Darren Baker reviews AFV Club''s new kit of the US M109 self propelled howitzer.

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Thanks!

Nice review. Thanks!

But one comment:


It is not entirely true. It is not the rubber part that is separate from the rest of the wheel. It is the outer "slice" of the entire wheel, including both rubber and metal parts, so it won't help in painting in any way. What it does however is to reproduce an undercut in the wheel rims and it does it nicely!

I am currently working on my first AFV Club kit right now,an 1126 Stryker and I am impressed by the quality,construction and instructions of the kit.I look forward to trying out this Howitzer,should make a nice addition.

As a battery officer who worked as a young lieutenant with six of these guns in " my own" battery, this is a must-have without any doubt. It brings back all good memories of looking backwards from the top hatch of a M577 and immediately getting the feeling that you were an absolute king of 22 years old!
The review gave a superb look into the quality standards we are used from AFV.
Now, some company should start without delay a set of decals for the various units which used this SPG.
And now a new 1980's, good detailed, M577, dear Tamiya staff!

Bison already has decals for the IDF and British. I'm sure more will come out in the future.

Quote [ a very realistic looking M1A1 Collimator with the legs being particularly well replicated. I believe this device is used for accurate direct fire and is a nice inclusion with this model.} unquote

Daren,
The collimator is used as an aiming device in general. This optical instrument is used for indirect laying of field artillery guns by establishing an optical reference from which weapon deflection angles can be measured. The collimator is an aiming optical post, which is equipped with a special reticle (which can be illuminated), so that the instrument functions as an optical projection system simulating a target at infinity. The collimator works on the same principle as the older distant aiming point method, but affords greater accuracy.
Direct fire was/is done by the crew, at least in my M109 artillery unit, via the gun tube with an opened breech. Though, one should consider that the use of direct fire by artillery units may show that something went terribly wrong in the war operations!!!!
I can remember that we seldom practiced this kind of firing. We used it only to show the effects of an artillery grenade on a hard target.
In Bosnia, I can remember my visit of a demonstration in the Kiseljak area, where the British RA showed some local military staff and (presumed) war lords the effects of a hit of direct fire by means of an AS90 Braveheart at an obsolete BOV of the Yugoslav Forces to show them what would happen in case somebody would neglect the IFOR rules!
Today, the whole aiming procedure is taken over by GPS an computers, making the collimator to a, more or less, out phased device. The Dutch Army, using the PzH 2000, practices it as a reserve technology, just in case!

Too bad who ever can't just hurry up and get the M992 out.

Right you are!
But, let's keep hoping. Finally, we should have something to put in our stash after summer also.

P.

In the midst of building this right now. I ran into a problem during step #20 putting the rear turret panels in place only to find that the ammunition bustle would not fit in step #23.

I had to cut out the panels and then set the bustle in place and re-attach the panels. This is not the fault of the kit but the builder and a lack of decent references. Also poor memory as I too was a Redleg for 10 years, many of those in a 109 battalion.

Thanks for the review Darren. Lookl like the M109 to get. Too bad they did not include the Diehl tracks and M113 style commander's hatch as used by many European Nations. Maybe there's another release to follow?

Cheers!
Stefan

Great review Darren - I'm thinking of buying this kit. Are the hatches and doors all moveable - or do you have to glue them open or closed?

All hatches are hinged and are movable if assembled correctly.