I finally finished the Airmodel M198 and Italeri M923A1 prime mover that I started over 18 mos ago before I deployed to Iraq. The howitzer is the resin Airmodel kit. Yeah, I know, I started it, then Trumpeter came out w/the Plastic version. You’re welcome. The truck is the Italeri M923A1 with Cam Design wheels and lots of scratch building with sheet plastic and wire to bring it up to par. I plumbed the howitzer with air and brake lines from solder as well. The gear in the truck is a mix of stuff from various suppliers. It represents a USMC truck and howitzer from early in OIF in Iraq. Here are the pics.
More completed and in-progress pics of each can be seen at the below links.
Doog, the inner fender is made out of foil from the top of a wine bottle. Its always good to have a nice bottle of wine while modeling. I recommend a good Merlot for armor. It can get interesting after a few glasses though. [:D]
A super addition to the battalion motor pool. Nice details…love the aiming posts (red and white poles for the non-artillery people). The projos with packing look great and the fuze crates are right on. I did not see any but presume powder cans are under the bench. The only thing missing is empty water bottles, an MRE pack and the always popular black garbage bag!!
Quick question…the screen cover on the M198 seems to be a bit…forward of where it should be. Am I seeing it wrong???
The tube looks great. The brakes and other details make it a winner! Yes the resin curse hits all of us…If you build it it will come…in styrene!
Glad to see you at the bench again and looking forward to a battery coming from you next year!
lol~! Gino, I am THERE,with ya, about the wine foil man! That stuff is awesome for so many applications! My girlfriend Jenn bartends at an upscale restaurant on weekends, and she gets me tons of the stuff–I used it on that Model T I just posted here to make that ripped top.
I must confess that I just appropriated some from a nice bottle of strawberry champagne that she got, cheap…lol. My favorite though, would be a good “Rioja” from Spain. MMMMM! [:P]
Mike: You got me. I noticed after I snapped the pics that I had left the powder cans, MRE and water boxes in a box holding all the bits and pieces that I had put on a shelf. Load plan has been adjusted. The guard on the M198 may be a little too far forward. I went by the placement shown by Airmodel. Oh well, lets just say it slid out of battery on the crew. Thanks for looking in on it and keeping me straight.
