1:72 British QF4.5 inch Howitzer

The British QF 4.5 inch field howitzer, scale 1:72 (HäT)

A plastic kit of an artillery piece in 1:72 scale from the maker HäT, which has long devoted itself to figures and armament in this scale. It is a model of the howitzer with its carriage, not of a vehicle. It comes in as an accompaniment to figure sets, in a small diorama and as an item in its own right in a collection of artillery.

The real subject

The QF 4.5 inch howitzer, 114 mm in metric measure, was introduced shortly before the First World War and became the standard British field howitzer. It accompanied infantry formations, fired indirect fire at targets behind terrain obstacles, and against trenches and field fortifications its shell had a markedly more effective action than that of shrapnel-firing guns. It was used by the armies of the Commonwealth as well, and to a limited extent it still served at the beginning of the Second World War, before more modern types replaced it.

Building and painting tips

First establish which plastic you are working with: the soft plastic that you will often meet with figure sets in this scale is not joined by ordinary cement for polystyrene, and super glue is necessary. On soft plastic also use a flexible base coat, or the paint will crack when a part is bent. Assemble the carriage dry and watch that the model stands straight on both trails and on its wheels. The painting can be managed with a brush or an airbrush; darken the recesses with a wash and dust the lower parts with pigment so that the weapon does not look like a display case exhibit.

Who the model is for

• Modelers of artillery and figure sets in 1:72 scale
• Anyone interested in British armament of the First World War
• Builders of small dioramas and vignettes
• Wargamers who are adding artillery to infantry in a similar scale

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.