Super Heavy Artillery

A while back someone gave me a Star Wars related tracked vehicle, in marginal condition.  I also had a extra Classic Marx Military Howitzer.  They are sold in packs of three, but I only wanted five.  My 60mm units are organized as a Pentomic Army with units of five pieces or sup-units.

In the early half of the 20th Century magazines were published that had stories about fantastical military machines, weapons and aircraft.  So I figured if I combined these it would make a great long range artillery piece for my 1/72nd scale War of the Worlds project. 

The tracks were terrible so I replaced them with a more WWI looking track.  I replaced all my Airfix WWI British tank vinyl tracks with resin cast ones because the vinyl melts the plastic.  I used some left over track on this vehicle after sanding off the old track surface.

I cut the Marx cannon off the base/ trails and mounted it on a disc.

So now it turns about 30 degrees left and right of front, and if I lift it a bit it will turn all the way around.

The crane is from some space toy I got decades ago that has been languishing in the spares box.  Here are the wheels and trails from the artillery.  I have another project in mind for them.
 

The Foe is Defeated

Just as the war machines were using their heat ray guns to scythe the Regular Infantry, the Militia Artillery score two fatal hits on the remaining war machines. 

They fall like elephants in the hunt.

The troops move forward to make sure their demise is true.

The men near the machines.

A final pair of shots are fired as the battle has been won.

The troops inspect the fallen behemoths.

Three out of three war machines have been destroyed.

The deaths of the civilians have been avenged, the deaths of the Regular Infantry were not in vain.

The troops proudly wave Old Glory over the bodies of the vanquished foe.

The Hits Just Keep on Coming

One of the war machines has taken two direct hits from the militia artillery.

The whole saucer section has been blown off!

The other two machines stop to look for survivers.

They find none.

Now the two remaining war machines redouble their resolve to press the attack.

They close on the Infantry.

And two more hits!

A Hit!

The Infantry is deployed in a thin skirmish line in front of the artillery.  What use are such puny weapons against those heat ray guns?

Soon the artillery will be out of ammunition, there was not time to bring more, still they keep up a rapid fire.

Two hits!  One of the war machines has sustained two hits!

The other two war machines pause in their advance.

The Infantry cheer the hit, but...

They know there are still two more to come.

The one that was hit seems in great distress.

The Fire is Furious

The state militia keep up a rapid fire.  Few ever considered the state militia would be needed in an emergency and yet, here they are defending their homes and their neighbors from invasion!

The rounds fall closer to the target but the enemy war machine move nearer.

The barrage is deafening.

It that a hit?  Did they get one?

No, a near miss, they are still advancing.  How long is the range of the invaders heat ray gun?

The tractors get their steam up in case they have to withdraw, everyone knows they are too slow to escape even without the guns, the enemy war machines would over run them.

Two more near misses!  So close this time and still no hit!

War Machines and Survivors

Three alien war machines crawl from the cylinder!

Some of the survivors flee!

The war machines scout the area around their cylinder but don't give chase.

A few of the men and soldiers run to the imagined safety of the army lines.

The survivors give their story to the officers in command of the militia.

The guns prepare to fire now that they know those of the cylinder want war!

The war machines begin to move out!

Metallic Monsters

Many of the people escaped and are running back to town.

The soldiers are running back to the artillery position to report.

Hiding in the woods and hoping the Heat Rays are not mobile. 

Some large device steps out of the cylinder.

It mounts a Heat Ray on top!

And now another!

And soon a third metallic monster steps out of the cylinder.  What will become of the town?