I finally finished repairing the damage to my models from my recent move. I picked a quick little kit to do as the first build here in AL. I recently had a fellow modeler (thanks Charles) send me a resin S-Model M8 75mm Pack Howitzer model from Poland. It is a simple kit with only 23 pieces in crisp cream resin. The pieces were easy to clean up and are cast well. Assembly was simple and there were no problems. It assembles and is able to be broken down just like a real Pack 75, so the dio possibilities are endless with it. I believe that it is a resin copy of the old Tamiya metal M8 kit. Either way, it was a nice little build and looks good. Here are a few pics of it.

(The figure was not part of the kit, but is needed to weigh down the trails. Without him, it takes a nose dive due to the weight of the barrel assembly.)





More here.

Nice job Gino, I just happen to have that kit in the "to do pile" which is much different than my "to finish pile". Although I think I'll go for the travel mode on mine.

Hi Gino,

Looks like a nice little kit, I can see you might need to weight it down being resin.

Here's a link to Japanese Armor King they have a version broken down for transportation and one in firing mode: Click on Price List

http://www.japanesearmorking.com/index.html

Some interesting kit there if you haven't come across them before.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Al

The reason its barrel heavy is due to you having the barrel in firing position, while the axle and trail are in travelling mode (at least according to the instructions in my Tamiya example).

Thanks, glad you guys like it.




Nope, Tamiya has it partly wrong. The axle and trails are in one of the firing positions. It can be fired with the axle in the forward "C" brackets on the front of the trails as well. For traveling, the barrel assembly can either be removed and attached to the lugs on the trails, or the entire gun can be broken down into multiple subassemblies and packed onto a mule, cart, or into the back of a jeep, hence the name Pack Howitzer. Or, apparently,....


...strapped onto a small camel.

It is barrel heavy due to the weight of the solid resin barrel assembly, which is hollow on the actual gun. Steel is heavier than resin as well.

You can see some more combinations at Tanxheaven.

Nice. Is it supposed to have that cast appearance on the top of the barrel like that?

Also how you liking Alabama?

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. Yes, the cover over the barrel is cast steel and does have a rough-ish texture. AL is good so far, can't complain.

Gino, very nice build. Are these available somewhere? Like many posts, this was the gun used for evening retreat in Baumholder when I was there, and I wouldn't mind doing one to add to my collection of "guns I've fired".

Tom

Tom, I ordered mine directly from S-Models.
Easy enough to order from, once you set up an account, and took about 2 weeks for order to arrive.

S-Models

Coool, Gino.

I have an old Tamiya kit I am using for a T-30 halftrack build. Maybe your build will kick me in the @$$.

Thanks, Dave. I'll give it a shot. (Like I need ANOTHER kit in my stash!!)

Tom

Gino -

How were the S-Model folks to work with? Any financial or shipping difficulties?

Thanks,
Dave

I actually got it from another modeler, not from S-Model directly. He said they were pretty easy to order from though and they were delivered pretty quickly. He had nothing bad to say. Good luck.

I've had no problems ordering from S-Models.
Usually takes a week to two weeks for the package to arrive, if he has them cast up, if not then a little longer, as I think he cast the slower movers as needed.