Modelling World War 1

[Kiteman]

That is a work of art my friend!

[zak]

Well here it is more paint applied and getting there slowly.
Some weathering and mud needed now.

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[Haddock]

Makes you feel humble!

[zak]

I thought it would be "umble" in your case.

[zak]

Completed tractor, mud and all, now onto the resin version.
Spot the stupid mistake - doh.......
I need seeing to, must sort that out a.s.a.p..

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[Haddock]

Gobsmacked!

[zak]

I'll take that as a complement then shall I?
Of course it needed something to pull.
More later

[Bigkev]

Is the number different on each side of the Tractor?

Tut, tut

Bigkev

PS. Sorry I still need that lift!

[zak]

Got it in one.
Yes, what a B_ _ _ _ _!
Well I will just have to take more care.
Lift? What lift?

[Bigkev]

The lift could be one to a certain modelling spectacular?

Very nice work though, ( Sounds of Grovelling!)

Bigkev

[zak]

I decided to make something for the gun to pull some time ago, but I have been keeping it under wraps, might as well post some pictures now.
Again this is scratch built from some plans that I found.
They were a few different variants and so it is a bit difficult when looking at photos which one it is.
Some had pneumatic types added and were still in use in the 2nd World War.

6 inch 26cwt Howitzer

It was developed to replace the obsolescent 6 inch 25 cwt. and 6 inch 30cwt howitzers which were outclassed by German artillery such as the 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13. Design began in January 1915, the first proof-firing occurred on 30 July 1915 and it entered service in late 1915.Its combination of firepower, range and mobility (for its day) made it one of the British Empire's most important weapons in World War I.
It was originally towed by horses but from 1916 onwards was commonly towed by the "FWD" 4 wheel drive 3 ton lorry as heavy field artillery. The wooden spoke wheels could be fitted with "girdles" for work in mud or sand to prevent them sinking. Towards the end of the war solid rubber tires were fitted over the iron tires on the wheel rims, giving the rims a heavier appearance.
The 6inch (152mm) 26 cwt. (1320kg) Howitzer was developed in 1915, to replace earlier British models of the same calibre, and it soon became the standard British medium howitzer: 3,633 had been manufactured by the end of the war. It had a simple and sturdy hydro-pneumatic recoil system, that varied the stroke according to the elevation. The traverse possible was 4° to the right and left, and the elevation was from 0° to +45°. The standard grenade used was first a 45kg shrapnel shell, but this allowed only for a range of some 8.7km, but when a lighter shell was put into use (only 39kg) the range was increased to 10.4km. (A pure HE shell was also introduced.)
The gun's first real debut came at the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916. It was one of the few pieces that could be relied upon to really cut through the huge barbed wire obstacles and demolish the front-line enemy dug-outs. The gun was used mainly by the British Army (at the end of the war 1,246 were employed by them) but some had also been supplied to other allies, like the Italians. Like all artillery pieces of its size, the 6 inch 26 cwt. was no easy load to move. It required a sizeable team of horses to shift it any distance and mechanized traction was used whenever possible. An indication of the importance of this gun, can be given by the fact that in November 1918 guns of this type had fired some 22.4 million rounds on the Western Front alone. The gun's soundness can be measured by the fact that it was used well in to WW2, seeing action both in North Africa and in Burma.

Enough here are some pictures


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[zak]

Nearly forgot the limber.

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[Kiteman]

Superb modelling and engineering. How do you do it? I am speechless!

[zak]

Retirement, lots of time, little TV, a modicum of skill and a very tolerant wife!

[Haddock]

Is there no limit to your talents?