105mm Howitzer M2A1 & Carriage M2A2
1:35 Kit Comparison
kit #AF35182 - kit #6531
Review by Terry Ashley

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(Step 6,7) The main gun cradle is moulded in one piece which eliminates the annoying central seam on many a kit gun cradle, the cradle is also includes the gun sleigh slide strips to allow the sleigh to fit and slide (recoil) as it should.

There are two triangular strips that fit inside the cradle and you should ensure the correct orientation for these as indicated in the instructions with the remaining detail added without any problems. These correctly depict the lip on the rear of the strips and the two separate cradle locking pins are different lengths either side of the cradle so make sure these are fitted as per instructions.

Other details include the gunner’s lanyard moulded in the stowed position (part B3) on the cradle side so remember to remove this if the gun is posed in the firing position and the right side bracket being in etched brass for excellent detail definition.

The left side elevation arc is fitted unglued over the trunnion pin with the bottom of the arc attached to the top carriage aligned with the right side elevation arc already attached to the carriage. You should ensure the gun cradle sits squarely in relation to top carriage and a temporary jig (part B37) is provided to rest the cradle on while assembling the parts but I found this more a hindrance and it was easier to just align the parts by eye.

The traverse hand wheel assembly is then fitted to the telescoping rod and drilling a small hole in the end of the rod will help in fitting the hand wheel more precisely.

(Step 1,2) The main gun cradle is moulded in two halves resulting in the central seam to be eliminated as it is quite noticeable as the rear of the carriage. The cradle doesn’t include the gun sleigh slide strips but just gives indentations to simulate the strip and this means the barrel assembly can’t recoil but has to be glued onto the carriage.

There are two triangular strips that fit inside the cradle and you should ensure the correct orientation for these as indicated in the instructions with the remaining detail added without any problems. These strips should have a small lip on the rear edge but this is missing with just flat ends and adding this lip will enhance the detail.

Detail around the rear of the carriage is also quite simplified with a lack of rivet detail as well as the travel lock pegs being just plain without any detail, these pegs on the actual gun are not equal lengths but the kit pegs are and the right hand peg should be shortened to replicate this feature.

With the carriage assembled this can then have the two halves of the top carriage attached, if you want the gun to elevate make sure you don’t glue the gun trunnions and added to the side of the carriage is the traverse wheels and linkages which fit without any problems.

Cradle parts, most notable feature being the one piece AFV Club cradle and two part DML cradle resulting in central join seam.

Assembled cradle with detail close-ups.
Note the added rivet and lock pin detail on the rear of the AFV Club cradle and the central join seam of the DML cradle.

Gun cradle added to the top carriage.
Note the actual barrel slide strip as it should be on the AFV Club carriage while the DML carriage only has an indentation to represent the strip.
The DML gun assembly can only be glued into position on the cradle due to the lack of securing strip.

1. Rear cradle detail, note the travel lock pins are not the same size on both sides on the actual gun cradle,
this is correctly depicted on the AFV Club cradle but not on the DML cradle as well as additional detail on the AFV Club pins.
Also the triangular cradle inserts should have a small lip as again depicted correctly (if a little thick) on the AFV Club cradle but not on the DML cradle.
2. Another issue is the length of the lower small shield supports which are too short on the DML kit,
this results in the small shield being at the wrong angle when fitted but more on this later.

Reference image from the Wings & Wheels Publications #R 048 - 105mm Howitzer in detail book showing details as indicated (1).

Bottom carriage assembly, note better defined hand brake detail on the AFV Club part.

Return to review chapter page

to Chapter 3: Barrel Sleigh/Recoil Mechanism: