Anybody know of any kits out there of the standard towed mid-20th century U.S. 105mm and 155mm howitzers? I’ve got a letter in my hand from a reader who laments the absence of such kits, and before I publish it in Scale Talk, I want to find out if there’s any advice we can give the fellow. Thanks, folks!
Lawrence,
If by mid 20th century you mean WWII/Korean era…then I know that Italeri makes a 1/35 M101 105mm Howitzer. I haven’t seen any 155mm towed howitzer kits but I am relitively new to the hobby.
-EDIT- I also found this on the web. http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=IT0232 Its a 155mm towed gun by Italeri as well. Although I haven’t been able to find anything else out about it.
Regards
Ben
AFV Club makes the M102 105mm US howitzer. It has been recently replaced by the M119 105mm howitzer, but there are still Army National Guard units that use the M102 today. I know because I allow a National Guard maintenance site to borrow some parts off of the two M102s I have at work. This howitzer was still in use during Desert Storm and beyond.
The newer M119 105mm howitzer is available from JB Models in 1/76 scale. You get two of them in a box.
Italeri makes the M101 105mm howitzer. It was used through Korea and Vietnam and into fairly modern times (1980-90s). TC 9-9 Ordnance Materiel Handbook dated September 1993 still listed the M101A1 as an active artillery piece as of that date. Revell of Germany also boxed this kit with some Bundeswehr fittings and a modern NATO camouflage scheme. Foreign use is probably why it was still listed as active.
AFV Club makes the Long Tom 155mm towed howitzer as well. I think think gun served past Korea, but unsure if it made it into Vietnam or not.
Peerless Max made the M1-A1 155mm medium howitzer. Testors/Italeri retooled the kit to replace the metal barrel and vinyl tires with all plastic items. The nomenclature of the howitzer is incorrect though. TC 9-9 also lists this howitzer as the M114/M114A1/M114A2 which is comprised of the M1 or M1A1 cannon on the M1A1 or M1A2 carriage. This is probably the reason for the error in identification. This equipped National Guard units through the 1980s and into the 1990s.
The latest 155mm towed howitzer is the M198. There is a high priced resin kit of this howitzer, but it is expensive and rather rare. I’d like to see this kit in plastic. This is probably the only modern US howitzer not readily available in kit form, but if you look hard enough and have the money, it is out there.
Indeed, the M198 kit Rob refers to is made by Aussie Armour, and its available at http://www.mheaust.com.au/MHE/Resin/OZA/M198.htm for around $130 ASD.
Let’s not forget Hasegawa’s 1/72 scale offering of the 155mm Long Tom. I have that one and the m119 from JB Models. I also had gotten a 105mm Howitzer in with my 1/72 scale Revell CH 54 Tarhe kit, so it could be slung underneath.
That’s the ones I know about. Hope this helps.
Here are some kit numbers to help out:
AFV Club M102 105mm howitzer #AF 3506, 1/35 scale.
JB Models M119 105mm howitzer #JB1011, 1/76 scale. Two per box.
Italeri M101 105mm howitzer #319, 1/35 scale.
Revell of Germany 105mm FeldHaubitze #03014, 1/35 scale. Reboxed Italeri kit with modern German muzzle brake, taillights and Bundeswehr markings.
AFV Club Long Tom 155mm towed howitzer #AF 35009, 1/35 scale.
Peerless Max M1-A2 155mm medium howitzer #M3-600, 1/35 scale. Includes metal barrel, metal recoil cylinders, metal recoil springs and vinyl tires. Out of production.
Testors/Italeri M1-A2 155mm medium howitzer #232. 1/35 scale. Retooled to replace all parts with plastic.
Hasegawa Long Tom 155mm howitzer #31102. 1/72 scale.
Aurora 155mm Long Tom gun #308 (rectangular box) and #331 (square box). 1/48 scale. Out of production.
Believe it or not, I actually have all of these howitzer kits. I haven’t had the urge to purchase the resin M198, yet.
Slight correction to some of the above messages.
There is a 155 Howitzer, but not the Long Tom, which is a 155mm GUN.
I have the 155mm M1-A2 Howitzer 1/35 kit by Italeri (No. 232).
Frank