Thanks GreySnake.  It was a fun build.

Hi m1garand.  Retirement is going well.  I can't complain at all.

m1garand

Can Trumpeter or Dragon kit be built as a ROK Army version?

From what I can tell, the ROK Army uses up-to-date M270A1s.  The Trumpeter one is more accurate as an A1, so I would go with it.

HeavyArty

Thanks Sarge. 

For the "glass", I always use masking tape.  I rub the tape down onto the "glass" tightly. Then with a sharp xacto blade, trim around where I don't want the paint to get. I leave th etape on until I done with all the glosscoat/decal/dullcoat process.  Then I weather.

If I can leave the glass out until after painting, I'll mask off the opening and do it that way. 

On this one, I had to mask the inside and outside since both were getting painted and the windows have the frame with bolts on the inside.

 

Harold

Thanks Sarge. 

For the "glass", I always use masking tape.  I rub the tape down onto the "glass" tightly. Then with a sharp xacto blade, trim around where I don't want the paint to get. I leave the tape on until I'm done with all the glosscoat/decal/dullcoat process.  Then I weather.

If I can leave the glass out until after painting, I'll mask off the opening and do it that way. 

On this one, I had to mask the inside and outside since both were getting painted and the windows have the frame with bolts on the inside.

HeavyArty

Harold

Thanks Gino! I read a couple of reviews but you hit on a bunch of stuff they didn't. 

I'm tempted to pick up a M270A1 myself. I really need to get some of my stash built down though before I even look at anything else though. 

Thanks Gamera.  I did enjoy building it.

As to the Trumpeter kit, it is much better than the old Dragon kit(s). 

The biggest area of improvement is inside the cab.  The old Dragon kit really skimped on interior details.  The Trumpeter kit is excellent on the inside.  They really captured all the interior parts that make it come to life.  I only added a couple interior details that were missing. 

Secondly, the Trumpeter kit has the updated features that make it an M270A1.  These include a new fire control panel inside, the roof hand hold for the TC hatch, a small square on top of the launcher for the GPS antenna, and new (electric) drive parts for the LLM traverse unit.  It also has the updated, indi-link square block tracks that have been used since the mid-'90s.  Dragon's latest M270A1 version (kit #3557) only includes the hand hold for the TC for the new A1 parts (along w/the APU, A/C unit, and gun mount; not A1 features, but newer updates), and still has the original, triangle block, indi-link tracks.

Lastly, the Trumpeter kit is much nicer in the way it goes together with large pieces molded as single units (cab shell, LLM shell) as opposed to the Dragon kit all being assembled from flat plates.  It has about the same external level of details, but with more finess than Dragon.  It also has updated, more detailed road wheels (with proper undercut of inside rim), sprockets, and road wheel arms that are better detailed as well.

The Dragon kits do give you the option to build it in firing position with extra parts to model the cab louvers closed though, where the Trumpeter kit does not.  Also, the Trumpeter kit is lacking the attachments for the rocket pods when they are outside the LLM and the rear LLM control panel has no interior details, so you can not build a pod loading version as you can with the Dragon kits.  Dragon still has a couple advantages.

Overall a better kit, and correctly updated to M270A1 standards.

Oh that looks fantastic Gino! I too love the extra detail and the camo looks great!!! 

BTW: Is the Trumpeter kit a big improvement over the older Dragon one? 

Thanks Mike.  I do like to add the little details to make them come to life.

That's really is fantastic, Gino. Once again I love your attention to those details. 

Thanks.  I am very happy with the way it came out.

That's one incredible build. The detail is superb. 

The M270A1 MLRS Launcher is complete. I weathered it with a couple washes of a dirt brown color and a lighter sand color to give it a well-maintained, slightly dirty look, as you find vehicles in the motor pool.

You can see below that I added the steering linkage from the steering parts under the cab to the transaxle. I also connected the wiring harness to the cab underside.

I highlighted the interior of the LLM with a bit of aluminum to bring out the details.   I also blackened the face of the LLM to represent the charring that occurs as the rockets are fired.

Thanks GreySnake.  It is not hard to make them once you get the hang of it.  

Glad to have you aboard.  

Hmmm;

 I stumbled on this. I will watch with interest.

I have continued work on my M270A1 MLRS undergoing maintenance.  

After a couple week break where I took an early trip to go meet my first grand daughter (she came a few weeks early and mom and she are doing wonderful), I am back at it.

I have painted all the parts in NATO camo and marked it as launcher C-22 from 6-37 FA (MLRS), 2ID in S. Korea.  I made the decals myself, including the Asian Royal Lions on the front of the cab, from home printer decal paper.  

I added the A/C unit, APU, and MG mount from the Dragon M270A1 to bring it up to pretty current standards, about late 2015-early 2016 based on Load Test date of 23 OCT 15 on the side of the LLM. 

I also added Combat ID Panels (CIPs) to the sides and front.

The doors and side engine access panel.

Next up is tracks, final assembly and a light weathering.  More to come soon.

Looking forward to seeing what you post when you get back to her. 

Thanks GreySnake.  I did get some paint on it last weekend, but life is getting in the way.  I am on an unplanned trip, so I won't get back to it for a couple weeks.

Thanks gents.  Unfortunately, I haven't had time to get it painted.  I hope to do so this weekend.  More to follow...

Man, those placards really add the details to the kit. Your attention to all the bits is amazing. I love the work.

BK

Fine work so far!

"Six Pack": neat, send a sixer to a bad guy.

Thanks Harold.  I'm glad this build is helpful to you.  I'm looking forward to seeing your M109A1 build.  It should be nice. 

Thanks Gamera.  Glad you learned something about the MLRS as well.  Another MLRS tidbit; the slang name for the M26 rocket pod container is "Six Pack" since it holds six rockets.  Too bad it isn't six cans of beer.  

That interior looks incredible- really nice work there. 

And interesting, I'd wondered how you loaded the rockets into the thing- I had no idea they came in a pod that was loaded as a unit.