Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

My grandfather is a WW2 vet that served in artillery over in Europe. For his 90th birthday I want to make him an artillery piece that's personalized with his numbers and whatever else I can find with him standing next to it saluting.

Where can I find accurate, reasonably sized replicas of WW2 artillery, preferably with a to-scale soldier to go with it? I'm not sure exactly what gun I'm looking for yet, but I'd like to start the search early as I only have a few months to get this together!

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=1%3A35+WW2+scale+artillery

 AG. wrote:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=1%3A35+WW2+scale+artillery

Thanks. I was hoping for suggestions and recommendations. -.-

The Flames of War guys might be able to help you out if you were to ask here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/forums/show/26.page

They might at least be able to tell you what guns might have been used (if you could provide a picture of your grandfather standing next to his gun this would go a long way with being able to identify gun, military markings, etc...) Once you know what type of gun it is, you could ask or google for the scale reference something that would fit within Bolt Action's 28mm scale models and go from there...

Edit: This might help as well http://www.warlordgames.com/us-store/bolt-action/british-army.html?troop_type=17

Yep, the pic of the artilery piece would surely help...

Im sure Tamiya or Academy makes scale models of WW2 artilery (have 1/35 german PAK 40)

 Alfndrate wrote:
The Flames of War guys might be able to help you out if you were to ask here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/forums/show/26.page

They might at least be able to tell you what guns might have been used (if you could provide a picture of your grandfather standing next to his gun this would go a long way with being able to identify gun, military markings, etc...) Once you know what type of gun it is, you could ask or google for the scale reference something that would fit within Bolt Action's 28mm scale models and go from there...

I'm waiting on a relative for the photos, which will hopefully take care of the specifics like that. I'm wondering more on supplies, if there's any solid WW2 model lines I can look to for any scale, whether it's intended for gaming or not. I'll poke around in the FoW forums, but I think that's more for the game itself and don't want to clutter them up with modelling questions.

 Evertras wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
The Flames of War guys might be able to help you out if you were to ask here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/forums/show/26.page

They might at least be able to tell you what guns might have been used (if you could provide a picture of your grandfather standing next to his gun this would go a long way with being able to identify gun, military markings, etc...) Once you know what type of gun it is, you could ask or google for the scale reference something that would fit within Bolt Action's 28mm scale models and go from there...

I'm waiting on a relative for the photos, which will hopefully take care of the specifics like that. I'm wondering more on supplies, if there's any solid WW2 model lines I can look to for any scale, whether it's intended for gaming or not. I'll poke around in the FoW forums, but I think that's more for the game itself and don't want to clutter them up with modelling questions.

It's definitely for the game itself, but the majority of those guys know their WW2 artillery, also check my edit, Warlord Games makes 28mm artillery for bolt action, it's at least a place to start.

Edit: This might help as well http://www.warlordgames.com/us-store/bolt-action/british-army.html?troop_type=17

 Gwynbleidd wrote:
Yep, the pic of the artilery piece would surely help...

Im sure Tamiya or Academy makes scale models of WW2 artilery (have 1/35 german PAK 40)

I'll look into those, thanks! I've never looked outside Citadel models before, so I really don't want to buy something random off the internet and find it's junk.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Alfndrate wrote:

 Evertras wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
The Flames of War guys might be able to help you out if you were to ask here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/forums/show/26.page

They might at least be able to tell you what guns might have been used (if you could provide a picture of your grandfather standing next to his gun this would go a long way with being able to identify gun, military markings, etc...) Once you know what type of gun it is, you could ask or google for the scale reference something that would fit within Bolt Action's 28mm scale models and go from there...

I'm waiting on a relative for the photos, which will hopefully take care of the specifics like that. I'm wondering more on supplies, if there's any solid WW2 model lines I can look to for any scale, whether it's intended for gaming or not. I'll poke around in the FoW forums, but I think that's more for the game itself and don't want to clutter them up with modelling questions.

It's definitely for the game itself, but the majority of those guys know their WW2 artillery, also check my edit, Warlord Games makes 28mm artillery for bolt action, it's at least a place to start.

Edit: This might help as well http://www.warlordgames.com/us-store/bolt-action/british-army.html?troop_type=17

And also those! Thank you muchly.

For instance something like this

If you want a WWII model, scale modelling forums are the best way to go - they'll be more than willing to help a vet.

Alternatively, take a look at these and pick one:
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcountry&cid=US&secid=34
Not all of them are models though (there are a couple of transfers and books).

Yep, the best place to drum up the best advice is historical scale model forums (of which there are plenty, I'm sure). If you can provide even a blurry photo, theyll be able to set you up with the exact type of gun, theatre, and provide you with the best place to find a fitting model (tamiya or italia make pretty good scale models, and you should be able to order what you need from the interwebs)

I persoanlly wouldnt go with gameing models. They tend to be much lower detail, and stylized, to withstand the riggors of handling (and FoW is 15mm, so its teeny tiny), and there's nowhere near the variety of kits to get exactly the right thing.

Depends on what kind of cannon cocker your grandfather was - without knowing what kind of cannon he crewed, its hard to give definate answers.

That being said, Italiari, Tamayia, and Trumpeteer make good models.

Theres models out there of any specific piece you could want.

I think this is an awesome idea too and he will really apreciate the thought and time it takes to assemble and make it for him.

Not for nothing but I really don't think this is the kind of thing one would want for their birthday. "Hey, remember that really traumatic time over in europe? Here's a model." Take him out for a steak.

 Orinoco wrote:
Not for nothing but I really don't think this is the kind of thing one would want for their birthday. "Hey, remember that really traumatic time over in europe? Here's a model." Take him out for a steak.

My grandfather served in the Pacific Theater during WWII (Naval Construction Battalion, "Fighting Seabees") and he was very proud of serving his country as a member of the Greatest Generation. He kept numerous items in his home to remind him of the war, so you have to remember a lot of servicemen appreciate things of that nature.