Fire Mission
1/35 M110A2 8 inch Howitzer in ODS
Introduction
The M110A2 is the latest version with double muzzle brake, the earlier A1 version had a plain muzzle. The M110A2s were made from refitted M110s or M107 175mm SP Guns (Hunnicutt).
The M110 first entered service with the US Army in 1963. It has been used in the Vietnam War by the United States Army, and in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm by the U.S. & British Army. M110s were still in service with the (USAR), and running fire missions as late as the summer of 1994.
At the end of the Cold War under U.S. Division Plan 86, all armored and mechanized infantry divisions included a battalion of heavy artillery that included two batteries of M110A2 8" SP howitzers with 6 guns each for a total of 12 guns, plus one battery of nine MLRS rocket artillery.
The gun system has been retired from US Army service; howitzers above 155 mm caliber are no longer effective as technology has closed the range and firepower gap, and heavier weapon systems require more resources to operate. Gun barrels from retired M110s were initially used as the outer casing in the manufacture of the GBU-28 bunker buster bomb.
Here is #1 gun, A Battery 2 Battalion 142nd Field Artillery during Operation Desert Storm.
The Kit
The kit is an oldie but goodie, the Italeri kit # 291.
Along with the kit I will be using Eduard photo etch set for the M110A2, the Barrel Store metal barrel for the M110A2 and for the T132E1 tracks I will be using the Spade Ace metal individual links. I also will be using numerous other small items from the parts box.
I will be trying to recreate the paint finish seen in the ODS vehicles. So I will be painting the M110A2 with NATO Green. The using AK Chipping Solution will paint using Testors Desert Storm Sand and the chip down to the NATO Green. As almost all ODS vehicles arrive in NTO Green or NATO tricolor and then were painted in country with a non military sand paint that was not particularly good. Most ODS vehicle would shed their paint like a snake sheds skin.
The Build
The kit is relatively simple but like older kits, they are loaded with pin marks, bad seams and sink marks. The first two tasks are to assemble the basic hull and road wheels. With the hull assembled, the main seams on the side panels and rear deck seam need a bunch of work. Here is the basic hull with the seams complete and some of the PE screens in place.
While liquid putty is drying, I jumped to barrel and carriage assembly. Again both require a large amount of TLC with putty. Here is the rear of the barrel and barrel sled. You can see the seam putty work.
Here is the upper carriage with putty work.
After all the putty work was complete on the hull, I worked through with the PE upgrades and finished up getting the hull ready for the paint booth.
Here is a view from the rear
That’s it for now. Next up is to assemble the barrel and begin painting the hull. Also finish assembly of the rear spade and the upper carriage.
As always if you have any comments, please feel free to drop in.
Rounds Complete!!
