British 7.2 inch Howitzter ( Thunder Models)

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

That looks interesting - and unusual!!

[digger303]

That looks interesting - and unusual!!

Ran into some problems ( when do we not ) getting the carriage together. Don't get me wrong it mostly fitted like a glove, but the sections are very thin in places and while trying to glue them together the parts have a tendency to flex. Plus the surface area is reduced somewhat. So I had a couple of places where a gap opened up. Mostly dealt with now.

[digger303]

A little late in the build, but here couresty of Wiki and contributors from around the world.

In 1940 the British Army concluded that the only heavy howitzer available to it, the First World War-era BL 8-inch howitzer, had insufficient range for the conditions of the Second World War. As a stopgap the decision was made to re-line the existing barrels to a smaller calibre and develop a new range of ammunition to achieve the desired ranges.

The 8-inch barrels were re-lined to 7.2 inches (183 mm) and the old carriages were retained although the original steel rimmed wheels were replaced with new pneumatic balloon-tyre wheels, as was consistent with the motorisation of the British Army. The new four-charge ammunition increased the range to 16,900 yd (15,500 m), but when fired at full charge the recoil caused the weapon to rear violently and jump backwards. To help counter this, two wedge shaped ramps were placed behind the wheels although the gun could sometimes still jump over them, presenting a hazard to crews. Marks I–IV differed only in the original 8-inch barrel used and the type of conversion; some barrels and carriages were also supplied from US First World War stocks.[1][2][5]
Mark V

In 1944 several 7.2-inch barrels were placed in the US Carriage M1 used by the 155 mm Long Tom already in use by the British Army, becoming the BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk V. Few Mk Vs were produced and it was never issued to batteries, as it was apparent that the Carriage M1 was capable of accepting greater recoil forces.[1][2]
Mark 6

The BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk 6 (there was a shift from Roman numerals) retained the Carriage M1 of the Mk V but had a new built 7.2-inch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) longer barrel than previous marks, additionally a fifth charge was added to the ammunition. The longer barrel and extra charge provided an increase in range to 19,600 yd (17,900 m),[6] and the new carriage also provided a far more stable platform, greatly increasing accuracy. The Mk 6 was considered a highly effective gun and it was retained in service after the war.[1][2]
Use

The original marks performed well. The first 7.2-inch howitzers were issued to batteries from mid-1942 and used in action in North Africa and later following the Normandy landings. In Burma they were provided as a pool of two guns per corps and used by Regiments as required. By the end of 1944, most of the earlier marks had been replaced by the Mk 6.[1][2]

The usual gun tractor for the 7.2-inch howitzer in the early war years was the Scammell Pioneer, although this was never available in sufficient numbers and from late 1943 the Pioneer was supplemented by the Albion CX22S.[7]

The BL 7.2-inch howitzer was usually employed in two four-gun batteries (alongside two four-gun batteries equipped with the 155mm Long Tom) of "Heavy" regiments of Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) units, providing heavy fire support for British and Commonwealth troops. The Mk 6 remained in British Army service until the early 1960s.[2][3][8]
Indian Army service
In 1957, Indian Army raised 60 Heavy Regiment from the erstwhile J&K Bodyguard Cavalry. The unit was unique in its composition of four batteries with four Mk 6 BL 7.2-inch Howitzers in each battery, unlike the standard three-battery (six guns each) composition of other Indian artillery regiments. The guns of 60 Heavy Regiment saw combat in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. In early 90's, 60 was converted to a field regiment and the guns passed on to 61 Heavy Regiment. The guns were finally retired from service by late 90's.


They were a very useful piece of ordinance for the British ALBEIT a little exciting when they went off....

Here's a pic of a miserable day in the life of a gunner
Notice the shells lined up behind the gun

[Twokidsnosleep]

Interesting topic

[digger303]

Had some trouble with the gun mounting brackets. I added a little spacer to push the brackets out a little after I pulled them all apart as my dry fitting was lacking.
It got a little brutal


I got it all back together and it doesn't look too bad now



The instructions are a little basic and a couple of parts are missed off it, but it's not too much trouble to figure it out.
Still have some linkages to attach tomorrow and of course the PE.

[Stokesy44]

That's a big old gun. I wonder what Freud would say....

[RangerNeil]

Looking good Digger. Whats the planned colour scheme - Desert or European theatres?

[digger303]

That's a big old gun. I wonder what Freud would say....

Probably what your thinking and applying it to the Brits in general....

Looking good Digger. Whats the planned colour scheme - Desert or European theatres?

Going to go with the box art depictions as I think that is quite unusual and pleasing.
Maybe lightening the green a tad.

[digger303]

As I indicated I went forward with the lightening of the green and maybe made it too light a tad.



The wheels are a bugger to paint as the rim edge is practically the same height as the tyre.
Which I must get back too and paint on another coat.

[digger303]

This is almost done too.



I made a green hairy plank out of a piece of foam.
The kit comes with 4 rounds of ammo and the various sized powder charges as these were 2 piece affairs. Not sure what I should do with those.

[BigWall]

It's coming along nicely Digger! I think as long as you're in the correct color range you're ok. So many variables to how a color looks.

[digger303]

It's coming along nicely Digger! I think as long as you're in the correct color range you're ok. So many variables to how a color looks.

Thanks and to my surprise after misting on a coloured varnish matte coat the colour is pretty close now.
On a couple of old black and white pic's I can see a rope looped around the small ramps, but can't see where it goes properly. In one pic I can see ( I think and not very well ) what looks to be a bar through the large ramp. I suspect the rope loops around the small one and then around that bar I was talking about, but I have no clear evidence of that. To me it would make sense that they did that as the recoil was huge and it would push those ramps out of place fairly easily I suspect. Opinion ?

[Stokesy44]

Looking very good sir.

If the ammo looks good I'd have it scattered around the base of the gun.

[cor]

Nice little kit. Came up looking good on the grass.

[digger303]

Nice little kit. Came up looking good on the grass.

Thank you.
It's a nice kit although the instructions are very basic, bit like a garage kit. Ak's addition improved it a bit.

[digger303]

Looking very good sir.

If the ammo looks good I'd have it scattered around the base of the gun.

Thank you, I'll do that.

[BigWall]

I agree that the ramps could probably be overran fairly easily. A limiting strap could make a lot of sense.

[digger303]

There is a huge error in that last pic which I was feeling slightly embarrassed about, but nobody picked it up so now I don't feel so bad

[digger303]

Ok the error has been fixed and the kit is 99% done with just a rope to be added and this will be my last post on this kit.

This is supposed to be a gun at range practice.







Obviously in real life the ammo would be further away from this bucking gun, but in the interests of space it's condensed.
Thank you for those who supported me.

[krusty69]

Well done

[RangerNeil]

Excellent job!!
Love the ammo display too - really completes the display.

[BigWall]

I saw that and just figured it wasn't in the final assembly state. It really looks great!

[digger303]

Well done

Excellent job!!
Love the ammo display too - really completes the display.

I saw that and just figured it wasn't in the final assembly state. It really looks great!

Thank you kind people

[Twokidsnosleep]

I really like how this finished out and your display base and accoutrements are fantastic

What is this, do I see a white backdrop and clean final photo efforts

[digger303]

I really like how this finished out and your display base and accoutrements are fantastic

What is this, do I see a white backdrop and clean final photo efforts

Nothing escapes your eagle eye....