Matador Models 1/76 Italian Obice 149/12 Mod 14 Howitzer

The Artillery of the Italian Army, that became quite formidable and feared during the war, started ill-equipped and out-dated. One of the few modern types in service at the outset of the war, was the Obice mod.14 149/12. The 149mm howitzer was a German design, made by Krupp, but many, if not most, were built in Italy under license. The Obice 149/12 was used throughout the war by the Italian Army, but it had drawbacks. (For more info on this gun, click here!) After the war it was phased out of the organization, simply replaced by the excellent 149mm Howitzer made by Skoda. 

I have become more and more interested in modelling small scale Artillery, and I have found that good kits are really hard to come by. There are quite a lot of kits around aimed at the Wargaming community, but this kits are often poor, and some of them really bad: a waste of money, believe me. But I have also noticed that even otherwise good reliable firms tend to produce artillery kits, that, although accurate in shape and dimensions, almost as a rule lack all the finer details, like elevating wheels and/or the dial sight. I don't know why really, because none of these producers would ever dream about issuing a tank kit that lacked, say, the cupola or exhaust. 

Well, I am glad to inform you that Matador Models (formerly SMA's) 149/12 Mod 14 is NOT like that!

This is a very good kit, made in White Metal, and all the details that are lacking in other manufacturers kits, they are sure to be found here, including the trailing spike, earth spade, and even the two different types of seats - one for the gun layer, one for the breech operator - are there! 

The mouldings are excellent, only some minor amounts of flash to be found on some parts. In general the details are sharp, the wheels being particularly good - this is another thing that I'm not used with: often spoked wooden wheels are portrayed in a sort of "generic" fashion: well, not here. It also comes with a very helpful plan. Matador Models Obice 149/12 Mod 14 comes HIGHLY recommended!

The kit can be ordered directly from Matador Models own web site. (Notice: this kit was originally marketed by SMA, but is now sold under the Matador Models label.)

(click to see an enlarged version)

To see a model built from this kit, click here!