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Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 9:00 pm
by lmcq11
http://vandramodel.hu/wp/conversion-kit ... 0buc2Wy7MI

Here is a new conversion kit for the Sherman hull. I am no M12 expert but at first sight, it seems to be a good base. The howitzer could possibly be on the thin side, but not sure. Anyway, i have ordered it. I will check the situation first thing when i get it and make a build report.
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
Capture12.JPG (68.63 KiB) Viewed 1423 times

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 5:11 am
by Herr Dr. Professor
Oh, yay! That M12 was a big boom boom! I am glad you’re doing a report. I can rummage through my books for info on the M12 in various Sherman books if you have a question or need a bibliographic citation to find a book.

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:21 am
by Kaczor
Can't wait to see another project from you :)

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:28 am
by Manu-Military
Considering how wrong and weird their M3 Lee is, how they are able to make an A4 engined Sherman on a short chassis, how weird looking some of their German vehicles are, to me this announcement is to be taken very lightly.

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:25 am
by Tiger6
Manu-Military wrote:Considering how wrong and weird their M3 Lee is, how they are able to make an A4 engined Sherman on a short chassis, how weird looking some of their German vehicles are, to me this announcement is to be taken very lightly.
The M12 was built on the standard length Lee chassis produced by PSC, not on the A4 chassis by Chrysler (despite being depicted as such by Bradford in his so called 'plans' book :/ ).

I'm currently using the Airfix(Ex Academy) kit as a reference for my own model:
M12-1.JPG
M12-1.JPG (50.98 KiB) Viewed 1371 times

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:34 am
by Kaczor
Question is if old repacked kit have proper dimensions and proportions ;)

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:48 am
by Tiger6
I have seen no evidence outside of Bradford's 'drawing' that the chassis was a stretched version - if you have some then please post it?

Looking at photo's online, like found here: http://www.tankarchives.ca/2018/06/gmc- ... racks.html , I don't see any resemblance to the A4 chassis photo's found a ways down this page: http://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/10/medium-tank-m3.html

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 12:39 pm
by Manu-Military
When I spoke about an A4, I was refering to their Firefly conversion NOT that M12 HMC.
And yes, I definitely know that the M12 was not based on an A4, thanks.

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:18 pm
by Tiger6
Manu-Military wrote:I definitely know that the M12 was not based on an A4, thanks.
Ah, now I understand :thumbup: I thought for a second you were refering to the 'AFV plans' book where the M12 and M30 are drawn on M4A4 chassis - I didn't notice that intially when I started scratch building an M30 using his 'plans', the whole lot basically ended up in the bin after I butchered a Mato chassis to remove the rear plate, and discovered the top didn't fit... >:<

Re: Vandra M12 Howitzer conversion now available

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:20 pm
by lmcq11
One thing to check is the presence of variations.

The surviving example at Fort Sills has welded spoked road wheels and idler.
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
The first one on this picture has pressed spoke road wheels while the second one seems to have welded spoked wheels.
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
Check out the recoil of the 155mm howitzer on the M12, used here in direct fire support in a fantastic action shot taken from an M30 munition carrier. The M12 was popular for such intervention, being able to follow the advance of the lead elements. That sliding breech recoil won't be easy to reproduce.
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
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A conversion into an M30 ammo carrier is a real possibility and they would look nice together.
M12 Howitzer
M12 Howitzer
M30 Ammo carrier
M30 Ammo carrier
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