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Modeller Build Logs
M-12 155mm GMC |
| By Hans Haase | | Started: | Mar 1, 2007 | | Updated: | Sep 2, 2007 |
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The M-12 is, in allied terms, a somewhat rare vehicle. 100 of these self propelled artillery pieces were built in 1942 and 1943 for the purpose of training and were based on M3 medium tank chassis, with the then-standard M1917/M1918M1 155mm gun of French design.
As the actual invasion of Europe got closer, it was decided that the standard 105mm M7 self-propelled howitzer may be too small for dealing with stronger fixed emplacements, and a number of M-12's were modernized and upgraded for combat use. These became the largest self-propelled US artillery deployed in Europe and saw heavy use throughout the European campaign.
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| Suspension: Part 2 | Jul 11, 2007 |
As I mentioned earlier, Academy had a couple of big goofs in the m12 suspension that needed to be fixed, which don't really apply if using these parts elsewhere.
The other is the sponson supports, which are those odd bars that drop down off the sides of the upper hull. Many other websites I have seen speculation to what they are, everything from recoil braces to brush guards. However, my conclusion is that they are there to prevent the sponsons from sagging. I think this because they are present on both the M12 and M30's, so they can't be recoil related. And compared to a Sherman or Priest, the large open gun deck doesn't give any of the bracing needed to keep the sponsons from sagging.
Anyways, back to the problems with them. Academy just gives you the two bars that hang off the upper hull, and don't connect to anything. However, the real vehicles have a horizontal section of plate that also bolts to the front of the bogie housings. This was easy enough to make out of some strene sheet. I've sinced cleaned it up and smoothed out the rough edges on it, but here you can see the basic construction of what has to be done. I ran out of Grandt-Line bolts, so I had to use rivets in this case. Since they aren't too prominent, I can live with the change.
Also, you can see an additional line of rivets I added behind the exhaust. The M12 photos I've seen do not have the riveted lower hull like that seen on the M3 Medium tank or M7 Priest. The hulls were of welded construction, but this one line of rivets was present for some reason. I suspect it has to do with the substructure attaching the gun mount to the lower hull, which is hidden by the crew floor. I suspect there are most likely additional rivets on the lower side of the hull, but I'm not worried about that here. |
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