81-35

- Italian 81 mm Mortar, 81/35 -

World War II

The Kit:

This 1/35th scale kit is from Model Victoria and is cast in resin. A beautiful casting with excellent detail provided all around.

The Details:

I added the tension chain made from fine chain and to this a length of fine wire coiled to represent the spring. I also fabricated the elevation and traversing handles from formed brass wire with two-part epoxy "knobs".

The Extras:

All the items shown came with the kit. (As well as 3 beautifully cast figures).
The mortar bombs are excellently cast and are just about right on as far as scale goes. I relied on the kit's instructions as a painting guide for the bombs.
I added the harness to the backpack from thin strips of drafting tape with either styrene plastic or photo-etch brass 'buckles'.
The rifle... This is just a beauty. Cleanly cast and all that will be needed to enhance this up is to add the sling and it's mounting 'hardware'. It is a replica of the Italian Short Rifle, 6.5 mm M91/38.

Base and Groundwork:

The oak base measures 3-1/2 inches in diameter. It is stained sealed with multiple coats of Polyurethane. Sculptamold mixed with white glue was added for the groundwork. Various sized stones and some twigs were pressed in and again, there are dried-flowers added for the bushes and forest litter was also used sparingly about.

Painting, Weathering and Finishing:

PollyS/PollyScale Acrylic metal primer, paints and flat coat were used throughout. Winsor and Newton Oils thinned with Loew-Cornell Odorless Brush Cleaner and Thinner were used for the washes.

General Mortar Info:

This weapon was produced in Italy under license from the French manufacturer Brandt. Designed to be broken down into 3-man portable loads of roughly 16 kg each, the Model 81/35 served the Italian Army well into the 1950's.

Mainly issued to the Italian elite Mountain Light Infantry "Alpini" troops, the 3-man load and accessories were normally transported by mules in the mountainous country in which these troops operated in. This weapon could also be found in regular Infantry Units within the Italian Army. It was also the mortar of choice with the Italian paratroopers.

The 81/35 was usually deployed with two weapons per squad ("squadra") and usually under Battalion command. A mortar platoon consisted of three squads and a mortar company contained three mortar platoons plus a headquarters platoon. The mortar and headquarters platoons were usually not tactically employed units.

The Model 81/35 is very similar in appearance to the US M1 and Japanese Type 97 81 mm Mortars. All having originated from the original Brandt design.


Actual Mortar Data:
Barrel Length: 1,550 mm
Length of Bore: 1,450 mm
Thickness of Tube Wall: 6.99 mm
Elevation: +30º to +85º	Instruzione Provvisoria (Temporary) Sul Mortario Da 81 mm Modello 35 1942 - Anno XX (Fascist Year 20)
Muzzle Velocity: 295 mps
Weight: 40 kg
Accessories Weight: 10 kg
Transport Accessories: 61 kg
Range (HE): 5,000 m

Sources:

LT. Davide Valfrè - Italy

Mr. Dave Lomas - United States

Mr. Mathew Messiaen - Italy

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