Tamiya/Italeri M107 Vietnam War Era

[M1Carbine]

Now thats a BOOM STICK!
Looks awesome Tony

Bob

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Update

Mixed and sprayed a faded Olive Drab on the high spots but Photo Bucket is still off line.
Tomorrow it gets a sealer coat of Future and when that's dry the decals will be applied.

Later Tony lee

[TRM]

Keep the whip to those little worker Bees! Shame the PR department seems to be on strike!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

PB is back up.

Faded paint coat




Maybe too faded,we see.
Tony lee

[TRM]

Looks the part Tony!! Bring on the decs!!

[Leon]

Great job on the fading Tony!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

te

Decals:
You get decals for two units the 2nd Battalion,32nd Field Artillery Regiment 1969 and
the 7th Battalion,15th Field Artillery Regiment 1969.
I used the 2nd"B" 32nd F.A.R. (more decals) 1969 was when I was there.

During the Vietnam era, the unit again saw considerable battle in the Counteroffensive Phases II through VII, Tet 69/Counteroffensive and the Consolidation I and II campaigns, earning credit for 12 campaigns and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) streamer.








There's even a decal label for the FE, tools painted and installed.Tamiya supplies you with a section of black tubing to use as hydraulic hose that was installed on the gun.

Detail painting next.
Tony lee

[TRM]

Snazzy!! Sure is purdy with all the decs!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Ain't it though

Thanks Todd
Tony lee

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Some of the added items with the kit.



Tony lee

[M1Carbine]

Tony - gorgeous build so far.

Bob

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Thanks there Mister Bob


Tony lee

[Leon]

Decals look great Tony! I like the relaxed poses on the figures.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

The guy on the left is holding the shell ram and leaning on the gun but you could put something else in his right hand
leaning on anything.

Tony lee

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Update

Detail painting and Wash:











Flat Coat and Nam Red Earth Dust next

Tony lee

[Leon]

This is looking great Tony!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I'll tell ya Leon there's not much detail to paint.
The Army always said "If it don't move paint it O.D."

Thank You Sir
Tony lee

[wbill76]

Coming along nicely Tony, definitely a big girl to fit into the photo booth!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

It sure is Tex. I took it outside but the sun was getting low so that didn't work.

Getting closer to knocking this one out.

Thanks
Tony lee

[deafpanzer]

I hate to break bad news... the gun is way too long!!! LOL Jeez, I can't image the pressure the driver has to deal while driving and not to hit ANYTHING with its gun!

[Tojo72]

Looking good Tony

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Final Sitrep:

Not a bad kit overall I would say. The only problem I had was getting the upper and lower hulls to fit at the rear but with many dry fittings along with filing here and there and some persuasion I was able to get a pretty good fit.

This one is right out of the box and finished the way I thought any average modeler could achieve.











I'm happy with it and i'm sure others that build this reworked Italeri kit by Tamiya will be too.

Until we meet again
Uncle Tony

[TRM]

Well played Tony! Great looking model ...especially after knowing this is OOB! Thanks fr taking the time to share this one with us!!

[bish]

Only just spotted this one. Thats a great looking big gun there Tony. Really nice finish, I like how you have weathered it.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Thanks guys.

I weathered it for summer because it gets pretty souppy during the monsoon season,been there done that.


Tony lee

[Leon]

Another great finish Tony! Superb OOB job.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Thank You Mr.Leon. I've got to start an early model StuG for a GB,it will be in grey/gray.

Tony lee

[sturmbird]

looking at this SPG hull, we are looking at an M110 converted to a 175 gun. The rammer staff can't be used with the crane in the load position. Plus it's about 15 feet long. There is a hydraulic ram built into the crane that normally seats the round into the rifling of the barrel. Most units used a star looking tip at the end of the rammer staff, but the flat ended ones were around. (we used both) The barrel is lowered to where it aligns with the ramming piston in the crane. Can't remember where it is, but it's close the being parallel with the ground. Loading process takes about a minute, with the most time being used to get that huge power charge into the chamber. Todo this the crane has to be out of the way.

There were comments about four guys carrying the loading tray. Well the round weighs 147lb. Two guys can handle it easily. The 8" round weighs in at 204lb., and that's another ball game. No matter which round it is, your not going to load it in the chamber by hand very easily. When the crane is in the lowered position, you then lay the round in the tray. Then it is brought up and into position for loading. Only thing you use the tray for is getting rounds up to the crane. You stand them up and literally roll them over into the cradle.

When firing the M110/M107 the entire crew is located in the rear of the track. No one is out front unless they're stupid! They are almost always standing to one side of the gun for safety reasons. (specially with the M107) Breech failures are not uncommon on the 175 gun. Have also see the barrel split like a banana peel. The M107 never was safe!

The first shot after moving the gun is scary till you get used to it! You dig the spade in about a foot or so deep, and then start the loading procedure. Once the round is loaded and the breech door closed everybody with at least a double digit IQ gets outta the way. The AG often uses a lanyard with a safety latch on it, and this is about as safe as a visit to North Korea! I remember being scared stiff over this alone when I was being taught to AG. Doesn't take much of a slap to set the firing lock into motion. When you fire that first shot, the spade will dig in about two feet, and the front will jump up about a foot off the ground. (time to head to the four holer) After that first shot you have to readjust everything! The eight inch was not nearly as bad. The driver is never in the driver's seat when firing. He's part of the loading crew. By the way the ride on the eight inch wasn't that bad, but the M107 would make you sick from all the nose heavy bouncing around. Remember you have a 19 foot barrel weighing in at 32K lb. hanging out front.

Nice build!
gary

[deafpanzer]

Another beautiful finish!!! Bet this one made you happy since it has bigger gun!

[niallmhor4942]

Hi All,
The shell weighed 147 lbs 4 ozs ( the 4 ozs was the weight of the fuze) ours fired to a range of 29 miles , plus we stood on the Gun when she fired. I got the chance to fire ours , to look down the barrel and holding the Lanyard You got a sense of power. You could pump oil into the suspension units to give it a firm base for firing I spent 3 years on them with 42 Heavy Regiment RA in Fallingbostal, Northern Germany. A good gun not bad in summer but , cold and wet at all other times.