Italeri M-108 105mm Howitzer Full Build

This one is a nice little weekend project, I’m not expecting the most detailed kit but I’m hoping with some weathering I can make the Olive Drab pop out a little bit.

scale model Italleri M-108 105MM Howitzer — Italleri M-108 105MM Howitzer 1/35th Plastic Scale Model

All The Parts Of The Italleri M-108 105MM Howitzer Laid Out On The Workbench

This kit doesn’t have a ton of pieces but for this one, I’m more interested in the painting. With it being a single colour it is going to take some work to make it stand out. Also, I have never painted rubber tracks before so hopefully, I can do them justice.

Completed The body of the Italeri US Army M-108 105mm Howitzer — The Hull Of The M-108 Is Completed Now To Move On To The Turret

The hull comes together pretty easily and the axles fit together very well. It is quite a clean fit so far considering it is a reasonably cheap kit. The wheels will take a little bit of time to clean up but that can be for another day.

m108 howitzer front and back of the hull finished — The Front And Rear Of The M-108 Hull Have Been Completed.

A few hours more work today and the hull is pretty much finished. There are a good few detail parts on the front and back. No major problems so far and the scale model is looking pretty good already. I will get on with the turret and then turn my attention to the wheels, and those rubber tracks!

Turret of the m108 scale model completed — The Turret Is Now Finished, Going To Paint It Before Sticking On The Tools

cleaned up the wheels of the M-108 — I Now Find This Such A relaxing Task, Sanding And Cleaning The Wheels Ready For Painting.

Cheap plastic stencil used as a mask for painting tank wheels — Trying Out A Plastic Stencil To Paint The Road Wheels On The M108 Self Propelled Gun.

The M108 Is Pretty Much Completed Just Giving It A Coat Of Olive Drab — Giving The M108 A Base-coat Of Lightened Olive Drab Paint.

The decal have now been placed on the M108 scale model — Applying The Decals To The Model M108 Self Propelled Gun

On to the painting now. The Olive drab goes on nicely and a quick varnish and the decals have been applied. Another coat of varnish to seal them and I can get started on the weathering process.

The scale Model 105mm M-108 Painted Up — Paint On And Tracks Fitted Just Needs The Wheel Nuts And Some Gloss Varnish

A little tip for painting wheel nuts on scale models. As you are only painting one side of the nut, stick them to a piece of masking tape, then when you airbrush or paint brush them they stay all together and your spray arc will be smaller.

Painting The Wheel Nuts On A Scale Model — Nice Trick For Painting Wheel Nuts On A Scale Model

Scale Model Wheel Nuts Primed — Nice Quick And Neat, The Wheel Nuts Are Primed.

The Wheel Nuts Have Been Painted And Fitted To The Scale Model M-108 Tank — Easy As That The Nuts Have Been Finished And Fitted.

The Scale Model M-108 Had Been Gloss Varnished Ready For Weathering — Model Complete And Gloss Varnished So I Can Start On The Weathering.

So, on the Italeri GMC Cargo Truck Scale model, I used aftermarket washes and pigments, so to try something different I am only going to use oil paints to make my own washes/filters and chalk pastels for my pigments/dry shading. Let us see how they differ.

Burnt Umber Oil Pint Wash On A Scale Model Tank — First Wash/Filter On The M-108 Not Too Strong Now Some More Varnish To Set It And Another Wash.

The first wash was burnt umber oil paint thinned with white spirits, it has given the model some natural grime and picked out some of the raised features. Next, I want to use a mixture of colours to make some water streaks. Once the oils are on I use a clean brush damp with white spirit to blend in the rain marks.