 |
- Japanese
50 mm Mortar, Type 89
- |
| "Knee Mortar" |
| World War II
|
|
 |
The Kit: |
|
|
This 1/35th scale kit is from the Tamiya Japanese Army Infantry
set and is molded in styrene plastic. Technically, this weapon was classified as
a Grenade Launcher, but it is more commonly known as a "knee mortar",
and this is why I've included it in this collection of infantry mortars. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
The Details: |
|
|
|
This kit is
constructed of a single part that required some minor parting line clean-up. I
drilled out the barrel, and then added the firing strap out of a thin strip of
drafting tape. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
The
Figure: |
|
|
|
The Ariska Rifle was added
to the kit figure and detailed by the addition of
the rifle sling and 'hardware'.
The sling being made from a narrow strip of drafting tape, with bent wire and
styrene bits. The helmet's camouflaged net was made from individual strands of
gauze bandage that was white-glued on. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
Base and
Groundwork: |
|
This base is
oak and is cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter. It is stained
and sealed with multiple coats of Polyurethane. Sculptamold
mixed with white glue was added for the groundwork and to this, I added
various ground up sticks and twigs that were used for
the jungle litter. I made the palm fronds from paper
sandwiched on a length of wire, cut to shape and
painted. I've also included tall grass, static grass, and dried flowers. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
Painting, Weathering and Finishing: |
|
Acrylic paints were used to
paint this subject. Artist oils thinned with an odorless brush cleaner and
thinner were
used for the washes. Weathering on the mortar was accomplished by using a silver
art colored pencil. An acrylic flat coat was
then applied overall to the finished subject. |
| |
 |
|
|
|
General Mortar Info: |
| The Type 89 differed significantly from the previously issued Type 10.
The Type 89 consisted of a rifled barrel and this weapon utilized the three
times more effective Type 89 grenade as it's standard ammunition. The weapon was
heavier than the Type 10, and therefore was normally broken down into 3 parts
for ease of carrying by three infantrymen. Each IJA platoon normally contained 3
or 4 Type 89s. |
|
The illustrations below show
how the Type 89 was normally fired. Note that this weapon was not
fired from the knee or based upon any part of the body. Serious injury
from the recoil of the weapon would result if fired in that manner. |
 |
 |
| |
Reprinted with permission |
|
