M2

A Subject of Mortars in Miniature.com
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	The Model: This is another 1/35th scale model kit from Tamiya, molded in styrene plastic, and is from one of their weapons sets. Tamiya, for a few years, were molding these weapons sets in a silver/gray styrene and I am very disappointed in the quality of these kits. There being some rather difficult parting lines to remove and are very difficult to determine when the parting lines are actually removed, as there was always a darker gray line present. If you're not careful, you can go to far. I did that with this mortar and found myself doing more to complete this kit than with any of the other Tamiya kits included in this collection. This is the only kit (that I'm aware of) of the M2, 60-MM Mortar and I was really hoping to salvage this kit to the point where I could include it in this collection.

The Details:
I took the kit's tube out of round when removing the parting line. I was however, fortunate enough to be able to replace the center section of the tube, up to the bipod locking collar with some .080" diameter Evergreen styrene round stock that I had close by. I had to cut the ball mount off of the kit's tube and glue it on to the bottom of the round stock, and I also had to replace the ball cap at the base of the tube with a strip of thin brass sheet. There were also a few bolt and rivet heads added where appropriate. I also replaced the traversing wheel's handle with a thin piece of wire as the kit part had broken off. Upon completion of this kit, I found that there were a total of 11 parts added or replaced just to the mortar and bipod. No small feat as this model kit stands approximately 3/4" tall.

The Extras:
The M1 Garand is a Hornet product. This is beautifully cast in white metal and I don't recall having to do any part clean-up to it at all other than a very light, fine sanding. It was just a beautifully made item, and to this, I added the rifle sling and mounting 'hardware'.

I scratch-built the SCR-536/BC611 "Walkie-Talkie" out of Evergreen styrene and this consisted of 15 parts. I was not able to obtain any actual dimensions to this, so I estimated it's size. Very intricate to build, but well worth the effort.

TM 9-1275
June 1947

Courtesy of Mr. Dave Craft

The rolled tarp is from Ordnance Models and is cast in resin. The canvas detail to this is very nicely done, however, you will lose some of that detail in cleaning up the parting lines but, those lines are in appropriate locations and are easily hidden from view.

The Base and Groundwork:
This base is of scrap oak and is cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter, stained with a natural colored stain and sealed with multiple coats of Polyurethane. It also has the routered edge applied with a routing bit in my Dremel tool. Sculptamold was used again and to this was added various 'clippings', stones, Verlinden Static Grass and I added the dried flowers. There is also a small amount of Hudson & Allen Forest Litter sprinkled about.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:
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/PollyScale Metalline series Acrylic Paints. PollyScale Acrylic Flat Coat was then applied overall to the finished subject.

M2, 60-MM Mortar General Description:

FM 23-85 60-MM Mortar, M2 November 1942	FM 23-85 60-MM Mortar, M2 November 1942	ORD 7 SNL A-43 Supply Catalog Mortar, 60-MM, M2 September 1951	FM 23-85 (French) MORTIER DE 60 MM, M2 1 Fevrier, 1943	FM 23-85 60-MM Mortar, M2 November 1942	OP 1137 60-MM Mortar, M2 For Shipboard January 1945
....Courtesy of Mr. David Albert....			Courtesy of Mr. Tom Bebbington

The 60-MM Mortar, M2 is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, portable weapon designed for high-angle fire. It was designed to fill the gap between the hand grenade and the 81-MM mortar. The M2 was to be found in U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps mortar platoons at company level and was also adopted by the U.S. Navy for the usage of firing high explosive and illumination rounds from PT Boats and PGM Gunboats.

Actual Data:
Weight: 42 lbs assembled: Barrel: 12.8 lbs, Bipod: 16.4 lbs, Baseplate: 12.8 lbs.
Muzzle Velocity: 535 feet per second.
Maximum Range (HE): 1,000 yards effective, 1,950 yards max.
Rate of Fire: 18 rpm normal, 30-35 rpm max.

Ammunition:
	M49A2 High Explosive: Effective bursting radius: 17 yds producing over 200 fragments. M5 Ignition Cartridge. M83 Illumination: Maximum range: 1,000 yds, height: approximately 800 ft. This round burned for approximately 25 seconds when attached to a parachute and illuminated an area roughly 100 yds in diameter. M5 Ignition Cartridge. M50A2 Practice: On impact, releases a puff of white smoke. Dimensions and weights same as M49A2. M5 Ignition Cartridge. M69 Training: M4 Ignition Cartridge. M302 White Phosphorous: Muzzle velocity: 439 fps capable of producing both a smoke screen and casualties. M5 Ignition Cartridge. (Not Shown)


M49A2 OD with yellow markings	M83 Gray with black markings	M50A2 Black with white markings	M69 Blue with white markings

Weapons of the Korean War

Mr. John Rauscher - United States
Mr. David Albert - United States
Mr. Dave Craft - United States

	U.S. 60-MM Mortar, M2 Comments, suggestions, additional info?