WW1 Leyland 3-ton Lorries, a big gun and a Hannover CL IIIa

 The mojo for painting little metal men has taken long term leave but over the past month the time at the table has been dedicated to "equipments". Earlier in the summer I obtained these two 1/56 scale 3D resin printed models of WW1 Leyland 3-ton lorries from David Freemantle in Australia. Splendid stuff. I also assembled and painted up a 5 inch gun on an obsolete 40pdr gun carriage from Actual Size Miniatures. The dial sight came from my bits-box. I was pleased to get this model as this gun was used in Mesopotamia. There is a photograph of such a gun mounted in the bows of a river lighter that has been converted into an improvised powered gunboat. I will now be able to think about building the powered lighter. My friend Steve, in a moment of madness, had a clear-out and as a consequence of his episode a number of 1/48 aircraft kits are now sitting in in my "to build" pile. Here is the first, a Hannover Cl IIIa. This kit caused much swearing and getting the top wing fixed in place was a nightmare. Even now it is not central! There comes a time to cut your losses, say "bugger it" and crack on.

 

26cwt 6 inch Howitzer, tractor and towing limber painted.

 Just like small boy who gets his hands on a new toy, all attention was focussed on painting up one of these three 1/56  howitzers just to see what it would look like before the remaining two get the treatment in the fullness of time. The six crew figures come from Empress Miniatures. HLBS, Woodbine Designs and Perry Miniatures. All have been given Woodbine Designs Wolseley helmeted heads.  

1/56 26cwt 6 inch Howitzer. More brilliant work from John Hart.

 Some time ago, followers of these pages may recall, that master model maker John Hart made me a number of 1/56 Model B FWD 3 ton trucks and I turned my hand to some sculpting of drivers. These were to form part of my planned Heavy Artillery Group...some table dressing for Palestine 1917-18. Yesterday, the Postie delivered the next part of the project, a number of 1/56 26cwt 6 inch Howitzers and towing limbers. The FWD trucks will act as tractors for three 6 inch howitzers that join a couple of 60pdrs from HLBS and a 6 inch gun (converted from a HLBS 8 inch Howitzer) to be pulled by Holt tractors from 1st Corps. Here are some images from the camera on the mobile to show these excellent resin guns. John has assembled the guns for me (I don't think he trusts me to do it properly) and all I have to do is put the wheels on. I have put a 28mm gunner alongside the gun so that you can get an idea of scale (which is spot on) and I have photographed a gun attached to a FWD Model B truck. The detail on these models is superb. Some great detail can be seem on this model in some of the tools attached to the carriage...a shovel, big mallet and thumping big axe! The gun also has the dial site attached. I would be very interested to hear from any one who might be interested in purchasing the masters for the Model B FWD truck, the 6 inch howitzer and towing limber with the aim of adding these existing ranges. Until that happens then I own something unique! MINE! ALL MINE!

97 Heavy Artillery Group 2. High angle static 6 inch 30 cwt Howitzer.

Being somewhat dissatisfied with the Irregular Miniatures 6 inch 30 cwt Howitzer (underscale) for 97 Heavy Artillery Group, I decided to replace it with a scratchbuild. Here is a 1/56 (approx) 6 inch 30 cwt Howitzer on the top carriage in the static position, wheels removed, ready for some high angle work. The figure for size comparison is a Mutton Chop wth a Woodbine head.

Scratching the itch: 97 Heavy Artillery Group 1. The Guns.

Since completing the 4th Australian Light Horse, the Painting Mojo decided to go for a holiday. Both it and I needed a break from the brushes for while. However, I got the itch. The itch to build. So, as I took time away from the paints, I began work on what will become 97 Heavy Artillery Group and I built the guns. These are all approximately 1/56 scale. They are not meant to be exact scale models but something that, in the end, looks like the real gun and will pass as a gaming piece.

Mark VI 8 inch Howitzer: There were two Mark VI guns in Palestine during 1917 and 1918. All scratched with the addition of converted wheels from the JTFM Mark I Tank steering gear. 

26 cwt 6 inch Howitzers: One of these is a complete scratchbuild, the other uses the barrel from an Irregular Miniatures 6 inch howitzer. I bought Irregular Miniatures gun out of curiosity but the carriage is completely wrong and it went straight into the "bits box".

A fourth howitzer was added using the Irregular Miniatures 30 cwt 6 inch Howitzer (on the extreme right).

Mark II 60 pdr: These two guns took the most work. Again, the barrels and carriages are scratchbuilt and the wheels are converted from the JTFM Mark I Tank steering gear.

In the fullness of time I shall have to convert some gunners, do some more Holt tractors and towing limbers, an observation balloon, a flatbed truck with a massive winch, two lorry mounted AA guns and some AA Lewis guns. What have I started........? 

Moving the 60pdr.

Mule drawn transport in Mesopotamia. The Perry ACW Mule Team form the basis for this part of the Big Guns project. A Perry WW2 British Yeomanry trooper provides the driver in the saddle while the chap alonside the leading pair is a previously pictured converted Perry Mafeking figure. The towing limber is a scartchbuild as is the gun.