Great work Glenn, Photoshop a wintry background and it would look like the real thing.

For the Campaign Leader:

I have a couple of kits calling out to be built that maybe (probably) fit in here...

I'm sure that the Trumpeter Russian 2S3 "Akatsiya" 152mm self-propelled howitzer fits...

How about a Sturmpanzer IV "Brumbar" (15cm sI.g howitzer assault tank)?

Let me know about their suitability so that I can make a decision on one and get cracking!

Thanks! Bob

Ok, ok. I rethought my entry, and wanted something with a bit more "BOOM". The S-51 SPG.




Trumpeter S-51


Some basic work on the hull done. One thing I didn't like was the molded on vents. Got to cutting it out and replacing it some pe.


Track done. Odd how some of the KV kits are link and length and others are indy link. This kit was link and length, saved some time here.


Also working on a what if KV-2 with a proposed new smaller turret.

Welcome Bob!

I'm going to say yes to the 2S3; but no to the Brumbar. I look at the Brumbar as more of an assault platform, a direct fire weapon.

Feel free to join us with the 2S3 "Akatsiya" though.

Further work and paint. Mr. Hobby Russian (2) is the color.

Both trails are painted but in the booth drying.

Breech, barrel converted to take the RB Model barrel, and barrel "carriage" mostly done.

The tan spots on the wheel rims were taped off so the braking system parts would have a nice spot to glue.



Mike

Okie Dokie, Richard! The 2S3 it shall be!

I would however offer that actually the weapon involved in the famous StuPa was the 15cm schwerer Infanterie Geschutz s.Ig 33 - a formerly towed howitzer. It was, even in that armored casement mounting, primarily a higher-angle heavy-weight support gun designed to be used to lob big HE shells (84 lb) used for blast effect. The StuPa simply mobilized in a protected box the otherwise somewhat heavy little usually horse-drawn howitzer and allowed it to be used closer in to support infantry attacks. And yes, used inside cities to dissolve buildings and such by "direct fire"... Functionally, not much different than that fairly well-known photo showing one of those tracked 203mm Soviet howitzers being used point-blank to demolish buildings and bunkers in Berlin in 1945! The StuPa was one of the first production armored fire-support howitzer put into action - and not really different in intended use or doctrine from the US "Priest" or British "Bishop" armored howitzer platforms.

The 2S3 was one of the first turreted heavy long-range fire-support howitzers built and fielded, and probably, if my sources are correct, was the real "force" leading to the US development of the M109.

I'll get my 2S3 start pic posted soon! I can smell the shaved and sanded styrene and cement already!

Cheers! Bob

OK. Here are my start-up pics for my Trumpeter Soviet 2S3 SP Howitzer (late) build.

This will be my first "big guns" build. It's a pretty large kit (it looks to be longer and wider then a Tiger II...!), but actually not extremely "parts-rich". There are, of course, a LOT of track link parts... But the rest of it is fairly clean and simple. The build will be mostly OOTB, with a few tweaks here and there (how can I resist the opportunity to add on a real wood log, and maybe a little scratch detailing here and there?).

I anticipate doing one of the interesting paint-schemes seen on these in the recent past (ca 2015) Ukraine frakus - I'll post a potential source photo later on.

The 2S3 was first built and fielded in the Soviet Army back in the mid 1960's. Among the first of the modern fully-purpose-designed and built armored turreted fire-support howitzer "tanks". The 2S3 brought together a far-reaching big-calibre (152mm, capable of accurate fire out to perhaps 45-50km) gun with good crew protection, reasonably high mobility and relatively quick fire-set-up and rapid relocation abilities which fundamentally define the general type to this day. It is said by some to have been the inspiration behind and possible "driver" of development of the US M109 series. It is still in Russian reserve service to this day (think about that! There could be some of these still clanking around that are over 50 years old!) and, with a variety of detail mods and updates, in service with several eastern European and other forces - they are currently active in Syria.

Let the build begin!




Bob

I am looking to join with a Trumpeter SU 152, as long as the campaign leader oks it.
It is a SPG, but I know it had a reputation as a tiger killer.

Jippie just finish the kit´s single link tracks, almost all of the very last small plastic parts and the cartwheel for the projectile. These tracks were the most difficult one I did had to handle until now as they were so uncomfortably molded it was a big PITA to release them from the fret and clean them up. Look here what I mean:


All in all you just have 3 extra cleats for each side in case you damage/destroy one during handling. Though I was highly careful I didn´t made it and had to scratchbuild my own 4 cleats. Fortunately it will be the backside of the diobase and I hope it will not be seen after with the eyeball Mk.I if painted properly


I just can recommend you to buy single link metal after market tracks for this - I do know there is Spade Ace who offer These if I remember correctly. After all it looks like that now:



Finally there was just the cartwheel missing - the etched spoked wheels are very nice here. just the rubber tires should have been plastic, too:


In the end the gun was complete. I didn´t glued the big components in order to better dismantle the finished kit for a better painting later:


Then it was time for the wiring. Trumpeter ommitted almost all wiring for the gun. I did this with lead wire of differen Diameter. Luckily there is a walkaround at recomonkey.com for the S26M Malka which was my base for wiring the whole gun. I did my best to replicate as much of the wiring as possible but it is very difficult with just a few pictures. But I do like the result even if I have to handle the model now with much more caution than before:

Loading arm mechanism:


mechanical firing lanyard:


right gun view:


rear gun view:


left gun view:



Thats it so far. Before I will decant the paint bucket I think I will have a rest with one well deserved beer

More work on the ML-20. Test fit the barrel assembly to the carriage - it's moveable, so putting it into "recoil" for travel-mode will be easy.



Mike

Siege of Port Arthur
IJA 280mm howitzer

Slow but steady:



More groundwork. Painting the sandbags before adding the earth medium.

Enjoy!
- dutik

@Thomas:

WOW! Looks amazing! Keep rolling!

- dutik

Just awesome Thomas. No other way to describe it..

Mike and Dutik. Looking fantastic too guys. Looking forward to seeing the dio finished Dutik.

There's a whole bunch of pieces in there.



Next up? Those crazy curved supports for the gun shield.

Mike

Okay, calling the Thunder Models British BL 7.2Inch Howitzer done. Need to make a muzzle cover and maybe the breech cover although not sure I want to hide that - This is going to be a towed gun. Also need to add a bit of chipping to the tow hooks plus a bit more weathering, but I will do that once I have built the Scammell artillery tractor for it, so I can blend them together.

Pics in the gallery, but duplicated here.

Well done Peter. In combination with Scammell it will look even better. Hope to see them together soon...

Thanks Bogi. I'm not a modelling machine like you, so it may be a while before you see them both

Great job, Peter!

Siege of Port Arthur
IJA 280mm howitzer

Update: Finished the base.





Enjoy!
- dutik

Hello everyone,
My ML-20 has been primed.




Thanks,
Joseoh

Nearly there Dutik. Ah, the verable ol' Tamiya Sand Bags... memories.

Also looking very nice Joseph. Looking forward to seeing it green...

Gratuitous kit pic.

Substructure, suspension and upper hull parts added. I'm actually further along with wheels being assembled to begin prepping for tracks

Welds added and a little stippling of putty.

Mantlet casting number added. A test of patience lol. Looks like 912 in the reference pic.

Casting number added to cast "cheek" piece.

nice job with the weld numbers, putty for them as well ?

Sean

Thanks.
They are actually strecthed sprue

Started working on the gun. Picked up a RB metal barrel.