Academy 1/35 M12 Gun Motor Carriage

[stikpusher]

In my continuing efforts to populate the Allied WWII Armor forum here I present my Academy M12 155mm GMC from 2009. Essentially a French designed 155mm gun mounted on a M3 Medium chassis, along with stowage for a few rounds of a basic load of ammunition. This beast was a dual role gun providing mobile firepower of 155mm indirect fire primarily, or when encountering heavy prepared defenses, armored enough to do direct fire upon bunkers, blockhouses, or other such fortifications. This kit really needs a set of figures of cannon cockers to exploit its true potential.

[keavdog]

Nice - never seen that vehicle. Must have made quite a Boom!

[buddho]

Love this gun motor carriage version...the weathering is so well done.

[406 Silverado]

Jun 15, 2023 21:57:20 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Nice - never seen that vehicle. Must have made quite a Boom!

I've never seen it either John and yeah.....155's have one heckuva report when fired. I was in field artillery for 7 years in and around the M109 self propelled howitzer and can attest to the "boom" that you speak of. Even when you know it's coming, it still gets to you every time.

This did turn out very well Carlos. The weathering turned out great on the hull. I did just have one question about the weathering on the tracks themselves and it's just a small one at that. Wouldn't they have some fresh wear on the track pads themselves from ground contact while moving or is this depicted having been in a stationary position for a length of time?

[stikpusher]

Thanks guys!

John, I was within a few hundred meters 155's on occasion during live fire, and yeah, there's a big boom alright... I'm surprised if Joe has any hearing left...

Joe, I could only find one photo of this particular vehicle for reference, and it was in a muddy field, barely showing any track metal.



So I went with something of a compromise along those lines. Realistically yes, it should have some bare metal on the tracks, but not much. Perhaps if I ever go back and tack down that free floating top run of the tracks I can address that too...

[stikpusher]

Jun 15, 2023 21:57:20 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Nice - never seen that vehicle. Must have made quite a Boom!

Yeah, it looks that way...

[moparmadness]

Heck yes! I love these. AFV Club made one back in the day, but probably way over engineered. Yours looks great!

[stikpusher]

Thanks Chad! I think AFV did a different 155 SP, and not this particular type.

[jeaton01]

I dropped the brightness a bit and increased the contrast on the sideview photo, think it shows the tracks and the other weathering to better effect.

[stikpusher]

Thanks John. I did those photos a long time ago, pre iPhone. So it was flas photography and my photo editing skills on our old computer.were not what they are now.