Hi Neil, thanks for looking in.

Hi Murdo, long time no speak. Hope all is wel with you and yours.

A bit more work on the gun pit.







I will probably need to add soem more dirt and them break up the colour with some pigments.

Al

Hi folks,

A bit more work on the vegitation on the far side of the track, test fit of the crew and telegraph poles. Still a lot to do, the track looks a bit flat, and the crew need finishing and more work required on the ditch, ammo and gun.

Al

Liking this diorama a lot Alan. I think you're right about more dirt though, I thought there didn't seem much earth piled up for the size of the holes that have been dug.

Looking great and couldn't help but think of this one when i saw the new base:

This is a Brit gun in Korea

Hi Neil,

I'm making the gun pit with garden soil and PVA glue so it's build a bit, wait to dry, build a bit more.

Hi Al,

Thanks, I hadn't seen that one before. Hope to add some wire to the poles this afternoon and have another layer of soil added to the pit. I hadn't sealed the ditch properly so my 'water' drained away

Cheers

Alan

Hi folks,

A bit of a picture update to show progress and get some feedback. This is how things stand at the moment. Gun pit almost commplete, things laid out as they might be. Unfortunately adding the railway meant loosing the Gun Tractor, but as I have a mind to build another 17pdr sometime, that's not a problem.

Thoughts, ideas, comments welcome. I'll get to fixing things down when I'm happy with it.

Gun and Crew







Track







General layout





Thanks

Al

Nicely done,
Added this one to my stash recently, but still got the Airfix 17pdr to finish....

Hi John,

Thanks. enjoy the build when you get to it.

Al

hello,
soldiers, the 17 pdr and its beautiful scenery and really well done. you have reconciled with the artillery. congratulation
stephane

Thanks Stephan,

My first attempt at a dio for many, many years, so thanks for looking in and the comments. It's good to see Bronco staring to do crew for their artillery pieces. Hopefully they will get followed by some towing vehicles too.

Cheers

Al

Looking fantastic is that Alan.

Hi Darren,

Many thanks.

Al

Hi folks,

I finished adding parts A41, B28 and B29 plus the tow cable so this one is about done.

One of the figs and ammo have been moved and some additional soil added into the spade area.

A fun but tricky build. I didn't manage to incorporate my Gun Tractor which leaves the door open for another some time in the future. Anyway here you go:

























Cheers

Al

Absolutely smashing work Al.

Hi Ken,

many thanks, glad you like the end product.

Cheers

Al

Just ran across this. Lord, its lovely. One general question I had was this. I was a loader on a M42 in the 1950's in the Cal NG. When we shot from an entrenched position, we always dug deep dud pits, in case of a misfire, next to the gun. Threw the misfires into the pit in case of a later "cook-off". Wonder if regular artillery every had this problem, and what they did with misfires?

Hi Arthur,

Thanks glad you enjoyed it. The crew would had mis-fire drills but what the SOP was I can't say never having been a gunner.

Berek Barton or Darren might know the mis-fire procedure operated during WW2.

Cheers

Al

I really liked your 17 pounder!!! But I really want one of those arty tractors!! Where did you find the kit?? So please tell me where to lay my hands on one.
gary

The Crusader Gun tractor is a conversion kit From Accurate Armour & the Italeri/Testors Crusader tank (any mark can be used inc. the 40mm bofors or the 20mm Oerlicon armed versions).

The Gun Tractor was a real conversion of the then obsoleted gun tanks & they were used for the gun tractor & for Mobile AA.

Hi Gary,

Thanks. The 17pdr builds into a nice kit. As John says the Gun Tractor is a conversion. The old Italeri Crusader was recently re-released and is reasonably priced.

http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/product.php/17576/crusader_iii_vintage_collection

but as John says most any basic chassis would do.

The conversiopn is from AA

http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?manufacturer=0&category=5&subcategory=38&product=94

The only thing to watch for is that the side panels fold in not out as shown in the kit instructions.

There is a build blog of the Gun Tractor here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/177365#1488907

and a build feature here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/3989&page=1

Hope that helps.

Al

I got to gather up the parts needed to do this one!
thanks
gary