The Base and Groundwork:
This base is cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter also and is of pine, stained with a natural stain and sealed with multiple coats of Polyurethane. Sculptamold mixed with white glue was added for the groundwork. Various ground up sticks and twigs were used for the jungle litter. I made the palm fronds from paper sandwiched to a length of wire, cut to shape and painted. There are dried-flowers added along with some miniature rose leaves added in there also.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:
With this being a metal kit, I first primed the model with PollyScale Acrylic Metal Primer.
PollyS/PollyScale Acrylic Paints were used throughout. Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner were used for the washes. Dry brushed in part with PollyS Metalline series Acrylic Paints. PollyScale Acrylic Flat Coat was then applied overall to the finished subject.

General Info:
This weapon is very similar in appearance to both the U.S. M1, 81mm Mortar and to the Italian 81/35 Mortar. I don't know which of the three similar mortars appeared first, but the Type 97 mortar was introduced into service in 1937.

Evidently, the only type of Mortar Bomb recovered from this weapon was of the Model 100 HE (High Explosive) type. The fuse for this type of bomb was adjustable for either instantaneous or for a delayed detonation. Other characteristics of this type of bomb were similar to the M43A1 as used on the U.S. M1. The propelling charge differed from the U.S. version as each charge was contained in a small coated (?) cloth bag.

This was the most common mortar used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, and it was also produced for the Imperial Japanese Navy, under the designation of Type 3 Mortar.

References:
Imperial Japanese Army Home Page

"Second World War Combat Weapons, Volume 2: Japanese", W. H. Tantum IV and E. J. Hoffschmidt

Mr. Kevin Campagna - United States

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