Now I’ve got another model finished, I can let myself start a new one 
I’ve wanted to build an American M578 ARV for thirty years, and last year, I finally got hold of the old Verlinden conversion set for one, which gives me the opportunity to do so.
[ATTACH]418891[/ATTACH]
As a bit of background, the M578 is basically the hull of the M107/M110 self-propelled guns, but with the gun turntable replaced by a turret with a crane and the rear recoil spade by a stabiliser so the crane can be used over the rear of the vehicle as well. The M107 and M110 differ only in the gun fitted: a 175 mm with very long barrel in the former, a 203 mm with short barrel in the latter; later, the M110 was upgraded to the M110A1 with a longer barrel too (but not as long as the M107’s) and then to the M110A2 by fitting a muzzle brake. Any of these SP guns could be converted into any of the others by replacing the barrel and some minor items, which could be done in six hours — later in two — given a crane capable of lifting the barrel. The M578 was intended as a light recovery vehicle, not just for SP gun units but also others.
Anyway, on to the model. After the Verlinden set, I bought an Italeri M110. This kit has been released in different guises and by different kit manufacturers over the years since its initial release as an M107 in the late 80s, but all of them are essentially the same kit. Only the barrel, decals etc. change, regardless of whether you buy it as an Italeri, Revell, Tamiya, Testors, or whatever: any 1:35 scale M107 or M110 kit is the Italeri offering, so for this conversion I just bought the cheapest one I could find
[ATTACH]418892[/ATTACH]
This is, of course, the Italeri kit, the Verlinden conversion set and also a set of Verlinden US tank crew in NBC suits that I want to put into the hatches.
In the Italeri box, you get the following:
[ATTACH]418893[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418894[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418895[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418896[/ATTACH]
The sprue with the gun parts went straight into my spares box, because I need exactly no parts of it on this model.
Verlinden gives you this:
[ATTACH]418897[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418898[/ATTACH]
Note that the crane has already been built, by the previous owner of this set. He soldered it together and did quite a good job by the looks of it. This saves me pretty much all the difficult work
And the figures:
[ATTACH]418899[/ATTACH]
I’ve wanted to build an American M578 ARV for thirty years, and last year, I finally got hold of the old Verlinden conversion set for one, which gives me the opportunity to do so.[ATTACH]418891[/ATTACH]
As a bit of background, the M578 is basically the hull of the M107/M110 self-propelled guns, but with the gun turntable replaced by a turret with a crane and the rear recoil spade by a stabiliser so the crane can be used over the rear of the vehicle as well. The M107 and M110 differ only in the gun fitted: a 175 mm with very long barrel in the former, a 203 mm with short barrel in the latter; later, the M110 was upgraded to the M110A1 with a longer barrel too (but not as long as the M107’s) and then to the M110A2 by fitting a muzzle brake. Any of these SP guns could be converted into any of the others by replacing the barrel and some minor items, which could be done in six hours — later in two — given a crane capable of lifting the barrel. The M578 was intended as a light recovery vehicle, not just for SP gun units but also others.
Anyway, on to the model. After the Verlinden set, I bought an Italeri M110. This kit has been released in different guises and by different kit manufacturers over the years since its initial release as an M107 in the late 80s, but all of them are essentially the same kit. Only the barrel, decals etc. change, regardless of whether you buy it as an Italeri, Revell, Tamiya, Testors, or whatever: any 1:35 scale M107 or M110 kit is the Italeri offering, so for this conversion I just bought the cheapest one I could find
[ATTACH]418892[/ATTACH]
This is, of course, the Italeri kit, the Verlinden conversion set and also a set of Verlinden US tank crew in NBC suits that I want to put into the hatches.
In the Italeri box, you get the following:
[ATTACH]418893[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418894[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418895[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418896[/ATTACH]
The sprue with the gun parts went straight into my spares box, because I need exactly no parts of it on this model.
Verlinden gives you this:
[ATTACH]418897[/ATTACH][ATTACH]418898[/ATTACH]
Note that the crane has already been built, by the previous owner of this set. He soldered it together and did quite a good job by the looks of it. This saves me pretty much all the difficult work
And the figures:
[ATTACH]418899[/ATTACH]
Looking carefully, it turns out to be slightly twisted (or perhaps crooked) and a fraction too wide. The result is that, if the top is lined up correctly, the bottom doesn’t sit between the hinge plates as it should, but just on top of the right hinge and inboard of the left one — while if I try to slide it between the hinge plates, it won’t fit.
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