Tamiya 35193 - 1:35 German Infantry Mortar Team

Plastic figure kit: German Infantry Mortar Team in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35193 depicts a German mortar position in action. The four figures are posed in the roles typical of a crew: at the weapon itself, passing rounds and working at the ammunition boxes. At the heart of the set is a model of the 8 cm GrW 34 mortar — the standard support weapon of a German infantry company.

The set is completed by mortar rounds and four ammunition boxes: two wooden and two metal. Together they allow a full, convincing firing position to be built on a diorama. The tooling dates from 1995 and the kit belongs to the Military Miniature Series.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for four crew figures
• 8 cm GrW 34 mortar
• Mortar rounds
• 2 wooden and 2 metal ammunition boxes
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35193
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Number of figures: 4
• Tooling: 1995
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The figures are supplied for self-assembly and painting.

Assembly and painting:

Assembly is simple and quick. It is worth building and painting the mortar separately and only then arranging the figures around it — the poses relate to one another, so dry-fitting helps to position the whole scene precisely on its base.

The field uniforms are painted in field grey (for example Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey), while the mortar suits a matt dark grey or dark green depending on the period and unit chosen. The metal boxes are a good place for chipping and scratches, and the wooden ones benefit from a wash to bring out the grain. The instructions give Tamiya paint codes.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (for example Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for faces and details
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to bring out uniform folds and the details of the boxes
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the soldiers – German mortar crews:

The 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 medium mortar was the standard support weapon of a German infantry company. Its true calibre was 81.4 mm and it broke down into three main assemblies — barrel, bipod and baseplate — carried separately by the crew. The complete weapon weighed around 57 kilograms, light enough for the infantry to move it on their own.

The GrW 34 had a range of some 2400 metres and could fire well over a dozen rounds per minute. A crew usually consisted of three men: a gunner at the barrel, a loader dropping in the rounds and an ammunition bearer bringing up the boxes. The weapon was valued for its accuracy and solid construction, although it was heavier and more expensive to produce than comparable Allied designs.

Mortars fire on a high, curved trajectory, reaching targets hidden behind hills, in trenches and behind buildings — places where the flat trajectory of machine gun fire was useless. That made them one of the most effective infantry weapons of the Second World War; a large share of infantry casualties was caused by mortar fire.

Historical background:

• Formation: German infantry mortar crews, Second World War
• Weapon: 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 mortar (actual calibre 81.4 mm)
• Weight: approx. 57 kg, carried as three loads (barrel, bipod, baseplate)
• Range: up to approx. 2400 m; crew: usually 3 men
• The high-angle trajectory allowed targets behind cover to be engaged

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The business initially traded in timber and produced wooden models from the late 1940s, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. In 1968 it launched the 1:35 Military Miniature Series, which grew to hundreds of items and established the standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and very good parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya figures are valued for their natural poses and clearly rendered uniforms and equipment. Besides plastic kits, the company offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Tamiya is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.