M55 203mm howitzer (USA)

thingiverse

This is a 1:76 model of a gun I've been eager to model for quite some time now, as it makes for an incredibly impressive beast! It's based on a .obj file available for free download on the 3dmag.org site, among others, and I'd like to extend my gratitude to them. This model had rudimentary running gear, so I've completely replaced it with parts taken from an M48A5 model in SketchUp (provided by Sketchy@best et al.), which accurately duplicates real life, as the M55 used these components. It was a blast combining bits and adapting them to fit a different pattern of suspension. The files are large because the track modeling is highly detailed (yet seems to print well...). The model is split into parts for printing, as the whole unit takes too long to output, and has too many supports. Even one side of the suspension took around 4 hours on my Ender 3, using non-optimized settings (I'm a novice). I've just finished printing the other bits, and I'm attaching some pictures for information. Generally printed well, and removing supports (not quite done in the photos), was not too bad. The M53 version (155mm) should be an easy derivative if anyone wants to create it. I hope that this additional artillery piece is of interest. Enjoy!