1/72 Putilov Gun
Dated: Nov 21, 2011
Hi!
Here are 3 Putilov guns.
Let me start with conversion first - it is the HaT gun modernized to represent WW2 version. At the start of the WW2, there was a huge number of these guns in service. Russian uniform has not changed much and conversion was done by simply changing heads of the crew to 'helmeted' ones. Some black paint was used as camouflage as on Soviet aircraft at the time.
Second version is usual WW1 version in overall green. Crew can be painted in many variations, but I opted for most usual one. This gun and crew can also be used for Russo-Japanese war and Revolution.
On the two bottom rows is Putilov as used by German army in WW1. Huge numbers of Putilov were captured and pressed into service as 'infantry gun'. Elaborate camouflage is a feature of German guns during WW1. There is also one typical conversion to the gun - as Putilov had a notoriously violent recoil, Germans were cutting better portion of the muzzle in order to reduce it. It can be observed on the bottom pick. Soviets, tried to solve the same problem during WW2 by adding two brakes instead of one. I am not certain how common was that conversion during WW2.
Sadly, Polish version is lacking - but it should be in 3 colors like their armor (sand, red and green), while the one used by Finnish army was camouflaged green/black - just as their Soviet counterparts in WW2.
Cheers!
R. Normano
Italy
Many thanks to Mr. Normano.