This began as a very simple project to unwind after building my M966 HMMWV TOW 2 Weapon Carrier. My inital intention was to build only the M30 gun itself. And thanks goes to Kevin Keefe for providing detail information on the mortar. But as any modeler knows, you can't just stop there. It needs more to finish the model off. With that in mind, I decided to add small simple base. Even with that it still looked bare. didn't seem complete. So, I added the 4.2 mortar round and the aiming stakes. What would be a mortar without the usual stuff Mortar crews leave laying around a mortar? You know their helments, weapons, rucksacks, LCE, prtoective mask, etc.
Well I went to my spare part bin and began looking for items. I first added an old WW II through the Vietnam era Steel Pot and a M16A1 rifle.
I found a large ALICE rucksack (Tamiya's), but it lacked the usual frame comes with it. In order to correct that error, I had to scratch build the frame out of wire and strips of plastic. The waist belt was created from scraps of photo-etch strips and the shoulder straps from paper.
Next came the LBE complete with 2 ammo pouches, 2 canteens, a First Aid
pouch, and the suppenders. The canteens, ammo pouches, and the First Aid
pouch came from the spare parts bin. The pistol belt and suppenders were
made out of paper.
Below are some views of the finished M30, U.S. 4.2 inch mortar.
4.2 inch mortar and crew set, a bonus in the Academy's 1/35 scale
M825 (M151A2) with Tow Missile Launcher #CA18-200
The M16A2 and Alice Pack out of the Tamiya's 1/35 scale Modern U.S.
Accessory Set #MM141
Steel Pot, spare parts bin
LCE and Alice Pack frame: Paper, wire, scrap Photo etch strips
Testor's Master Model Paints
Personal knowledge (20 years in the US. Army Infantry
Kevin Robert Keefe and his website:
Mortars in Miniature
