index_British FV432(M)

	Mortars in Miniature ...A Scale Model Collection of the "Infantryman's Artillery"...

- British FV432(M) -

Current British Issue

Fully-Tracked Armored Mortar Carrier

The Kit:

This superbly cast White Metal kit in 1/285th scale is produced by GHQ and is essentially a Wargamer's piece. I was amazed with the detail and overall quality of this kit.

Minor part cleaning required prior to assembly. I basically nicked off any 'flash' with a #11 X-Acto blade and then I buffed all the surfaces with a semi-stiff nylon modeling brush.

The Details:

There are just two parts to this kit, the vehicle itself and a representation of the British L16 Mortar that is carried internally. The mortar was glued on to the internal base plate with Super Glue. There were no decals provided.

The Base and Groundwork:

The base is cut to 2 inches square x 1/2" thick and is of scrap pine wood. The edge was routered in by a Dremel Tool with routing bit installed. I stained the wood with a natural colored stain, and then I applied multiple coats of Minwax to seal the wood.

The groundwork is Sculptamold mixed with white glue and water. The track ruts were 'inserted' prior to the Sculptamold setting up.

Once all was dry and hard, thinned white glue was spread on the surface and to this static grass was sprinkled on. The 'shrubbery' is a poly foam material commonly used by scale model Rail Road builders as well as other 'Braille Scale' builders, and is made by Woodland Scenics. The model was then white glued in place.

The white tape being used to mark a cleared lane through a designated mine field is regular white bond paper cut to about .025" in width. This 'tape' is held in place with white glue on .015" diameter Brass rod cut to approximately 3/8" in length.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

Model Master acrylic primer was applied very thinly by airbrush, and this covered the white metal quite well. PollyScale acrylic paints were airbrushed on for the overall painting. A small amount of Testors red enamel paint was used for the tail-lights. A wash of Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner was applied and allowed to dry overnight.

A coat of PollyScale acrylic flat was applied by airbrush to the overall subject as a final step.

General Vehicle Info:

The FV432 FOV (Family of Vehicles) was produced for the British Army from 1963 to 1971. There have been regular updates to this FOV and most variants continue to serve the British Army today, one of those variants being the 81mm Armored Mortar Carrier.

There are usually two FV432 (M) assigned to each Mechanized Infantry Battalion, both currently carry the 81mm L16A2 Mortar, although feasibility studies are now in progress to increase the weapon caliber to NATO standard 120mm. The mortar is usually fired to the rear or sides, but the turntable does have a full 360 degree capability.

Similar in layout to the American M125, 81mm Armored Mortar Carrier, the FV432(M) is fully amphibious with preparation, which consist of erecting the flotation screen that is stowed on the perimeter of the top deck, and the securing of drainage plugs.

This vehicle provides it's crew with the basic small arms fire protection as well as from shell fragmentation.

Actual Vehicle Data:

Crew: 2 + 4 (Driver, Section Chief plus Mortar crew)

Armament: 1 x 7.62mm GPMG with 1,600 rounds. (Not shown)
2 x 3 Smoke Grenade Dischargers.
1 x 81mm Mortar, L16A2 with 160 rounds.

Length: 5.25m

Width: 2.8m

Height: 2.29m

Power to Weight Ratio: 15.7bhp/ton

Ground Clearance: .41m

Combat Weight (FV432): 15,280kg

Empty Weight (FV432): 13,740kg

Engine: Rolls-Royce K60 No. 4 MK 4F, 2-stroke, 6-cylinder multi-fuel developing 240bhp @ 3,750rpm.

Speed (Maximum): 52km/hr

Range (Maximum): 480km

Fuel Capacity: 454 liter

Fording Depth: 1.07m

Vertical Obstacle: .7m

Trench Crossing: 2.1m

Gradient: 60%

Side Slope: 30%

Armor Thickness (Maximum): 12mm

Armor Type: Steel

NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Protection: Yes

Night Vision: Yes (Passive for the driver)

Sources:

Various Internet resources

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 © 2001 - 2010.
All Rights Reserved.