M1918 Howitzer

 

Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider was used in the First and Second World War by the US and French armies as well as about 20 other nations.

The curved front shield was indicative of guns made by the French.

The spoked wheels were introduced in World War One but often were replaced by the late 1930s.

The US purchased over a thousand of these and manufactured hundreds more.

They were used in combat in WWI and WWII by US forces.  This is an HO scale 3D printed model that is sold by Fidelis Models.

Using the Flail

Sherman tank mine flail.

Top view.

Bottom view.

Clearing mines on the beach.

Moving along parallel to the water to make a wider beach landing area.

Having several mine clearing vehicles together can make a wider and safer.

Two side by side and one in the middle to clear the gap.

Here they are getting primer painted.

 I usually paint the bottom of models first and then when they are dry I can flip them over and paint the other side.  Since these are made out of several different materials and different colors primer painting of these is essential.  It will help the actual paint to stick and it will create a uniform base color for the top coat paint.

Rocket Men

HaT makes a set of Napoleonic British Rocket Troops.

It's one of their oldest sets, 20 years old I think.

An almost identical rocket was used by the US Army in the First World War.  So I put together this US Army Rocket Team using Hat and Airfix WWI figures.  I added some of the Napoleonic Rockets to the figures.

Several three man teams seems like a good idea, twelve men would give me a whole squad or rocketeers.

Lined up ready to signal an attack, retreat, artillery barrage, or shoot rockets at Godzilla.

 They turned out so well I am considering getting more Rocket Troops and making more of these guys.

Shovel It

Sometimes a figure set will come with poses that are not very useful.  This Airfix WWI American is not that useful.  In a set with 48 figures you get two of this pose.

I think one would be enough and when you buy ten sets, you end up with 20 of them.

So I cut off the gun and drilled out the spot where the gun went.

Then took a left over Roco shovel and used it to create an engineer figure.

Or a forest ranger, or just some guy on latrine duty.
 

Robots and Robots

The imposing robot.

The battery fires off one more round before they are destroyed.

Or how do they look against Japanese robots?

The dog seems interested!

Three robots four guns.

Danger and excitement.
 

The Enemy Attacks

 

The battery is firing rapid fire.

The enemy is closing.

The pace is furious, as the barrels begin to glow!

Still the enemy keeps coming!

He's here!

Behind the scenes showing the Iron Giant, the photo studio, and the lighting.

WWI Battery Firing

In WWI US Troops often served in British units and wore British uniforms.

I use the HaT WWI British Artillery figures to simulate this.

Here are some of the WWI British and WWI US mingled together to form a battery.

I think they look good together.

The British set gives you four sets of crews with two extra heads with caps and two extra heads with Wolsey helmets.

Serving the guns.
 

Firing the Gun

The gun firing.

Horses from the Hasagawa M3 Stuart tank kit.

The figures are all from the Hat French 75 kit.

Dog is a random dog from the collection.  He is now the battery dog.

I like this set and I have kept buying them.
 

Cannon and Caisson

The gun and the caisson were set up side by side.

The ammo was right next to the gun for quick firing.

The recoil mechanism allowed the gun to stay in place when fired, so it did not need to be relaid after every shot.

Makes a nice little set up.

Of course in fixed positions the ammo would be in a dugout and the caisson would be used to replenish the store.