Hi again boy I sure can ask some questions.
I have one more which is the best kit of the M-109 I want to get one to complete collection of modern US Army equiptment.
I really wish Sabot would answer on this but heck I would hate to bother him again,also is the academy Vulcan kit anygood.
Thanks
Jeff

I do not know of any kit for the 109 besides Italeri. For a true modern version, you should get the Paladin version. The biggest problem with the kits is the lack of detail on the hull and turret (bolts, brackets, wrong stuff...). IMHO, one of the old Verlinden Way books does a good job of showing how to improve it with plastic...

Like Bob says, Italeri is the only M109, but they do make several variants of M109s. I wrote about this a few months ago, here is the breakdown:

The entire M109 (and even the earlier M108 short barreled 105mm howitzer) originate from Italeri molds. They have been boxed by Testors and Revell of Germany and they run the gambit of:
#235 M109/G short barreled 155mm Vietnam era or German version (Testors #777)
#238 M108 short barreled 105mm
#239 M109A2 Modern version that can also build an Israeli type
#246 M109E4/G/A1-A2/E4 best because it contains all options in one kit (less Paladin)
#372 M109A6 Paladin latest version currently being fielded in the US Army
Revell of Germany boxes a version that makes the German used M109A3, I do not know the differences between a US M109A3 and a German one.

I have the Paladin and a Barrel Depot aluminum barrel, but have not even opened either kit. I have an M109A4 and M109A5 in my motor pool if you need ref. shots, but it may not do you much good.

Thanks again sabot.

Ordered the M-109 Paladin today plus detail kit for it now the only one I lack is the Bradley.
also got the M-163 Vulcan from academy

Hey...kinda stumbled in here because I've been stuck with an Italeri M-109. Sorry, didn't mean tosay anything bad about the kit itself, (to be honest, I know absolutely nothing about the kit) it's just that I originally bought a Tamiya German 8Ton SemiTrack 20mm FlakVierling Sd.kfz7/1 on EBay, and when the selaed box arrived at my house, I found an Italeri M-109 kit inside......
Helluva deal huh?
Anyway, since there is no original box to figure out which kit it is exactly, I guess I'm going to have to take a best guess. So, many thanks for your list Rob, maybe I can figure it out from there.

Tread.

Only one real choice for the Bradley, Tamiya. They are all basically the same kit, even the Academy kit is a copy of the Tamiya kit. The best way to get a good, complete modern Bradley is to get the recently reissued M2 Bradley with interior (#35132), then you need to get the M2A2 (#35152) for the uparmored sides. Then Eduard makes an M2 interior and exterior set (#35110 & #35111), Airwaves also used to make a detail set. The tracks can be replaced by the Academy set (#1353). The engine compartment is available from Real Models.

You will also have to modify the interior to represent an A2 interior. Too bad no big foot track is available Lots of trouble for a kit that should be on the shelf

The March 2002 issue of Military in Scale (with an Iraqi T-62 on the front) has a four page article on building a M109A6 of 4-27 Field Artillery in it. Richard Howden (the author) used the Italeri kit + Eduard set, as well as jerry cans from Tamiya and Dragon + a .50cal from Tamiya.

Cheers,
Linz

As the kit goes I have not recieved it yet .I ordered the Paladin one and the great people here put me to site that has all the pics of this full size [real one] I will go from their. will get the tamiya kit But not engine or more then one kit of this. Also will get the Eduard Pe kit and call it a day on the modern US stuff before I end up with trying to recreate Desert Storm