Hi folks,

After an enjoyable build of the Resicast British 6 inch Howitzer I thought I give the 4.5 inch a go.

Made a start on the limber this morning.









You need to drill out a 2.5mm hole through the central underside of the limber. This is pre-drilled so not a big chore. The suspension units require careful removal from the pour plugs and some 1mm rod needs added to the brake drums.

I'll add a photo of the underside tomorrow as I forgot to take one at the time

Progress so far













There are small chains to be added to the limber doors which open to the rear and front of the limber.

Al

Alan,

Again with the "break drums"???

(I know from personal experience how hard it is to correct one's typing once the body has learned to do it wrong so consistently, so I'm only taking the p!ss )

Paul

- Well the head was thinking one thing and obviously the hands doing another .

Cheers

AL

Hi folks,

Made a start on the howitzer. The instructions open by advising you to remove 2mm from the right hand trunion. You can do this once you dry fit Part A 13 as it should sit flush when installed.

Don't let the picture showing the fitting of Part A12 confuse you it also sits flush with the trunion but you need the extra length on the LHS. (how do I know this lol, lol.)

This is a tricky assembly. I didn't glue part A13 and A12 until I had dry fitted the gun shield, but the image in the instructions should give you the correct position for these two parts.

The only real difficulty I had so far is with part A7 the hand wheel support. The length of the arms seems just a fraction short to get an easy fit.

Be careful when removing Parts B11 (the hand wheels). I managed to snap both and I though I was being gentle. I've fixed one but still need to try and repair the other.

Here's some progress











The gun shield is just a dry fit at the moment as I want to see what else I can add easily before it get fixed in place.

Al

Hi folks,

A bit more work on the limber and gun.

Al

Hi folks,

Anyone any idea who this RA Unit might be?



I've identified a couple of RA units in Singapore around 41/42.

88 (2nd West Lancashire) Fd Regt RA (TA) and

135 (East Anglian) Herts Yeomanry Fd Regt RA (TA).

I was wondering if the picture might be of the HK and Singapore Local RA Regt?

I like the contrast between the uniforms and khaki of the vehicles and guns.

Cheers

Al

close up



Thanks

Al

Looks like a two tone drab/black cammo Alan

Hi Steve,

Yes, camos fairly clear, but I'm trying to find out the unit marking: the white E on the blue? Not sure which unit it represents. Possibly HK and Singapore RA (TA) Unit?

Thanks for the thoughts on the camo.

Cheers

Al

Alan ,, Been doing some hunting and from what i can find the 88 (2nd West Lancashire) Field Regiment RA(TA) in November 41 was linked too 3 Ind Corps in Malaya so that pic might be Malaya and not HK or Singapore and looking at the pic it looks like they ain't in combat yet ,from Nov41 they moved quite a lot .
On the 29th of Jan 42 they were in Singapore.
On the 15th of Feb 42 they were captured ,,i think thats when Singapore fell .
Now to these chaps .
135 (East Anglian) Herts Yeomanry Fd Regt RA (TA).
Jan 42 part off 53 Inf Bde in Singapore
Jan 42 part off III Indian Corps in Ayer Hitam, S Jahore, Malaya
15 Feb 42 Captured at Singapore .

That clear some questions up

Phill

I will have to look into getting a Resicast kit as the details are very sharp and crisp in this one.










~ Jeff

The white E should only identify which gun tractor within the battery (in other words one gun tractor in each battery would have been marked E). I don't think it identifies the unit in any way!

Chris

Hi Phill,

Thanks for the additional info.

Hi Jeff,

Nice kit, tricky in places but beautiful detail.

Hi Chris,

I think you going on the right lines, but there are two tractors with the E in another picture, so perhaps the E is a Troop/Battery sign?

I can't see an AOS anywhere

Cheers

Al

Looking good!

(standing back here in the crowd cheering you on

Hi Mike,

Many thanks. A bit more progress.





This pretty much completes the kit build. I added some straps to the tools, used brass rod for the shield supports and improvised some clips fpr the tools.

Just the ammo to do now and decide on some suitable crew and a setting.









You get a nice set of shells and charges with the kit and additional ammo is available in kit no 35.2337. The ammo boxes are from Ultracast: C224 Mk I which seems to have been a generic type box used for various Cordite Charges.

The ground stowage is a load from one of the Resicast Sherman sets.

Cheers

Al