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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Completed M923A1 and M198
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 09:39 AM UTC
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.

M923A1
M198

Thanks for looking. As always, all feedback is welcomed.
sgtsauer
#065
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Missouri, United States
Joined: March 30, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 09:49 AM UTC
Great work Gino...I especially like the truck. You don't see very many modern trucks being built.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 11:50 AM UTC
Thanks Brent. Glad you like it. It was a fun build. I like the look of the truck too.
calvin_ng
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United States
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 12:13 PM UTC
I like the Camo on the truck and the howitzer. How did you weather it?
Cuhail
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Illinois, United States
Joined: February 10, 2004
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 02:34 PM UTC

Gino, I liove your builds because I feel it's worth trying to duplicate. Maybe not all the subjects (although, it IS in this case), but, the talent and results.
Flippin awesome.

Cuhail
LemonJello
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: January 29, 2004
KitMaker: 177 posts
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 02:47 PM UTC
Another high quality and inspirational build. I started the Trumpeter M198 today and I hope I can make it look half as good as this one.
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 05:11 PM UTC
Very nice work, Gino!
mother
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New York, United States
Joined: January 29, 2004
KitMaker: 3,836 posts
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 05:23 PM UTC
Great work as usual Gino, nice detail. Question…the howitzer rounds at the tail gate, would they normally be stacked there unsecured. Knowing how those trucks are just hitting a small bump has you flying up off the seat.

Happy Modeling,
Joe
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 11:51 PM UTC
Thanks guys, glad you like it.

Calvin: The weathering is all done with acrylic washes, then drybrushed with enamels. I started with a pin wash of a rusty-brown color. They I did a pinwash of a dark sandy color. Lastly, I washed it overall with a light sand. I drybrushed certain areas like around the door, floorboards, and other high wear areas with steel, then a little rust. Lastly, I drybrushed the wheels and the lower portion of the truck and gun with armor sand.

Joe: The rounds pretty much stay in place wherever they are left. Each round weighs about 100 lbs. Their combined weight of 1600 pounds keeps them there.
skyshark
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: November 16, 2005
KitMaker: 703 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 01:17 AM UTC
Hey Gino,
Why didn't you build an ammo truck. Ammo is not carried in the same truck as your soldiers.
GALILEO1
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Maryland, United States
Joined: April 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,794 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 01:25 AM UTC
WOW, that M198 is just AWESOME!!! As an arty fan I now MUST get this one! Excellent job on both the truck and the artillery, Gino. Question....How's the Italeri M923A1 in terms of 'ease of assembly'? Been thinking about getting this one for a long time but every time I come close to getting it, I somehow don't because I think it may be more trouble than it's worth. I've seen some kit reviews but I would like an opinion from someone who has actually built it.

Again, great job!

Rob
martyncrowther
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: September 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,548 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 02:01 AM UTC
Hi Gino, really nice job. I like all the gear in the back, your work is improving lots!
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 03:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hey Gino,
Why didn't you build an ammo truck. Ammo is not carried in the same truck as your soldiers.


Not so for artillery, esp. in combat. You put the ammo where you have to. You should have seen all the ammo we had on our trucks during the invasion in '03. I had a almost 2 UBLs of small arms ammo (M9 and M16), M203 and hand grenades, claymores, AT-4s, assorted star clusters and flares, and a few other items on my HMMWV alone and it was just for me and my driver. We were all rolling ammo dumps.



Quoted Text

How's the Italeri M923A1 in terms of 'ease of assembly'?


The kit is pretty good. It goes together without any real issues. It does have some accuracy issues. The biggest are the tires and the bed floor should be steel, not wood. The tires need to be replaced. The kit ones are too small and the tread is horibble. Also, don't put the shift lever like the instructions show. The M923 has an automatic transmission and should have a T bar shift handle on top of the angular piece that comes up from the floor to the dash board in the middle of the cab. It has lots of other little issues that can be fixed. Check out Pawels' Super Detailing article to get some more ideas on sprucing it up. If you do build it straight from the box, it still looks like an M923 though, so it is still O.K. that way. It just depends on how much you want to add to it.
GALILEO1
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Maryland, United States
Joined: April 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,794 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 03:55 AM UTC
Thanks for the link, Gino. Man, lots to do to bring this kit up to decent levels. Lots of missing and/or simplified items on the original kit.

Rob
newfish
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: June 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,329 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 04:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Not so for artillery, esp. in combat. You put the ammo where you have to. You should have seen all the ammo we had on our trucks during the invasion in '03. I had a almost 2 UBLs of small arms ammo (M9 and M16), M203 and hand grenades, claymores, AT-4s, assorted star clusters and flares, and a few other items on my HMMWV alone and it was just for me and my driver. We were all rolling bombs




Gino. Great build! I really like it. You have added some nice touches, like the straps on your rucksacks. One thing may I add wouldn’t the M923A1 and M198 need to be a little more dusty from driving around Iraq and the M198 kicking up the dust when firing?.
You have really brought the old Italeri kit up to scratch. I like it.

Jaymes.


HeavyArty
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 08:09 AM UTC
Jaymes, glad you like it. As you may know by now, I don't like to cover my models in dust. When I was there during the invasion in '03, our vehicles weren't that dusty either, we were on roads alot of the time as well. We'll just say this section has been on the road most of the time and didn't kick up too much dust.
newfish
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: June 23, 2008
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 08:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Jaymes, glad you like it. As you may know by now, I don't like to cover my models in dust. When I was there during the invasion in '03, our vehicles weren't that dusty either, we were on roads alot of the time as well. We'll just say this section has been on the road most of the time and didn't kick up too much dust.


Fair pair play Gino it was just a suggestion anyway mate. You’re not the only one who doesn’t like covering a model in dust, never the less great work! Quick question for you, how did you make the shoulder straps?

Jaymes.

HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 08:42 AM UTC
The straps were made out of thin lead foil from the top of a wine bottle. I cut thin strips then superglued them to the top of the frame where they attach on the rucksack. I painted them, then slid them over the side rails and glued the bottoms to the lower part where the straps attach back to the frame. Pretty easy and it looks pretty convincing if you ask me.
newfish
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: June 23, 2008
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 09:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The straps were made out of thin lead foil from the top of a wine bottle. I cut thin strips then superglued them to the top of the frame where they attach on the rucksack. I painted them, then slid them over the side rails and glued the bottoms to the lower part where the straps attach back to the frame. Pretty easy and it looks pretty convincing if you ask me.


Thanks another excuse to drink more alcohol . It's the closest method I've seen to shoulder straps thanks for that.

milvehfan
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 26, 2007
KitMaker: 2,116 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 09:58 AM UTC
Gino, A Very Fine Build ! Great weathering and details. It not often we see these more modern Trucks and Artillery pieces. So, Does anyone know who will be the 1st to come out with a Plastic kit of the M777 ? milvehfan
skyshark
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: November 16, 2005
KitMaker: 703 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 10:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Hey Gino,
Why didn't you build an ammo truck. Ammo is not carried in the same truck as your soldiers.


Not so for artillery, esp. in combat. You put the ammo where you have to. You should have seen all the ammo we had on our trucks during the invasion in '03. I had a almost 2 UBLs of small arms ammo (M9 and M16), M203 and hand grenades, claymores, AT-4s, assorted star clusters and flares, and a few other items on my HMMWV alone and it was just for me and my driver. We were all rolling ammo dumps.



Quoted Text

How's the Italeri M923A1 in terms of 'ease of assembly'?


The kit is pretty good. It goes together without any real issues. It does have some accuracy issues. The biggest are the tires and the bed floor should be steel, not wood. The tires need to be replaced. The kit ones are too small and the tread is horibble. Also, don't put the shift lever like the instructions show. The M923 has an automatic transmission and should have a T bar shift handle on top of the angular piece that comes up from the floor to the dash board in the middle of the cab. It has lots of other little issues that can be fixed. Check out Pawels' Super Detailing article to get some more ideas on sprucing it up. If you do build it straight from the box, it still looks like an M923 though, so it is still O.K. that way. It just depends on how much you want to add to it.


Gino,
I was in Iraq 03-04 (C 3/505 PIR 82ABN) I'm not talking about UBL because I had UBL in my truck. But I know large cal ammo 155mm was carried sep from soldiers and the rounds and powder was keep sep. Before I was 11B I too was 13B last unit B 1-9FA that is what the FAASV was for and I know you have basic load in the gun. But in towed rounds and powder is sep. AIRBORNE!!!
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 10:26 AM UTC
I'll just say they had to make a hasty displacement and had to put the rounds there to get out of the area quickly. So be it.

I noticed after I snapped the pics that I had left off a few necessary stowage items. I left the powder cans, MREs and water boxes in a box holding all the bits and pieces that I had put on a shelf. The load plan has been adjusted.



skyshark
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: November 16, 2005
KitMaker: 703 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 04:19 PM UTC
Hey Gino,
See when you spot check someone no one is to say anything because you and your cronies attack that person, but constructive criticism doesn't suit you. And I'm sure I'll
be attacked by your little ones. But I'm Sure of myself so!!!
SGTJKJ
#041
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Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: July 20, 2006
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 11:49 PM UTC
Great build, Gino. Looks very realistic and the camo job is great.

Thanks for sharing
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 11:50 PM UTC
Thanks Jesper.


Quoted Text

See when you spot check someone no one is to say anything because you and your cronies attack that person, but constructive criticism doesn't suit you. And I'm sure I'll
be attacked by your little ones. But I'm Sure of myself so!!!


No one is attacking you, you can say what you like. I also know I have seen and have put big bullets with powder in a truck together with the crew. Maybe is wasn't by the reg, but that is how it was.

I can take constructive criticism just fine and have often made changes from it, often not.

We all have opinions, no one is going to attack you over yours, so just relax and get over it. People attack you when you post stupid temper tantrums, not constructive criticism.

 _GOTOTOP