fixing the back door to a split door, replacing some kit blobs for handles and fixing the hollow storage boxes. Time to start warming up the spray booth!!

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

Rounds Complete!!

Yeah, nothin' like driving spikes through a couple dead men into frozen ground to hold the M101 spades in the middle of a Ft Carson Winter, lol...

(Betcha that last'll  freak out some non-arty types)...

Hans - You should know....towed artillery truly brings out the artilleryman (who after being outdoor wants to run inside) Hey.....at least on a M109 you did not have to climb to get to the weapon. Try an M110/107, especially in the winter with a little snow and ice.

There is nothing like a towed weapon with the spade in a mud puddle and every time you fire everybody is splashed with mud!!

As for the interior, That set is for an M109. The interior of an M108 is a bit different, Much smaller breech, trays a different.....lots more room.  No this won't have an interior....but I will do a fire base emplacement for the exterior....just working those detail out.

Rounds Complete!! 

iraqiwildman

I look forward to following this build.

The M108 looks funny to me after spending 11 years in a M109 unit. It looks like someone broke half the tube off. Such a tiny tube on such a big chassis.

Ditto... I crewed and chiefed  M109A3s and always giggle a bit when I see the '108...  It's like someone lost a bet...

 However...  I could have dealt with the 108's "looks" after the years I did on towed 105s and standing around in the open...   Having a roof and a heater, ya know... Beats hell outta a poncho and bunny-boots...

So, you gonna be using that resin interior set you sniped from me on Ebay a couple years ago, Redleg?

Iraqwildman - Thanks, Yep, alot of steel around a small gun!

Steve - Thanks for the vote of confidence.....as for the picture....watchout for the nuts.....they are like kryptonite!

Thanks!!

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This is gonna look great.

   You all know what this nut is capable of..........

I look forward to following this build.

The M108 looks funny to me after spending 11 years in a M109 unit. It looks like someone broke half the tube off. Such a tiny tube on such a big chassis.

I have to agree with the durability of the M109 and M113/m577/m548 chassis. They have been in active service for almost 50 years. And it looks like the M109 Paladins will be around for 20 more years since the Crusader project was cancelled. I don't think there is a replacement for the M577 in the works either.

Marc - Thanks.....on the revetment, yes, still working out the details and going thru some of my old manuals.

Thanks again

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Nice Mike.  Knowing what you will do with that those guys are in for a treat.  Are you going to it in the revetment form the fist pics?  That would look so cool.

Pawel - Thanks. If you are looking for reference, you can pick up Steve Zaloga's book on the M109 which the beginning details the weapon both M108 and M109 use in VN. It is a great reference.

Glad to have you looking on and look forward to your comments.

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Mike,

I'm thrilled to see you building this one! I want to build a Vietnam M109 for some time now but I have problems with getting at the Italeri kit. I'm sure your build will be a great reference, at least in the areas where M108 and M109 are similar. Good luck building and have a nice day

Paweł

Tony – Tighten your chin strap and come along for the ride!! Thanks

Kevin – I totally agree. The M108/109 carriage and the M113 carriage set the tone for the 60s thru today. The kit is enjoyable….just needs some TLC….otherwise known as modeling!! Thanks again……Figures…..that would be after I figure all the other “stuff”!!

Bill – I’m back in position and ready to fire!! Thanks

Gino – Thanks…..it’s an oldie but goodie….one that everyone forgets!!

Beav – Thanks, I am like SNL…..I do a Weekend Update!!

Thanks again guys for peeking in and taking the time to comment

Rounds Complete!!