Gamera
Harold: That ammo looks great!
Thank you Gamera. I have been working on both the M109 L23 and the M109A2 the past couple of weeks in preparation for a vacation.
M109A2:
As I mentioned a short time ago, I decided to replace the Black Dog resin 155mm ammunition with AFV Club styrene because the quality of the Black Dog product was not equal to the AFV Club M109A2 model.
I purchased two AFV Club ammunition kits #35017 and used part of one kit to rebuild the ammunition storage box. Please see photograph #3 below. I also removed the resin rings in three locations for up-right ammunition storage on the deck to make way for styrene ammunition. See photograph #2. This was a lot easier than I thought it would be, but since I had most of the interior hand painting completed, I decided to repaint this area by hand also.
I still need to paint the Smoke and Illumination projectiles, then give all the ammunition a clear satin coat and decals. Gino has kindly provided artwork so I can print my own projectile and powder canister labels. When the ammunition is finished, I can continue the turret and remaining exterior hull assembly. I painted enough High Explosive (HE) projectiles to have three crates of ammunition for the M54A2 cargo truck I plan to build next January.
I also rebuilt the loader-rammer from styrene because the resin parts were very poorly made. See photographs #4, Resin Rammer and #5, Styrene Rammer below.
#1
#2
#3
#4 Resin Rammer
#5 Styrene Rammer
M109 L23:
I completed assembly of the new AFV Club kit #35329 and its ready for primer. See photographs #6 - #10 below. The assembly is like the M109A2 and it went together without a problem. Since I do not have an interior kit for this model, I closed all the doors and hatches and will paint it in the U.S. Army Vietnam period olive drab. As you can see, I did add Friulmodel metal tracks and a Eureka wire tow cable which I feel give the model a realistic appearance.
The painting of this model will need to wait until I return from vacation. This year with all the restriction on travels my wife and I are planning to spend an extended period at our place on the Pacific Coast. Since I am limited in what I can do on vacation I plan to finish the styrene ammunition and start the next project.
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
British Army Group Build:
I joined the British Army Group Build with Bish and other modelers from our FSM Forums. My project will be the AFV Club AEC Matador, World War II artillery tractor. See photographs #11 and 12 below. I have until the end of the year to finish this model, but I will get a head start on vacation. I also plan to build the British Bofors 40mm Anti-Aircraft gun during the Christmas holiday to go with the Matador. See photograph #13.
#11
#12
#13
