US 105mm howitzer comments... (1 Viewer)

[binder001]

Just got my new K&C 105mm howitzer from the Battle of te Bulge range. One of the nicest cannon models out there. The model represents 105mm Howitzer M2A1 on Carriage M2A2. There are a couple problems - first the K&C version has two towing loops ("lunette"). No way, the real gun has the lunette on the right hand trail (standing at the breech looking forward to the muzzle). The mounting on the left trail is for a trail spike, a rod that helps add leverale to move the gun or spread the trails. The rods on the outside of the left trail aren't red-and-white aiming stakes like the ones on the right trail. The rods on the left trail are cleaning rod staff sections and would be OD or natural wood color. FYI, the breech is molded in the open (loading or ejecting) position. The breech block would not be painted OD, the sliding surfaces were oiled bare metal. The gun doesn't elevate, which would have been nice. Either that or the gun could have been molded in a higher elevation - howitzers fired in a parabolic arc.

Despite te complaints, the model is very well done and represents a long-missing piece of US weaponry. Each infantry division had 36 of these guns and there were more added from corps-level assets.

I'm very glad I got this one.

Gary B.

 

[Humbug]

so am I !!!

 

[desk11desk12]

Just got my new K&C 105mm howitzer from the Battle of te Bulge range. One of the nicest cannon models out there. The model represents 105mm Howitzer M2A1 on Carriage M2A2. There are a couple problems - first the K&C version has two towing loops ("lunette"). No way, the real gun has the lunette on the right hand trail (standing at the breech looking forward to the muzzle). The mounting on the left trail is for a trail spike, a rod that helps add leverale to move the gun or spread the trails. The rods on the outside of the left trail aren't red-and-white aiming stakes like the ones on the right trail. The rods on the left trail are cleaning rod staff sections and would be OD or natural wood color. FYI, the breech is molded in the open (loading or ejecting) position. The breech block would not be painted OD, the sliding surfaces were oiled bare metal. The gun doesn't elevate, which would have been nice. Either that or the gun could have been molded in a higher elevation - howitzers fired in a parabolic arc.

Despite te complaints, the model is very well done and represents a long-missing piece of US weaponry. Each infantry division had 36 of these guns and there were more added from corps-level assets.

I'm very glad I got this one.

Gary B.

LOL Gary,

Are sure? LOL, I'll be ordering one too.

Carlos

 

[wayne556517]

LOL Gary,

Are sure? LOL, I'll be ordering one too.

Carlos

LOL i was thinking the same thing................

 

[Obee]

Gary,

from you astute observations, you must be a gunner, and one wheo has served on this type of gun, like me!

I'd have to agree with all of your observations, even thought I've only seen images of this one, thanks for letting us all the finer details.

John

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Nice review. And yes it would have been nice to have the gun in an elevated position. I was surprised it wasn't moveable or at least elevated.

But overall, a very nice set long overdue.

Terry

 

[binder001]

Gary, from you astute observations, you must be a gunner, and one wheo has served on this type of gun, like me! John

John, I wish I could claim that honor but my asthma kept me out, although in 1971 Uncle Sam sent me an invitation to a free physical, in the end I wasn't taken. My father, on the other hand, was a "red leg". He was in the infantry and served in infantry cannon companies (with the light M3 105mm). He served in Europe in 1945. In 1951 he joined the National Guard and became an artillery officer. I grew up seeing 105's frequently. I remember playing with a 105 at some family day activity and it's probably lucky that none of us lost a finger - we were working the breech, traversing the gun and pulling the lanyard (also missing on the K&C model). The US 105mm howitzer is right up there with the Sherman tank, the P51 Mustang and the M1 rifle as my favorite US weapons.

John, did you notice the missing crewman? I was setting up mine and noticed that there's no "Number 1" to go on the left side of the howitzer.

Gary B.

 

[Obee]

Gary,

yes I did notice the excellent poses of the gunners, but didn't really see the positions created.

The No1 is there, he's the gun Sgt, and the No2 is there, operating the breech and laying the gun for elevation, but the No3, who lays the gun for line, isn't present.

The extra sets have 2 gun numbers loading and preparing the riunds, and another is carrying cartriges while the corporal ( bombadier in UK + Aussie batterys) is on the tannoy getting fire orders.

Well done on picking up the mistake!!!

Maybe K&C can now make another add on the No3 laying for line?

John

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Gary,

yes I did notice the excellent poses of the gunners, but didn't really see the positions created.

The No1 is there, he's the gun Sgt, and the No2 is there, operating the breech and laying the gun for elevation, but the No3, who lays the gun for line, isn't present.

The extra sets have 2 gun numbers loading and preparing the riunds, and another is carrying cartriges while the corporal ( bombadier in UK + Aussie batterys) is on the tannoy getting fire orders.

Well done on picking up the mistake!!!

Maybe K&C can now make another add on the No3 laying for line?

John

Good idea. I'll buy the extra figure to make the gun crew complete.

Terry

 

[Vezzolf]

Just recieved the 105mm howitzer......EXCELLENT.....No problems here.... definitely "well done" and a must have.....Highly recommend it

 

[arnhem44mad]

I just got a huge loadf of King and Country, I got the Howitzer and most of the Winter pieces, however I was unfortunate to recieve a cannon with one of the hooks on the end of one of the tails broken off, and the top of the gun severely bent in a 90 degree angle, however, I e-mailed King and Country, so hopefully they will be able to fix me dilemma?

 

[binder001]

I just got a huge loadf of King and Country, I got the Howitzer and most of the Winter pieces, however I was unfortunate to recieve a cannon with one of the hooks on the end of one of the tails broken off, and the top of the gun severely bent in a 90 degree angle, however, I e-mailed King and Country, so hopefully they will be able to fix me dilemma?

If your are looking from breech to muzzle and the broken "hook" is on the left - leave it off. It doesn't belong there anyway.

Gary B.

 

[Humbug]

Carlos[/QUOTE]

If your are looking from breech to muzzle and the broken "hook" is on the left - leave it off. It doesn't belong there anyway.

Gary B.

In your first message you referred to the right trail; so which one should be left off/ removed ?

 

[binder001]

If you are standing and looking from breech forward to muzzle the towing hook is on the right-hand trail. I may have mis-typed before. When the trails are spread the towing hook assembly stays on the right trail. The left trail has a socket for a trail spike and that's where K&C put the other towing loop (lunette). The models from Revell (almost as old as I am!), Italeri and Dragon got it right.

Attached is a 105mm howitzer from the 106th Infantry Division in the Ardennes. Note the lunette sticking up off the right trail.

Gary B.

 

[Humbug]

Thank you for your clear explanation!

 

[Phantom Warrior]

If you are standing and looking from breech forward to muzzle the towing hook is on the right-hand trail. I may have mis-typed before. When the trails are spread the towing hook assembly stays on the right trail. The left trail has a socket for a trail spike and that's where K&C put the other towing loop (lunette). The models from Revell (almost as old as I am!), Italeri and Dragon got it right.

Attached is a 105mm howitzer from the 106th Infantry Division in the Ardennes. Note the lunette sticking up off the right trail.

Gary B.

Unfortunately, it's the wrong one that broke off - I mean the right one right-hand one that is.

terry

 

[Humbug]

Unfortunately, it's the wrong one that broke off - I mean the right one right-hand one that is.

terry

Are you trying to confuse me?

 

[noli-poli]

If you are standing and looking from breech forward to muzzle the towing hook is on the right-hand trail. I may have mis-typed before. When the trails are spread the towing hook assembly stays on the right trail. The left trail has a socket for a trail spike and that's where K&C put the other towing loop (lunette). The models from Revell (almost as old as I am!), Italeri and Dragon got it right.

Attached is a 105mm howitzer from the 106th Infantry Division in the Ardennes. Note the lunette sticking up off the right trail.

Gary B.

Gary:

When in tow, the lunette will point downwards correct? I plan to correct the errors and make the lunette work through micro-drilling and scratch-build a new lunette. Does the lunette pivot through the socket and then locked in place?

Thanks
N-P

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Gary:

When in tow, the lunette will point downwards correct? I plan to correct the errors and make the lunette work through micro-drilling and scratch-build a new lunette. Does the lunette pivot through the socket and then locked in place?

Thanks
N-P

Here are a couple of photos. One shows the lunette pointed up and the second shows it straight.

Terry

 

[noli-poli]

Here are a couple of photos. One shows the lunette pointed up and the second shows it straight.

Terry

ThanksTerry