1st Battalion 13th Marines, Khe Sanh, 1968. 105 mm howitzer

10 responses

1. 

   Craig Abrahamson said on August 31, 2016

   Nice work, Thomas...can you provide a little background on the construction?

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2. 

   Thomas Sweeney said on August 31, 2016

   I purchased the base from Vietnam scale models. It comes in white plaster so I painted it and added additional ground cover with celluclay
   the ammo boxes were made with different size balsa wood and I used dental floss for the handles
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-96663800-1415301345.jpg
   the shells and casings were hand made
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-07967500-1415301198.jpg
   The shell containers were made from drinking straws painted black, cut and open containers were sealed at one by modeling clay the unopened ones were sealed at both ends
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-43960500-1415301563.jpg
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-92859300-1415301576.jpg
   The shells were made from bamboo skewer tips cut to size and the pointed tip blunted
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-82950500-1415301668.jpg
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-02940400-1415301682.jpg
   the spent shell casings were made from the plastic spruce from the kit I smooth it out and painted it brass cut to size. Then I took, a pin driver and hollowed out the center
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-20196100-1415301837.jpg
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-23413500-1415301848.jpg
   http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_11_2014/post-8684-0-45803000-1415301861.jpg
   The Marines were conversations of Verlinden Marines and the Howitzer is
   SAM_0450_Converted.JPG

   I hope I answered your questions

   Tom

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   • 

     Craig Abrahamson said on August 31, 2016

     Wow...you certainly did, Tom. That's quite an extensive and comprehensive explanation of your build process. A lot of work went into this (and the others) and it appears you captured the 'moment' very well. Kudos to you, sir.

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3. 

   David Mills said on August 31, 2016

   Hats off to you Tom the, sheer amount of effort you put into your builds is amazing. Ambitious too in the subjects/events you cover fitting tribute to the Marines who had to battle it out with the NVA

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4. 

   Greg Kittinger said on August 31, 2016

   Another fine dio Tom - love your stuff!

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5. 

   Robert Royes said on August 31, 2016

   Great job1

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   • 

     Robert Royes said on August 31, 2016

     I meant great job!

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6. 

   Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on August 31, 2016

   Tom, another fine piece of work, a moment in time! You got the ground color right, that red dirt. The redlegs are gonna put the hurt on Charlie.

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7. 

   Tom Cleaver said on September 1, 2016

   good work

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8. 

   DE4EVER said on September 1, 2016

   🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
   Nice work on that diorama Thomas.

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