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 Base and Groundwork:
This base is also cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter and is of oak, stained with a natural stain 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 Hudson & Allen Tall Grass, Verlinden Static Grass, and once again, I helped myself to my wife's dried flower arrangements.

The Figure:
Normally, the Grenadier would not be carrying a rifle and rifle ammunition, but who's to say that this never happened, especially in the latter stages of the war. The Ariska Rifle was added and detailed by the addition of the rifle sling and 'hardware', this involving the addition of  7 parts. 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 as I could not find a suitable mesh type material to use. I white-glued the individual strands on in place.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:
PollyS/PollyScale and Tamiya Acrylic Paints were used to paint this subject. Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner were used for the washes. Weathering on the mortar was accomplished by using a Berol Prismacolor silver colored pencil. PollyScale Acrylic Flat Coat was then applied overall to the finished subject.

General 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.

Actual Data:
Barrel Length: 248mm
Overall Length: 608mm    
Weight: 4.7kg
Range with Type 89 Grenade: 650m
Range with non-Type 89 Grenade: 190m
Year Introduced: 1929

References:
Imperial Japanese Army Home Page

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Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2001 - 2008.
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