Trumpeter 1/35 AS 90

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:34 pm

[youtube]klCm1JxZ2zk[/youtube]

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:47 pm

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The AS-90 (Artillery System for the 1990s; known officially as Gun Equipment 155 mm L131) is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army.

The AS-90 was first deployed by the British Army in 1993.[1] 179 AS-90s were acquired to re-equip six of the eight self-propelled field artillery regiments (each 24 guns) in the 1 (BR) Corps, replacing the 105 mm FV433 Abbot SPG and older M109 155 mm Self Propelled Gun. It remains in UK service and will equip three field regiments supporting armoured infantry brigades for the foreseeable future. 134 in service in 2008, 117 in 2015.

AS-90 was designed and built by the Armaments division of Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL), whose parent company became BAE Systems in 1999. VSEL provided 179 vehicles between 1992 and 1995 at a cost of £300 million ($480 million USD).

The AS-90 underwent a capability enhancement program in 2008 and 2009, primarily relating to upgrades of the AS-90's electronic system.

In 1999, Marconi Electronic Systems was contracted to upgrade British Army AS-90s to include a 52 calibre gun in order to increase the range of the artillery. Critical to the program was a bi-modular charge system from Somchem of South Africa (selected after extensive trials of ammunition from many suppliers), which offered greatly reduced barrel wear. However, this ammunition failed to meet the requirement for insensitive munitions and the project was terminated.

Post by **Coen** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:28 pm

Oh ya! That's the best choice Kev! Freaking awesome.
Loved that vid too... Haha.

Post by **timtamtung** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:38 pm

Sweet! I've built the 1/72 version by trumpeter. I like it.
Let us know how this one in 1/35 goes

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 6:51 pm

Thanks for the kind words!!!

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 7:11 pm

All the work in my job keeps me a bit off from my the kit...

wailed enough

As most tank kits we begin on the running gear...

Let's start with the rollers. Well, there's nothing to say ...

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Even on the pods for the idler wheels, is nothing to say...

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Here we see the shock absorbers, scooters, pods of idler wheels and final drives on the chassis...

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Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 10:11 pm

Built this kit before. I would recommend getting the RB Models barrel if you can, much better than the kit one.

Also, bear in mind that the pic you posted above is not an AS90 in desert camo. That is the scheme used in Canada by the British training units. British desert stuff is all over Light Stone (sand colour). Hope that helps!

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:43 pm

Great choice, a lovely looking bit of kit! Good luck with the rest of it buddy

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:36 pm

Gav0909 wrote:Built this kit before. I would recommend getting the RB Models barrel if you can, much better than the kit one.

Also, bear in mind that the pic you posted above is not an AS90 in desert camo. That is the scheme used in Canada by the British training units. British desert stuff is all over Light Stone (sand colour). Hope that helps!

Thanks for the note with the painting. I have not specially adapted the photos to the AS90D. More photos come in all sorts of paintings.
But if I'm honest, I would have painted my AS90 in this camo-sheme... So thanks again

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:42 pm

Because the AS90 is not a Hoover-tank, we need wheels

At the back of the hub cover, there is a small guide tooth. But they fit at no wheel. So all cut away.

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:58 pm

Never trust instuctions!!!!
If I put on the tow hook as shown, they would be upside down...

I just turn my image and show you what I mean

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Post by **chief5437** » Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:04 pm

They're just checking you're paying attention, lol! Well spotted

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:58 pm

I painted my AS90 in the green/sand camo scheme, looks cool. But yeah, for a desert vehicle, you will need to do it Light Stone all over.

Coming on nicely though.

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:53 pm

The eyes, where are the tow hooks mounted don't fit. The centering pins are too large.

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Cut off the crap things and it fits

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Finally, the tow hooks be attached right around

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:57 pm

AS-90 started in the mid-1980s as a private venture on the 'gamble' that the tri-national SP70 would fail. When this duly occurred, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a cardinal point specification on one page for a new 155 mm SPG. Four tenders were submitted, and AS-90 was the only offer that was not 'brochureware'. The MoD was also required to consider the US "Paladin", an upgraded M109 howitzer.

The MoD has undertaken studies in 2006-09 to "up gun" the Royal Navy's main shipboard gun armament, the 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun, to accept 155 mm ammunition from the AS-90. This would introduce a common gun calibre for the British Army and Royal Navy, helping with ammunition logistics, and encouraging joint Army-Navy development of extended range and precision guided shells.

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Post by **schweinhund227** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:54 pm

Good work on this Old gal ! she is about to turn... 15 I think ?

Looking forward to your next update ! in the end it will be a winner !

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Sat Sep 12, 2015 12:51 am

You can't go wrong with a big gun
When it comes to guns bigger is always better
Good lucj with the build

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:55 pm

schweinhund227 wrote:Good work on this Old gal ! she is about to turn... 15 I think ?

Looking forward to your next update ! in the end it will be a winner !

Thanks Mate!
The kit is from 2002.
Probably this kit will be only the winner of hearts. Much sanding, filling, ect...

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:57 pm

MarkVerploeg wrote:You can't go wrong with a big gun
When it comes to guns bigger is always better
Good lucj with the build

Sheers Mate!
I need luck for this kit

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 3:16 pm

I have aligned the rear entry hatch with the top of the hull.

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When this was fixed as I glued the top half.

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This thing has rubber tracks. Good to know how many links are on it ...

I know, for aftermarket tracks

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 3:18 pm

some more pics...

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:37 pm

Even the boxes on the back don't fit.
I don't want to sand the seams completely away because somewhere the steel plates must be welded together.

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The handle of the rear hatch wants also not like me. As long as the glue is dries, the handle is secured with BlueTack.

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Now attach the mudflap, then the rear is almost comlpete.

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:12 pm

The tow rope is sealed with superglue. Thus the yarn stop to loose fibers.

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Unfortunately I broke the exterior mirror

. Now I have them mounted in folded down position

.
At the track tensioners are ugly ejection marks. Filling and sanding was nessesary...

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Wasn't meat the front mudflap

.Stupid casting defects

.

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Now you've got a few days without me. I must go to Berlin and remove some legacies of WWII. If I have internet at the hotel,I can follow and comment your builts but I can't work on my AS90.

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:27 pm

Looks like she's putting up a fight! Great work so far though, I'm sure you'll win in the end. Enjoy your trip to Berlin, it might be good to leave it for a few days!

What are the ww2 legacies you are removing? UXB?

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:49 pm

chief5437 wrote:Looks like she's putting up a fight! Great work so far though, I'm sure you'll win in the end. Enjoy your trip to Berlin, it might be good to leave it for a few days!

What are the ww2 legacies you are removing? UXB?

Thank you.
I try to remove every UXO what was build to kill. But mosttimes from WWII. Sadly I havn't the permission to blow that stuff up.

. OK! It would be hard to blow something up in a city

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:51 pm

Well take it easy buddy, go careful!

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:17 pm

Dunhill2005 wrote:The tow rope is sealed with superglue. Thus the yarn stop to loose fibers.
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Unfortunately I broke the exterior mirror . Now I have them mounted in folded down position .
At the track tensioners are ugly ejection marks. Filling and sanding was nessesary...
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Wasn't meat the front mudflap .Stupid casting defects .
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Now you've got a few days without me. I must go to Berlin and remove some legacies of WWII. If I have internet at the hotel, I can follow and comment your builds but I can't work on my AS90.

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:36 pm

The front part of the howitzer is almost done. Here a bit dusty from sanding and some ejector marks must be made away.

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I intend to put a soldier in the hull.This is actually a German ISAF soldier. I have sand away his shoulder protectors and some parts on his armour. The body armor, that the Germans used in 2003, is already an English one from company Bristol in DPM-Camo...
I've shortened the brim of his hat a bit. Oh yes! He also got a Shemag.

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Post by **gaz45** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:18 pm

Looking good so far mate

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:26 pm

Hi Mates!!!
I started with the gun-barrel. I opted for the 39 caliber variant although the 55 caliber version looks cool.

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The boxes at the back of the turret (where the generators are in) don't fit properly together. I've glued the front as good as possible together (green arrow). Now it did not fit properly on the inside. But happily you can't see it later (red arrow).

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Even the stupid box at the top does not fit well together. Later I throw something in and put a camo-net over it...
All holes in the turret were drilled from above, even at the angled plates. Thereby the round holes became oval and the pins match no longer...

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:30 pm

In 1963 certain NATO nations, including the UK, agreed a Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding for a 155 mm 39 calibre ordnance and a baseline projectile with the shape used for the US M549 rocket-assisted shell. The AS-90 uses a conforming 39 calibre barrel which fires the L15 unassisted projectile out to a range of 24.7 km. However, this was a new design of ordnance using a split sliding block breech with Crossley obturation, instead of the more usual screw breech, to permit bagged charges (no metal cartridge cases). The breech mechanism has a primer magazine holding 18 primers. The standard ammunition is that designed for FH-70 (L15 HE and associated propelling charges) although in training the less effective but cheaper M107 with Green and White propelling charges is used.

It is fitted with an auxiliary power unit to eliminate the need to run the main engine to keep the batteries charged while stationary; electrical servos drive the automated elevation, traverse, magazine, shell transfer arm and loader as well as power for electronics and communications.

The vehicle is fitted with an autonomous navigation and gun laying dynamic reference unit (DRU) mounted on the trunnion. All main turret functions are controlled by a Turret Control Computer (TCC) with control and display units for the No 1 (Detachment Commander), No 2 (loader) and No 3 (layer). The combination of the DRU, TCC and powered laying controls provide autolaying. Every gun is fitted with a radar Muzzle Velocity Measuring Device. Reversionary mode laying uses deflection laying via the direct fire sight.

The gun can be brought into action fully closed down, the barrel can be clamped and unclamped from within the vehicle. Into and out of action times are less than 1 minute.

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Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:46 pm

Just as well you didn't go with the 55 cal gun, as its not "real". There was a prototype vehicle made with this gun as a trail, but the design was never accepted by the Army and didn't go into production.

Post by **Coen** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:54 am

Awesome presentation and great details Kevin

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:14 pm

Gav0909 wrote:Just as well you didn't go with the 55 cal gun, as its not "real". There was a prototype vehicle made with this gun as a trail, but the design was never accepted by the Army and didn't go into production.

I've also read it. Bravehard...

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:16 pm

Coen wrote:Awesome presentation and great details Kevin

Cheers Mate!
I'm happy that you like it

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:45 pm

In my spare parts box, I have found a few parts that I would like to use. For example, a desert rat badge from my crusader. I have a smaller sign from my challenger too. Mmh

let's have a look wich one I use...

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So far I am now...

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What you see here is a bristle of a broom. Now you wonder why the hach is he photographing that!?!

I have searched long for an antenna. I'm always looking for almost free replacements of aftermarket products. I don't like antennas made of pulled sprues which break easily and remain poorly stable. I didn't get a suitable acupuncture needle too. Adventitious I found this bristle. Which are quite thin and stable.

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:46 am

I've packed some stuff in the basket only to give the camouflage net an interesting shape.

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I have drilled a .7mm hole in teh antenna-base to fix the antenna.

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The parts of the running gear are plugged on Q-tips to make them easier to paint.

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 1:58 pm

1. I painted the lower part of the hull in dark green.
2. A coat of varnish over it.
3. A layer of hairspray
4. and layer sand...

I do the same with the parts of the Suspension

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**Felis Barcinonensis YouTube Channel** · Post by **felisbarcinonensis** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 4:48 pm

Great progress!!

Post by **martin57** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 5:16 pm

nice build so far apart from a few hick ups coming together nice

Post by **Nige201980** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:30 am

Looking good so far Kev

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:09 pm

Nige201980 wrote:Looking good so far Kev

Cheers Mate!

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:24 pm

The rubber-bands of the rollers were painted in black and chipped.

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I do not know whose tracks they have packed in the carton but not that of the AS 90...

I had to cut away four links!!!

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:32 pm

felisbarcinonensis wrote:Great progress!!

Thank you!!! Happy that you like my AS90

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:34 pm

martin57 wrote:nice build so far apart from a few hick ups coming together nice

Thank you!!!
This kit suffer a lot under hick-ups...

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:59 pm

I have to cut away a bit from the side-skirts. They are a bit to Long (see arrows)

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I had tried to paint the tracks before assembly but this was impossible. As soon as I moved the track, the paint peel off. This means track is painted by hand later.

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The undercarriage is masked for further paint-jobs.

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Post by **Coen** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:24 pm

She looks excellent so far Kev.
The wheels looks well done. Too bad about the tracks.

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:32 pm

Coen wrote:She looks excellent so far Kev.
The wheels looks well done. Too bad about the tracks.

Thank you!!!

Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:41 pm

It continues with the turret.
1. A layer of dark-green
2. A layer of varnish
3. Hairspray
4. Sand-colour
And then chipping...

If that is done, the add-on parts are painted.

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Post by **Dunhill2005** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:45 pm

Crew: 5, on board when moving (driver plus 4 gun detachment), full gun detachment 10 including driver, 4 detachment members in the turret.
Length: 9.07 m
Width: 3.3 m
Height: 3.0 m
Armour: 17 mm (maximum, steel)
Weight: 45 tons[vague]
Calibre: 155 mm
Range: 24.9 km (39 cal), 30 km (52 cal) standard charges
Rate of fire: 3 rounds in 10 seconds (burst), 6 rounds per minute for 3 minutes (intense), 2 rounds per minute for 60 minutes (sustained)
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm L7 GPMG
Ammunition carried: 48 projectiles and charges (31 turret and 17 hull), 1000 MG rounds
Main Engine: Cummins VTA903T 660 bhp 90 degree, v8, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, turbo diesel,
Max Speed: 55 km/h (Road)
Range: 370 km or 231 mi (Road)
Ground clearance: 0.41 m; Gradient: 60°; Vertical obstacle: 0.75 m; Trench crossing: 2.8 m; Fording depth: 1.5 m

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