This is my latest build. It represents an M270A1 MLRS Launcher from C BTRY, 1-39 FA (MLRS), 3 ID during the invasion of Iraq, 2003. I was the A BTRY (TAB - Firefinder Radars) commander in the Bn at the time. 1-39 FA is called the Phoenix Bn since it had been activated and deactivated multiple times over the years. The red phoenix with crossed cannons below it was the Bn symbol and was stenciled on all of our vehicles.
It is built using the Dragon M270A1 kit. I also added PE for the radiator grill, engine intake, and a few other pieces from the Royal Model MLRS detail set. I replaced the older, triangle block tracks with a set of newer, square block, indi-link tracks from the Meng M2A3 kit. I also added the GPS antenna on top of the launcher box (green square). The M26 rocket emerging is a rocket from the Dragon Patriot PAC 3 set. They happen to be the same basic size and look close enough. The storage box on top is scratch-built from bass wood sheet.
Most of the decals were made by me on computer decal paper. I also used a few smaller ones from an Echelon kit and the older Dragon M270 kit.
Here it is. Sorry, I didn’t take any in-progress pics.
Stik - Right now It will just go on the shelf. Maybe I’ll put it on a base later.
Rob - It wasn’t that bad. I have built a bunch of them and have it pretty much down pat. They go pretty quickly.
Bill - I am glad I made you think of your dad. I’m sure he was a great guy. My builds are available to be seen on my photobucket site linked in my signature block.
Yeah, I love the ‘in-action’ look as it were with the launching missile and backblast. Always nice to see the AFV ‘doing-it’s-thing’ instead of the standard static pose. [ht]
Gino, I value your military knowledge and model building experience, which is the skills that make this hobby meaningful too me.
Sometimes I struggle with the thought that war and the weapons of war should not be glorified in what we enjoy as a hobby. But then I remember there is a balance in this world we live in… A strong effective military is still the best deterrent from the horror of war.
Your rocket launcher is very realistic and nicely done. I would hate to be on the receiving end of that kind of weapon.
Bill, thank you for sharing pictures of your Father. I enjoy stories of family military service. I too have family members who served. However, I was the only one out of eight brothers to serve during the Vietnam War.
Bill, to me the military is about war and unfortunately war is inexplicably tied to politics and I agree that this is no place for politics. So to enjoy what we do I focus on the history and achievement of the military.
In my case the military taught him how to take orders and be part of a fighting team which changed my entire way of thinking. I became a ‘man-of-war’ to use a navel term which is both human and inanimate. Together men and their ships (or tanks) function as a fighting unit.
War is the continuation of state policies by other means.
Bill, I would put forward that car models do pretty well for non military subjects. And my understanding is that Revell USA was selling more of those than their military models before the company folded. And real space stuff sells well when that stuff is in the public eye and imagination.
According to Thomas Graham, Revell made an effort with the Ed Roth Kustom Car etc.
Rat Fink stuff but it wasn’t enough to offset costs.
At that time Royle Glaser tried to sell the company to CBS and others, but Atari was established, people were spending more money on Barbie and other daughter related stuff.
A rare kit I built was the Revell Porsche 911 ,Dakar Ralley car or the Speedster.
The best model IMO of the period was the VW bus, It was a very tricky build.
Gino - I like your model a lot! What I like best is all the samll details that say “been there, done that!” - like the phoenix, the names on the front window shelds or thqat storage box. I always try to add something like that through research, but it doesn’t always work…
As for the other discussion - when I was a kid I thought war movies were a lot of fun and war looked like a great adventure. Some research for modelling convinced me otherwise and now I’m glad I didn’t serve in the military and even more glad I’ve only seen war on TV. And I’ve learned it’s worth a lot of work to keep it that way and maybe try to have less wars for the TV to show.
I still love those war machines - how much work and great ideas are in them! Researching those tools of destruction lets me learn many new things every time I do it.
Thanks for the comments guys. Building the model was fun and brought back some good memories.
As to the discussion about building “weapons of war”, I don’t see it that way. These are just pieces of plastic. I build them because I worked with them every day for over 23 years in the Army. I enjoyed every day I was in the Army as well. Good days and bad days. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. For me, I’m not glorifying anything, just showing my love of the military and capturing my memories. For others it may be different
I have the same feelings about the military. That 12 year period of my life was some of the best despite the fact Vietnam was not a popular war. I am proud to have served and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
