In Box Review of Zvezda 1/35th Scale
German 120mm Mortar 42 w/Trailer & Crew
Kit no, 3583
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2005
Available at 1001 Hobbies for $26.94 or at 8 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $16.96 for my kit at a local hobby shop, that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2005
Available at 1001 Hobbies for $26.94 or at 8 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $16.96 for my kit at a local hobby shop, that went out of business.
HISTORY:
Developed in 1942, the 12 cm (about 4.7 in) GrW 42 was an attempt to give German infantry units a close support weapon with greater performance than the mortars used in general service at the time. This weapon was very similar to the M1938 mortar used by Soviet forces on the Eastern Front which in turn was an improved version of the French 120 mm Brandt Mle 1935 mortar.
The 120 mm Brandt m35 was used in limited quantities during the Battle of France and exported to the USSR and other nations before the country's capitulation in 1940. The Soviet PM 38 120 mm mortar, were captured in large quantities during the war in the East and pressed into service by the Germans and other Axis nations before the introduction of similar nationally produced 12 cm mortar designs. In German use, the captured Soviet mortar was given the designation 12 cm Granatwerfer 378.
The GrW 42 was basically the usual three part construction made up of a circular base plate like the previous Soviet design, the tube itself and the supporting bi-pod. Because of the greater weight of the weapon (280 kilograms or 620 pounds) a two-wheeled axle was utilized, enabling the mortar to be towed into action. The axle could then be quickly removed before firing.[citation needed] A total of 5,373,000 rounds of ammunition were produced for the weapon.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Mortar
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: Second World War
Designed: 1942
Unit cost: 1,200 Reichsmark
Produced: 1943–1945
No. built: 8,461
Mass: 280 kg (620 lb.)
Barrel length: 1.865 m (6 ft 1.4 in) L/15.5
Shell: 15.6 kg (34 lb. 6 oz) bomb
Caliber: 120 mm (4.7 in)
Elevation: 45° to 85°
Traverse: 8° to 17° variable with elevation
Rate of fire: 8-10 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 280 m/s (920 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 6 km (3.7 mi)
Developed in 1942, the 12 cm (about 4.7 in) GrW 42 was an attempt to give German infantry units a close support weapon with greater performance than the mortars used in general service at the time. This weapon was very similar to the M1938 mortar used by Soviet forces on the Eastern Front which in turn was an improved version of the French 120 mm Brandt Mle 1935 mortar.
The 120 mm Brandt m35 was used in limited quantities during the Battle of France and exported to the USSR and other nations before the country's capitulation in 1940. The Soviet PM 38 120 mm mortar, were captured in large quantities during the war in the East and pressed into service by the Germans and other Axis nations before the introduction of similar nationally produced 12 cm mortar designs. In German use, the captured Soviet mortar was given the designation 12 cm Granatwerfer 378.
The GrW 42 was basically the usual three part construction made up of a circular base plate like the previous Soviet design, the tube itself and the supporting bi-pod. Because of the greater weight of the weapon (280 kilograms or 620 pounds) a two-wheeled axle was utilized, enabling the mortar to be towed into action. The axle could then be quickly removed before firing.[citation needed] A total of 5,373,000 rounds of ammunition were produced for the weapon.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Mortar
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: Second World War
Designed: 1942
Unit cost: 1,200 Reichsmark
Produced: 1943–1945
No. built: 8,461
Mass: 280 kg (620 lb.)
Barrel length: 1.865 m (6 ft 1.4 in) L/15.5
Shell: 15.6 kg (34 lb. 6 oz) bomb
Caliber: 120 mm (4.7 in)
Elevation: 45° to 85°
Traverse: 8° to 17° variable with elevation
Rate of fire: 8-10 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 280 m/s (920 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 6 km (3.7 mi)
THE KIT:
Zvezda is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Moscow, Russia. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box .The box is 1 ½” too long, wide and deep.
The box art shows a 4-man German gun crew that are manning a GrW-42 mortar. They are posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts.
The men are all standing. They all wear field-grey uniforms, steel helmets and full field-gear on their belts and black jack-boots.
Reading left to right:
The first man Is loading a steel colored ammo round that has white rib bands by its fins into the mortar.
The second man is working the crank handle on the mortar.
In the center of the rear, the 3rd man has his right arm raised, giving orders to the 2 men working the mortar and he is talking on a field telephone in his left hand. He has a black pair of binoculars strung around his neck.
The fourth (and last man) on the right is pulling a panzer-grey colored ammo case with both hands. It has a white-lettering that says: 12cm GR.W-42 n13T81.
Behind him there is a panzer-grey large ammo crate.
The mortar and its round base plate is overall khaki colored.
One side-panel of the box has 6 one-paragraph histories of the mortar in that many languages. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
Zvezda is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Moscow, Russia. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box .The box is 1 ½” too long, wide and deep.
The box art shows a 4-man German gun crew that are manning a GrW-42 mortar. They are posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts.
The men are all standing. They all wear field-grey uniforms, steel helmets and full field-gear on their belts and black jack-boots.
Reading left to right:
The first man Is loading a steel colored ammo round that has white rib bands by its fins into the mortar.
The second man is working the crank handle on the mortar.
In the center of the rear, the 3rd man has his right arm raised, giving orders to the 2 men working the mortar and he is talking on a field telephone in his left hand. He has a black pair of binoculars strung around his neck.
The fourth (and last man) on the right is pulling a panzer-grey colored ammo case with both hands. It has a white-lettering that says: 12cm GR.W-42 n13T81.
Behind him there is a panzer-grey large ammo crate.
The mortar and its round base plate is overall khaki colored.
One side-panel of the box has 6 one-paragraph histories of the mortar in that many languages. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
The other side panel says: Manufactured by Zvezda. Their street address, phone number and web address in Moscow, Russia. Zvezda’s office addresses in Austria, Not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. A suggested paint color listing of Model Master brand hobby paints. For modelers aged 10 and over. Copyright of the kit is 2005. Kit contains 159 parts. length of the figures is 5cm (almost 2”). In multiple languages, including English.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 4 medium-grey parts trees, that are not cello bagged and the instructions.
The instructions consist of 4 pages.
Page 1 has a black and white repeat of the cover art at the top. Over 6 one-paragraph histories of the mortar and crew in the 6 languages. Kit made in Russia.
The bottom of the page is the parts trees illustrations.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the parts of the 4 figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs), 4 gas-mask canisters, 4 mess-kits, 4 spades in carrying pouches, 4 canteens, 4 steel helmets, 1 pistol in holster, 3 canvas sacks, a pair of binoculars, 3 98K carbines and 4 ammo pouches for the carbines. (57 parts).
This kit holds 4 medium-grey parts trees, that are not cello bagged and the instructions.
The instructions consist of 4 pages.
Page 1 has a black and white repeat of the cover art at the top. Over 6 one-paragraph histories of the mortar and crew in the 6 languages. Kit made in Russia.
The bottom of the page is the parts trees illustrations.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the parts of the 4 figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs), 4 gas-mask canisters, 4 mess-kits, 4 spades in carrying pouches, 4 canteens, 4 steel helmets, 1 pistol in holster, 3 canvas sacks, a pair of binoculars, 3 98K carbines and 4 ammo pouches for the carbines. (57 parts).
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the mortar and it’s travel cart’s frame and wheels, tools, wood ammo cases, mortar rounds etc. (45 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter c trees. They hold: the large wood ammo crate, it’s interior shelf, axle , 2 wheels, ammo rounds etc. (32 parts ea.)
There is a small 4” by 7 ¼” sheet, printed on both sides, that gives CAUTIONS about the kit and Zvezda’s street address in Moscow, Russia and their office address in Graz, Austria in 20 languages, including English.
The detailing Is very good.
Recommended.
The detailing Is very good.
Recommended.