Rick Taylor shares with us a review of the latest release of the 8 Inch Howitzer M1 from AFV Club in 1/35th scale.
Read the Review
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
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Review
AFV Club: 8 Inch Howitzer M1
CMOT
Editor-in-Chief
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 01:34 AM UTC
Rick Taylor shares with us a review of the latest release of the 8 Inch Howitzer M1 from AFV Club in 1/35th scale.
Read the Review
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
RobinNilsson
TOS Moderator
Joined: November 29, 2006
KitMaker: 6,693 posts
Armorama: 5,562 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 01:38 AM UTC
OK
This sounds like a "must have"
/ Robin
This sounds like a "must have"
/ Robin
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 03:23 AM UTC
It looks really nice. I may have to get one too.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 05:58 AM UTC
I liked the M115 kit but it required as noted resin wheels/tires to backdate it to WW2 version. I am glad to see they have finally released the one that most modelers would prefer to have.
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 07:53 AM UTC
Rick, Thanks for the great review! As you know, I like to build my Artillery “in trail”. So I’m wondering about the suspension in this kit— in the old AFV M1 and M115 Korean War versions, some modification has to be done to “lift” the main suspension and brake system to build it in trail. Is there an option in the new kit for this?
VR, Russ
VR, Russ
taylorrl
Joined: January 31, 2019
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 01:42 PM UTC
Russ,
As you know, I like my artillery pieces laid, safe, and ready to fire.
I won't be able to start the build on this kit for a couple of weeks; so I'm going solely from the instructions and the TM. The instructions don't address the height of the bogey assembly for travelling vs. firing position. They only address the new bogey lock and the position of the travel lock. The illustrations in the instructions all show the bogey assembly / wheels down in traveling position. I suspect that I'll have to adjust the assembly up to get the wheels up and off the ground for firing.
Rick
As you know, I like my artillery pieces laid, safe, and ready to fire.
I won't be able to start the build on this kit for a couple of weeks; so I'm going solely from the instructions and the TM. The instructions don't address the height of the bogey assembly for travelling vs. firing position. They only address the new bogey lock and the position of the travel lock. The illustrations in the instructions all show the bogey assembly / wheels down in traveling position. I suspect that I'll have to adjust the assembly up to get the wheels up and off the ground for firing.Rick
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 04:08 PM UTC
Thanks Rick-- I'll be waiting to see what you find. Remember those guns have to get from here to there before rounds go downrange! 
VR, Russ
VR, Russ
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 06:16 PM UTC
It looks like a very nice kit, but that box art is not going to win any awards... 
jvazquez
Joined: September 26, 2006
KitMaker: 857 posts
Armorama: 811 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 03:07 AM UTC
Great review and nice update to this kit.
My only complaint is I wish they would go away from the rubber wheels and gone to injection mold.
My only complaint is I wish they would go away from the rubber wheels and gone to injection mold.
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Monday, June 17, 2019 - 12:34 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Great review and nice update to this kit.
My only complaint is I wish they would go away from the rubber wheels and gone to injection mold.
FOR SURE!!!
I'm hoping that DEF or some other after-market company will come out with "weighted/bulged" resin Wheel/Tire sets... I HATE vinyl Tracks and Tires...,
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Monday, June 17, 2019 - 12:39 AM UTC
Quoted Text
It looks like a very nice kit, but that box art is not going to win any awards...
Hi, Pawel!
I couldn't care LESS about "box art". What counts for me is what one actually finds INSIDE the box. Once I finish a model kit, the box it came in gets cut up in order to lay flat, and then it goes to "Re-Cycling"...
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Monday, June 17, 2019 - 12:48 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Russ,
As you know, I like my artillery pieces laid, safe, and ready to fire.
Rick
Hi, All!
Looks like a REALLY NICE kit!!!
This is just me being me:
When I buy Towed Artillery, I get at least two kits of same. One is for display "in Firing mode", and the other will be hitched to the appropriate Prime Mover...
That said, isn't it about time to see a Mack NO. 7 1/2-tonner in PLASTIC..? These model companies will come out with all kinds of obscure WWII German stuff and "Paper Panzers", yet they will still ignore US/Allied MAJOR "PLAYERS"...
taylorrl
Joined: January 31, 2019
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 01:16 PM UTC
I'm with you. A Mack NO would be a great addition as an artillery prime mover.
Rick
Rick
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 04:46 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I'm with you. A Mack NO would be a great addition as an artillery prime mover.
Rick
I'm with you guys on this. A few months ago, Michael Koenig (165tpsc) implied something was in the works-- I wonder? For towed Artillery, the Mack NO seems to be the one big piece missing from the US WWII kit modeling inventory. And certainly necessary for pulling this new AFV club Artillery.
VR, Russ
165thspc
#521
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Monday, July 08, 2019 - 12:13 AM UTC
Sorry to say but I have had no further reports from my source on that subject.
It has been all quiet on the Eastern front!
It has been all quiet on the Eastern front!
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Monday, July 08, 2019 - 02:39 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Sorry to say but I have had no further reports from my source on that subject.
It has been all quiet on the Eastern front!
Well that's disappointing! Hard to believe we've got an M4 tractor, a Diamond T series, numerous GMCs, Dodges, and other equipment known for pulling allied artillery and AT guns, but no Mack. Let's hope somebody steps up-- I'm not sure I want to pull a Koenig and scratch build one just yet!
VR, Russ
taylorrl
Joined: January 31, 2019
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 06:06 AM UTC
The other prime mover that would be great to have is the M5 High-Speed Tractor. There are lots of photos of the M5 towing the 8-inch and 155mm. It is only available from Commander Models (US) in resin. Hobby Fan (TW) also has one in resin but it is nearly impossible to find for sale. I have heard that both are a bear to assemble due to molding and fit issues in addition to the normal resin hassle. It would be lovely to have this released in styrene.
Rick
Rick
165thspc
#521
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 07:05 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Sorry to say but I have had no further reports from my source on that subject.
It has been all quiet on the Eastern front!
__________________________
Good News! Had a communication just two nights ago.
I am glad to report the project is still alive and moving forward. There is still hope for a Mack NO after all!
Bigred69
Joined: December 27, 2015
KitMaker: 290 posts
Armorama: 249 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 07:43 AM UTC
Thanks for the update Mike. I sure would be nice to have a kit.
165thspc
#521
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 03:13 AM UTC
Local monument display:
taylorrl
Joined: January 31, 2019
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - 05:56 AM UTC
I've completed the build and the built review is live on Armorama at https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/14731
The kit went together well and looks great on the display shelf.
Rick
The kit went together well and looks great on the display shelf.
Rick
165thspc
#521
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - 06:35 AM UTC
Rick an extremely well done review - thank you for your efforts.
_____________________________________
Russ - As to posing the boggy in travel vs. firing position there are four "over travel" cables (they look like tiny tow cables) that are part of the two axle boggy that would have to be either lengthened and/or shortened to achieve a flexible transport position.
In my case, after assembly, I just snipped these cables at their least visible point to free up the movement of the boggy. (And of course, do not glue the boggy at its' central pivot point but rather allow it to rock fore and aft on this pivot bearing.)
______________________________________
Sorry for the poor quality of this drawing:
_____________________________________
Russ - As to posing the boggy in travel vs. firing position there are four "over travel" cables (they look like tiny tow cables) that are part of the two axle boggy that would have to be either lengthened and/or shortened to achieve a flexible transport position.
In my case, after assembly, I just snipped these cables at their least visible point to free up the movement of the boggy. (And of course, do not glue the boggy at its' central pivot point but rather allow it to rock fore and aft on this pivot bearing.)
______________________________________
Sorry for the poor quality of this drawing:
165thspc
#521
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - 06:52 AM UTC
Photo reference walk-around for the 8 inch gun can be found at:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/279452
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/279452
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