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- British 4.2-Inch Mortar, Mark I -
World War II, Korea
Ordnance, Smooth-Bore 4.2-Inch Mortar

The Kit:
Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar

This resin kit is produced to 1/35th scale by Accurate Armour. Detail is quite good however; the castings can be quite delicate and fragile. Very little flash or seam removal was required and there were just a few very minor pin holes found.

The bore and outside diameter of the tube on my example were slightly underscale. The tube collar needed to be carefully bored out in order to fit the tube and this caused a breakthrough that had to be filled in with putty.
Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar

While there is detail (spikes) on the bipod legs, there is no underside detail to the baseplate. There was an edge to the topside of the baseplate that I could not confirm in any reference materials that I have so, I carefully removed this.

Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar

Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar

Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar
 

Assembly and Additional Details:
Assembly was straight forward. The larger parts/sub-assemblies were pinned together with fine brass wire into correspondingly drilled holes for alignment and join strength. Cyanoacrylate glue and two-part epoxy being used for permanency.
Image: Pre-painted mortar Image: Pre-painted mortar Image: Pre-painted mortar Image: Pre-painted mortar

Locking clamps on the baseplate to secure the ball mount were added after the above in-process photos were taken.
       

Decals:
Bomb and carrier markings are provided in the kit. They are clearly printed and adhere to a glossed surface very well. They conformed to the contours quite well with the aid of Solvaset decal solution. The decal on the sight unit box top is from my spare decal box.
Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar
 
Base and Groundwork:

The base was cut from scrap oak and measures 4in (10.2cm) in diameter. Sculptamold mixed with white glue and water formed the contours. Finely sifted yard dirt was used for some of the ground texture and kitty litter was used for the rocks. Various static grasses, dried flowers and sponge 'bushes' were used for the vegetation.

Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar

 Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar
The ground tarp is fashioned from paper cut from a Tamiya Tent Set.
Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar
All of the components to this vignette were fixed into position with white glue.
The nameplate was created in photoshop then printed on gloss photo paper. Backed with double sided tape, trimmed to size and fixed into position on the base. There are four felt pads on the underside. I write the date that this project was finished on the underside of the base.
Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

Acrylic paints were used throughout this project. Flesh tones on the figure were in part done with enamels. Washes were applied with oil paints thinned with an odorless brush cleaner and thinner. All drybrushing was achieved with acrylic paints.

An acrylic Floor Wax was airbrushed to the model and figure prior to and after the decals were applied. An acrylic flat coat was applied to the overall subject when completed.
 

The Figure:

      
Image: Pre-painted figure

Is produced by Hornet (BH2, WW2 British Soldier with Side Cap) and is nicely cast in white metal with very minor parting line removal required. Assembly consisted of five parts; torso, R&L arms, head and pistol carrier. Just a little putty at the arm joins was required. Options are with or without pistol. He is dressed in the 1937 Battledress Pattern uniform with concealed brass buttons and pleated pockets. This uniform was issued until stocks expired and was eventually replaced by the 1940 Pattern with exposed buttons and pleat-less pockets.
He is most likely armed with the Webley .38/.455in service revolver. The neck/pistol lanyard was fashioned from sewing thread and added post in-process photos.
Image: Pre-painted figure

Here, he represents a Staff Sergeant from the 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Decals used on this figure are dry transfers from Archer Fine Transfers. They were dry-transferred to clear (wet) decal film and then fixed to the figure as 'normal' decals. He is holding a (very much) reduced Gun Drill manual for the 4.2-Inch mortar. He is pinned into the groundwork with a small diameter brass rod for stability as this figure is quite top heavy.
Image: British Staff Sergeant, 1/35th scale Image: British Staff Sergeant, 1/35th scale Image: British Staff Sergeant, 1/35th scale Image: British Staff Sergeant, 1/35th scale
General Mortar Info:

Originally conceived as a Chemical Mortar and initially deployed with the Royal Engineers, the 4.2-Inch mortar eventually was assigned to the Royal Artillery where it was used in the more conventional ammunition delivery role. From 1943 on, a mortar platoon consisted of four 4.2-Inch mortars.

The 4.2-Inch Mortar and related ammunition entered UK production at the end of 1941. Production also occurred  in Australia as well. It could be transported by specifically modified Universal Carriers or towed on specifically designed trailers which also served as its baseplate.

This weapon served throughout the Commonwealth in various Marks in all theaters of WWII beginning with the North African Campaign. It also deployed with Commonwealth Forces to Korea when hostilities broke out there.

This weapon remained in service with at least one NATO member well into the 1970's.
Mortar Data:    
Caliber: 4.2" (106.7mm)
Mortar Weight (in action): 1,320lb (599kg) *
Weight of Bomb: 20lb (9.08kg) **
Max Range: 3,751m (4100yds) **
Muzzle Velocity:223mps (731fps) **
Barrel Length: 68.1in (1730mm)
Bore Length: 61.6in (1565mm)
Elevation: 45° to 80°
Traverse: +/- 10° from Centerline

*Assuming with Mk. I Mounting
**Assuming HE only type Bombs

UK only WWII 4.2-Inch Mortar Production by Year (All Marks)
(none produced/completed in 1941)
Year 1942 1943 1944 1945
4.2" Mortars 1,034 - - -
4.2" Mortar Mountings 456 2,719 - -
4.2" Mortar Wheeled 364 - - -
4.2" Mortar
Base Plates		 - - - 26
Image: Mk. I 4.2-Inch Mortars Image: Mk. I Mounting
Mount and Baseplate
variations		 Mk. I Tripod
Image: Mk. I 4.2-Inch Munitions Image: Mk. I 4.2-Inch Munitions
4.2-Inch Munitions
Image: Mk. I 4.2-Inch Mortar Sight Unit Image: Mk. I 4.2-Inch Mortar Sight Unit
Mk. III Sight Mk. I Sight
 
UK only WWII 4.2-Inch Mortar Ammunition Production by Year
(none produced/completed in 1941)
Year 1942 1943 1944 1945
High Explosive 155,000 457,000 90,000 -
Smoke 121,000 340,000 - -
Smoke, Cylindrical - - - 7,000
HE, Streamline - 1,864,000 620,000 134,000
External Sources:  
Mr. Tom Bebbington - United Kingdom Image: British 4.2-Inch Mortar, Full Kit #G006
Mr. John Loughman  - Australia
Mr. Haydn Neal - Australia
British Equipment of the Second World War
Maple Leaf Up discussion forum Accurate Armour Website
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Unless otherwise specified, all models built, painted, photographed and are owned by the author.
Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2012.
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