In Box Review of AFV Club 1/35th Scale
U.S. “Long Tom” M48 155mm Cannon
Kit no. AF25009
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2000
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2000
HISTORY:
The 155 mm gun M1 was a 155 millimeter caliber field gun developed and used by the United States military. Nicknamed "Long Tom" (an appellation with a long and storied history in U.S. field and naval artillery), it was produced in M1 and M2 variants, later known as the M59.
Developed to replace the Canon de 155mm GPF, the gun was deployed as a heavy field weapon during World War II and the Korean War, and also classed as secondary armament for seacoast defense. The gun could fire a 100 lb (45 kg) shell to a maximum range of 14 mi (23 km), with an estimated accuracy life of 1,500 rounds.
The Long Tom was also adopted by a number of other nations, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Israel, and the Netherlands.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type : Towed field artillery
Place of origin: United States
Used by: United States, Italy, Australia, Greece, Austria, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Republic of China, Turkey, Pakistan, Croatia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Netherland Wars: World War II, Korean war, Cambodian Civil War, Croatian War of Independence.
Designed: 1918–1938
Produced: October 1940–June 1945
No. built: 1,882
Mass: Travel: 13,880 kg (30,600 lb)
Length: Travel: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)[1]
Barrel length: 6.97 m (22 ft 10 in) L/45
Width: Travel: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)[1]
Height: Travel: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)[1]
Crew: 14
Shell: Separate loading charge and projectile[1]
Caliber: 155 mm (6.10 in)
Breech: Asbury mechanism
Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: M1 Carriage
Elevation: −2°/+65°
Traverse: 60°
Rate of fire: 40 rounds per hour
Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s (2,799 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 23.7 km (14.7 mi.)
The 155 mm gun M1 was a 155 millimeter caliber field gun developed and used by the United States military. Nicknamed "Long Tom" (an appellation with a long and storied history in U.S. field and naval artillery), it was produced in M1 and M2 variants, later known as the M59.
Developed to replace the Canon de 155mm GPF, the gun was deployed as a heavy field weapon during World War II and the Korean War, and also classed as secondary armament for seacoast defense. The gun could fire a 100 lb (45 kg) shell to a maximum range of 14 mi (23 km), with an estimated accuracy life of 1,500 rounds.
The Long Tom was also adopted by a number of other nations, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Israel, and the Netherlands.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type : Towed field artillery
Place of origin: United States
Used by: United States, Italy, Australia, Greece, Austria, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Republic of China, Turkey, Pakistan, Croatia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Netherland Wars: World War II, Korean war, Cambodian Civil War, Croatian War of Independence.
Designed: 1918–1938
Produced: October 1940–June 1945
No. built: 1,882
Mass: Travel: 13,880 kg (30,600 lb)
Length: Travel: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)[1]
Barrel length: 6.97 m (22 ft 10 in) L/45
Width: Travel: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)[1]
Height: Travel: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)[1]
Crew: 14
Shell: Separate loading charge and projectile[1]
Caliber: 155 mm (6.10 in)
Breech: Asbury mechanism
Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: M1 Carriage
Elevation: −2°/+65°
Traverse: 60°
Rate of fire: 40 rounds per hour
Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s (2,799 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 23.7 km (14.7 mi.)
THE KIT:
AFV Club is an old prolific model company based in Taiwan, Republic of China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a large shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The cover art shows a color illustration of a “Long Tom” posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
One corner of the box art says: Firing or Transport position can be chosen. Poseable cannon recoil system. Highly accurate details. Turned metal cannon barrel. Separate limber included with 10 rubber tires.
One side panel of the box gives AFV Club’s street address in Taiwan, Republic of China.
AFV Club is an old prolific model company based in Taiwan, Republic of China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a large shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The cover art shows a color illustration of a “Long Tom” posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
One corner of the box art says: Firing or Transport position can be chosen. Poseable cannon recoil system. Highly accurate details. Turned metal cannon barrel. Separate limber included with 10 rubber tires.
One side panel of the box gives AFV Club’s street address in Taiwan, Republic of China.
The other side panel has 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up. Followed by: All parts on picture are included (total 220 pieces). No glue or paint included. In English & Chinese.
Inside the box lid, on the side walls, there are 12 color illustrations of the box arts of other AFV Club models in 1/35th scale: a M88, M88A1, M35A2, “Wiesel” Tow, M-18 “Hellcat”, M102, M730A1, M548A1, M48A2C, British CVRT FV107 “Scimitar”, MK20A1 “Wiesel” and a Hummer field car.
On the floor of the box tray there are 15 more box arts of AFV Club kits. Some are repeated. Included are: a M730A1, M548A1, M35A2, M48-M60 Track links set, M102, M49A2C, M88A1, “Long Tom” (this kit), M88, M1 & M2 Track links set, British CVRT FV107 “Scimitar”, MK.20A1 “Wiesel”, M18 “Hellcat” and a 155-203mm ammo set.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 5 olive-drab parts trees, vinyl tires and a turned aluminum gun barrel in 6 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions is a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 8 ¼” x 12” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history of the cannon in Chinese, English and Japanese.
Page 2 begins with decal application instructions, over CAUTIONS, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested color listing of Tamiya and Gunze Sangyo brands of hobby paints in the 3 languages.
Page 2 trough to page 11 gives a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
Page 12 is a painting guide.
At the top is a line drawing of the “Long Tom” in the firing position, over a 2-view of the cannon that is overall olive-drab.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do have part number tabs next the parts on the trees, but no tab saying what letter they are. Bad move AFV Club! This means careful study of the assembly step illustrations to get the right part for assemblies. A lot of extra work, that could have been avoided.
Olive drab letter A tree holds: the trail arms, base etc. (60 Parts)
The kit holds 5 olive-drab parts trees, vinyl tires and a turned aluminum gun barrel in 6 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions is a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 8 ¼” x 12” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history of the cannon in Chinese, English and Japanese.
Page 2 begins with decal application instructions, over CAUTIONS, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested color listing of Tamiya and Gunze Sangyo brands of hobby paints in the 3 languages.
Page 2 trough to page 11 gives a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
Page 12 is a painting guide.
At the top is a line drawing of the “Long Tom” in the firing position, over a 2-view of the cannon that is overall olive-drab.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do have part number tabs next the parts on the trees, but no tab saying what letter they are. Bad move AFV Club! This means careful study of the assembly step illustrations to get the right part for assemblies. A lot of extra work, that could have been avoided.
Olive drab letter A tree holds: the trail arms, base etc. (60 Parts)
Olive-drab letter B tree holds: wheel discs, tow yoke etc. (83 parts)
Olive-drab letter C tree holds: elevation and traverse control wheels, rear barrel section halves, barrel tray, breech etc. (54 parts)
There are 2 identical olive-drab letter G trees. They hold wheel rims (5 per tree)
The turned aluminum gun barrel is next.
The black vinyl tires complete the kit contents. (10 tires)
I have added a set of Eduard Brand’s steel PE set no. 35295 for this gun.
There are no crew figures or a decal sheet included. Not a big deal as I doubt this cannon was ever marked in any way. However, a gun crew would have been nice.
Highly recommended.