index_British FV432(M)

British FV432(M)

Current British Issue

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.

There is some very 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. I use approximately a 75% to 25% ratio. This provides for good adhesion to the wood base and also just enough liquid to allow for easy mixing. 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 Verlinden Static Grass was sprinkled about. 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. These posts were pressed into the groundwork and fixed in position with White Glue.

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 light wash was applied after the base paint had dried at least overnight. The wash was a combination of Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner.

Once all was set to go, I applied a coat of PollyScale Acrylic Flat Coat overall to the finished subject, and again, this was applied by airbrush.

The nameplate was constructed from K&S brass stock (1/4" x .015" thick) and 10pt Letraset black rub-on lettering. Once all was in place the length was cut by scribing a break line with a #11 X-Acto blade to a point where the brass could then be snapped off. I then sealed the lettering on with a generous coat of Future Floor Wax applied straight from the bottle by airbrush. The finished nameplate was then fixed to the wood base with double-sided tape.

General 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 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)

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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 © 2001 - 2008.
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	British FV432(M) Mortar Carrier Comments, suggestions, additional info?