British Tadpole

	Mortars in Miniature ...A Scale Model Collection of the "Infantryman's Artillery"...

- British Mk. IV Male "Tadpole"
with 4-Inch Stokes Mortar -

World War I

First full-tracked mortar carrier known.

The Kit:

This model is from Emhar and is to 1/35th scale. It is an update to the original Mk. IV kit that was released in the mid 1990's. Is is molded in a dark gray styrene and was assembled by using styrene and cyanoacrylate glues. The parts were quite thick but this did not interfere with the assembly actually, the thickness provides for a good strong, durable model. Extra track lengths were provided in the kit as well as a few of the original Mk. IV parts that were not required for this conversion.

Assembly was quite easy, the directions straight-forward and assembly was for the most part, out of the box (OOB). This is a large model to handle, measuring roughly 12 inches in length. I did find that building this model in as many sub-assemblies as possible, did help later on during the painting process. One area that I found that was necessary to improve on were the mounting brackets for the cross-member supporting the mortar floor. This was accomplished with Evergreen "Channel" styrene stock and these were 'riveted' into place with small styrene disks. Other .010" thick strip stock was used on the insides to block off any potential gaps and some shimming was required to fill in a few external gaps. I also added styrene square stock to the interior to strengthen corner joints. Track assembly went ok and despite after-market track availability, I opted to use the kit tracks.

The weapons provided are quite basic. The Lewis Gun barrels are simple representations and the 6-Pounder guns were (and are) slightly out of round. Substitute barrels for both would certainly be an improvement however, I am not aware that there are any after-market barrels available. All of the barrels were drilled out by using a pin vice.

There are no decals provided in the kit, nor is there any reference to any actual vehicle markings. None are visible in the two photos provided on the assembly instructions.



Despite the kit's reputation for being proportionally off, it looks like a WWI "Landship" and this was an enjoyable build. The differences found with the overall dimensional checks were acceptable in scale and there are a few external differences visible between this model and of the only two known photos of the "Tadpole" to exist.

The Mortar:
This appears to be quite simple, not only as provided in the kit, but in all actuality, it was not a complex weapon to begin with. It was detailed up with some small styrene disks here and there and I also added the 'shoes' to the bipod legs. The bore was also drilled out. (There is some speculation that the mortar actually fitted was of the 6-Inch variety but, the bore is drilled out to a scale 4-Inch diameter, the tube being too narrow for a 6-Inch mortar.) I also scratch-built the bipod brace that is on the floor plate and this was pure speculation on my part. The white alignment stripes are decals from a Microscale aircraft decal sheet from my spares drawer. In my research, I could not find any documentation on this particular bipod, tube and mount combination. The hand wheel is for elevation adjustments and there seems to be no provision for the weapon's traverse. In the role intended, traverse may have been by changing the vehicle's direction for supporting and screening fires during the advance.

The Figure:
Is from Model Cellar and with the exception of the rifle sling and the gas mask container strap, is also built OOB. The only 'surgery' required was to cut and re-position the left hand to hold the rifle a little better. His rankings are dry-transfer decals from Archer Fine Transfers and these were applied with a little diluted white glue. He is basically painted to match the photo of the figures on the box top and I do not know the significance of the red triangular shoulder patch. (This was painted on.)

Assembly was quite easy and the option to interchange 'body parts' with the other figure supplied in this kit is possible. I built this figure as intended. He wears the M1902 tunic, trousers and cloth puttees. The (load-bearing) harness is of the M1908 pattern and the rifle is the .303 caliber short magazine Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk. III. The box respirator worn over his chest is of the later 1917 issue. (The PH (Phenate-Hexamine) gas mask container of 1915 issue is also included in the kit.) On his head is the "Brodie" Mk. I manganese-steel helmet.

Base and Groundwork:

The base is made of scrap oak wood and measures 13.5" x 7". The wood was stained and sealed with several coats of polyurethane to prevent warping.

The groundwork is a mix of Sculptamold, water and wood glue (aliphatic resin glue). The track ruts were pressed in by using a home-made jig built of a styrene frame and the spare track lengths found in the kit. Once the groundwork was dry, I sprinkled fine sifted dirt, added some pebbles from my yard and static grass was applied, all fixed with diluted white glue. Woodland Scenics fine railroad ballast also contributed to the ground texture. Dried flowers were used for the bushes and the ground clutter is ground up dried flowers.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

This subject was painted entirely with acrylic paints from various manufacturers. Baby powder and diluted white glue was applied to the muffler and exhaust pipe to simulate flaked rust. A mixture of static grass and railroad ballast was mixed with diluted white glue and this was spread over various areas to represent dirt etc on the vehicle. Recessed effects were created with various washes mixed from Winsor and Newton artist oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner. Acrylic dry-brushing of the highlights completed the model. Terponoid was also utilized for thinning the W&N oils on a trial basis. A silver artist pencil was used to simulate the worn metal surfaces.

General Vehicle and Mortar Info:

In an effort to overcome the wider German anti-tank trenches, the British designed an an extension of approximately nine feet to the then in-service Mk. IV "Male" and "Female" tanks. Trials in 1917 were somewhat successful and extension kits were manufactured and sent to France to be retrofitted in the field. What problems that were found during the trial period were not completely overcome by war's end and production of the extensions ceased with none being actually fitted. Angle iron was added to the extension to improve on the vehicle's rigidity and on at least one trial vehicle, a platform made out of steel plate was added to the angle iron bracing. This plate allowed for the installation of a 4-Inch Stokes mortar to provide forward firing supporting and screening fires.

It is generally believed that the "Tadpole" did not see any combat action (hence the no markings known or shown) on the Western Front. Only two prototypes were built despite the many tail extensions manufactured.

Other differences found from the original Mk. IV besides the obvious extensions were the lack of de-ditching rails and a shortened exhaust. (I would have to assume that the mortar crew needed to wear their gas masks.)

The mortar was of the Stokes principal where the bomb was dropped down the tube onto a stationary firing pin at the base of the tube. Bombs were originally cylindrical in shape and were unstable in flight. The 4-Inch mortar was produced during 1915 and 1916 and it was originally intended to fire gas-filled and smoke-screening bombs. It's first use in combat was at the battle of Loos Belgium where 27 4-Inch mortars (ground mounts) fired a screening barrage that preceded the ground assault.


Actual Vehicle and Mortar Info:
Vehicle: Length: Approximately 35ft, 5in. (10.80m) Width: 13ft, 6in. (4.11m) Height: 8ft, 2in. (2.49m) Engine: Daimler 6 cylinder gasoline. Maximum Speed: 3.7mph (Approx. 6kph) Fuel Tank capacity: 70gal (318 liters) Armament: 2 x 6-Pounder (57mm) 3 x .303 caliber Machine Guns (Original Lewis guns (shown) later replaced by Hotchkiss guns.) Mortar: Range: Varied from 800 to 1200yds. maximum. Production: Approximately 200. Lewis Automatic Machine Gun: To be added at a later date.
- Lewis Automatic Machine Gun Manuals -

Sources: (Mortar Only)

The Long, Long Trail
The story of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918.

Mr. Tom Ready - United Kingdom

Beaver Pond Millworks - United States

Unless otherwise specified, all models built, painted, photographed and are owned by the author.
Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2001 - 2010.
All Rights Reserved.