The Kit:

This kit is from Tamiya, in 1/35th scale and molded in styrene plastic. It appears to be of an early version with its rectangular baseplate and bipod supported steel tube barrel as well as the turnscrew for securing the barrel clamping collar. Later improved versions sported a circular baseplate and simplified T-shaped bipod.

The Details:

The only add-ons made to this were a couple of pieces of .010 in. thick Evergreen styrene to the inside of the kit's ammo can. There were some serious ejector pin marks there that could not easily be sanded out, so I opted to just cover them over with the sheet styrene.

Base and Groundwork:

Scrap oak cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter, stained and sealed with Polyurethane. Sculptamold built-up to resemble a shell crater with stones and wood bits pressed in for the debris.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

Acrylic paints and flat and gloss coats were used throughout. Artists oils thinned with an odorless brush cleaner and thinner were used for the washes. Weathering was accomplished in part by using art pencils.

General Mortar Info:

Development started 1923/1933 and was adapted for service in 1934. In production and in use until the end of World War II. The GrW 34 was well regarded by the soldiers that use this weapon, and it had a remarkable reputation as a sturdy, reliable and accurate weapon.

Normal assignment was six 81mm mortars per mortar platoon within each rifle company.

Production requirements in 1943-44 were for 1,100 Granatwerfer 34's to be delivered per month, however in December 1944, some 3,950 were delivered to the German forces. The Emergency Armaments Program of 1945 called for an increase to 4,000 units and 6,000,000 rounds of ammunition, but in reality only 2,000 units were produced and delivered by March of 1945. Production figures were not available for the remaining month of the war in Europe.

Normal mode of transporting this weapon over long distances was by horse-drawn ammunition and weapons cart and the driver was officially part of the weapon's crew of seven. The weapon could also be carried by a 3-man load and eventually, various self-propelled carriers were developed and deployed. The majority of these carriers were based on the SdKfz series of Half-Track.