1:35 Ukrainian Mortar Caliber 82mm KBA-48M (1pc)

The real subject

An 82 mm mortar belongs to the weapons that accompany infantry at company level. It fires at a high angle, so it can hit a target behind a fold of ground or behind a building, where a flat trajectory cannot reach. The weapon stands on a baseplate, a bipod supports the barrel and it is loaded through the muzzle. The Ukrainian mortar designated KBA-48M is a modern representative of this class of weapon.

Where the accessory finds a use

A mortar is a rewarding feature of a scene: it has a low silhouette, the striking geometry of a bipod and, usually, a crew set out around it, crates of ammunition and gear laid aside. In a diorama it therefore tells a story on its own, even with only a few figures standing around it. In 1:35 scale it comes out as a small but unmissable player in a scene.

Building and painting tips

• If the parts are not polystyrene, make the joints with super glue.
• Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and carefully sand the rest off.
• Before painting, wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water, let them dry and lay down a primer.
• Seat the bipod to suit the ground the mortar will stand on, so that the baseplate settles over its whole area.
• Darken the muzzle of the barrel; an empty black opening looks more convincing in a photograph than a solid surface.

Terms of supply

One mortar is supplied as an accessory to a scene. The figures, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. For the particular procedure of preparing and gluing the parts, go by the manufacturer's instructions.