Project build log of the IDF M109 Doher Self-Propelled Howitzer convertion.


Ok at my local Hobby club meet we are getting ready for an up comming show/contest. Well we have a huge stash of kits for the shows drawing and we had a lot of old kits that were going to be trashed. So seeing that I'm the big armor guy in the club, I went after the really bad looking and half built armor kits.

Well any way one of the worst looking an prebuilt kits was this Testors/Italeri SP M109 Howitzer. Well I was planing on buying the academy kits SP and convert it., but not that I have a free kit. I'll work this.


This is what the kit looked like when we opened it at the club meet. (I marked the gunbarrel)


Who donates a kit half built? Any way to build the gun in to the Israeli version I have the chop up the barrel.




Next I must remove the guns mane body form the turret housing.

Barrel Depot used to make a metal barrel for the M109A2-A5's which would be less work - of course they might be tough to find! Should have picked up or traded for the long barrel kit-the short barrel one is getting really hard to find and I bet some people are aghast that you cut up that barrel ! The barrel will be a tough shape to get right without a lathe IMO.

Jim

You can still find the Barrel Depot M109A2 barrel for less than $15 on eBay pretty regularly. I agree w/Jim, the tapered shape is going to be hard to get right. It isn't a straight taper. Also, the fume extractor isn't just a straight drum.

That would be hard to do since Academy does not make a M109 of any sort.. If you were talking about converting the Academy K-9 into a M109 that woud not work. The best barrel replacement out there, if you can find one, would be the old KMC/ Warriors/ Trakz 155 gun barrel. Unless it was already taken out, the longer gun barrel should be some where on the sprues.

Guys this kit has a lot of missing parts. I'll have to scratch build what I need. If I feel like buying the barrel off Ebay I will. I would like to try and scratchbuild it my self first.
Remember guys building the hard stuff is what I do!

We're just trying to give you options. If you want to make it harder on yourself, go ahead.

What in your pics is "Pending Copyright"? You can't copyright a model. If someone wants to build another based on your photos, you can do nothing about it. Imitation is the greatest flattery.

Heavy Every one knows that but you can copyright your work. If any of you guys want to copy my work to build your self an ABV. That's cool but if any one chooses to copy my work and make a kit for profit. Than that's tha pickel! As I have bean ask to make this thing into a kit for sale and some company have ask to buy parts of it. I'm right now building one more!

Any way I found the 155mm barrel and once I try and fale at the build. I will then spend the 15 + SH. Remember Heavy not all of us have alot of money to spend out.
That's why I scratchbuild so much. It's a money saver for me.

Would you please inform us if or wjhen this happens. I for one do not have your skills.

If some company does have you do a master for them, that would be great. I hope they do, it would be a great model for all to have.




That is still not an issue that you can copyright. The only way it becomes a copyright issue is if they take your exact model (the one you built and have) and make a direct copy of it. Then you still have to prove that it is a copy. Good luck at that.

If someone else builds one based on your pics or drawings, it is their model and they can do what they want with it, including marketing, sales, and making a profit off it.

"Guys and Heavy" I want you all to know that I truly appreciate your help and info from time to time.
As for my ABV I chose to skip doing a company master., as I would only get one check. The company would go on to make lot's of money off my back. So if I do a conversion kit I would make all the money. Sorry for getting AF-Armorama Fourm.

An Now about that Gun Barrel, I noticed that the "Bore Evacuator" is off set and it sits a bit low in the middle of the two barrels. Is this right?

Dude you and blackwater have some mad bilding skills the mine plow looks AWESOME! and cant wait to see if you can make the barrel for the M-109 keep us informed.Goog luck

Not sure what you mean, but the bore evac is centered on the barrel itself and closer to the bore end than it is to the turret.

Why do I see any pictures?

Hmm, not sure why that doesn't work.

Here are a few more.

Heavy your called it a "fume extractor" and I called it a "Bore Evacuator" Same thing.
Bore Evacuator Info Link

Any way I was only asking if what looks to be an off set item. If I had build it strate on and I was rong. I would have to rebuild the thing all over again.

Black Water I'm trying to get the best info I can, before I start andy building. That Barrel comes first.

Back to that Barrel. Now a friend has that M109A barrel for the barrel. From the Barrel Depot. He showed it to me at this years Contest and model show.
The "fume extractor"/"Bore Evacuator" what ever you call it looks straght and was centerd on the main part of the barrel.

Ok it's on off set like that of the Centurion or Merkava Mk2,3 and 4. Now if you sill don't understand. I'm going to go on and build two versions.
One the way it looks to my eyes, from the photos and one the way have described it.
I'll post really soon.

An BTW I like the photos thanks.

That is of course up to you. My eyes aren't the same as they were a few years ago, but they're good enough if you're further than 3M away.
At any rate, here's a photo of an A6 bore evacuator. True, it's a little different from earlier versions, but it has always been and continues to be centered on the tube, both laterally and top to bottom.

I got the bore evac/fume extractor part.

I wasn't following the off-set and a bit low part.

As Rob and I both said and show above, it is centered on the barrel.

Check your PMs, I may have a solution for you.

Yep it looks strate on to me now, is that the US version? The IMI version look's a bit diffrent in the rear section of the evacuator..


At any rate, Here's my lay out. I have a lot of sanding to do.

The pic Rob posted is the current M109A6 Paladin Howitzer. It uses a different barrel and different bore evac than the M109A2. The bore evac is still cenetered on the barrel though.

Your bore evac looks a little short. This may help.



The Barrel Depot barrel is identicle to to kit one, just without a seam to sand down. The muzzle brake is a slightly larger too.

As Yoda once said "Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them"
That's the problem from working with photos, depending on the camera and angle etc. can really throw the perception off. The fume extractor really is centered on the barrel.

Jim

D'oh, before somebody jumps on me it wasn't Yoda, it was Obi-Wan who said that. Have to get my fictional Jedi Masters sorted out .
Jim

I think what might have got you confused Jim is kause caveman tipe like Yoda.

Thanks "Heavy" that photo helped out a lot! After re-measuring with my caliper, I made a quick sketch with all the measurments so, I would know the lingth of the parts needed.
Now I'm not ready to start building up the putty yet as I need to let it filly dry. An why do I need to let it dry? I have tub's inside each other. Once it's fully dry I'l then start to build up the layer of putty to help shape the thing.

The barrel is looking good. Glad the pic and measurements helped. Keep up the good work.

The barrel is not fully finished yet,... so here's some progress photos.


Bore evacuator's gass holes.


Muzzle seam line covered up.


Making welded bead lines.


I'm going to finish that gunbarrel and it's mount an start on that travel lock.


More to come...