I plain to scratch build a M30 4.2 mortar in 1/16 scale. Would anyone have the mesurements? the only one i do have is the barrel at 48". I'm not even sure if thats right. I'v tryed google and altavista, but all i come up with is the weights. What colors would i use to paint it. The pictures that do come up are old or in a line drawing.

The color depends on the age of the mortar and how often it's been painted. Some parts of our weapons system dated back to the 40's.



Paul

mother,

I have several manuals I use for reference, and a lot of personal experience with mortars. Let me take a look at what I have and I'll send you a message off post asap.

You might also check the mortars in miniature web site as Kevin may have some of the information you're looking for as well. Just email him. He's a great guy and always willing to help with anything concerning mortars.

www.mortarsinminiature.com

OK....OK.... I give up......... and I'll ask the stupid question for today........
What's the hose and end cap for???????

Grumpy,

It's appears to be part of a pneumatic device used for training, although I never used this type...basically a device for shooting much smaller projectiles at miniature targets that appear to be further away when the gunner looks through the sight...

Thanks Darryl, i would like that, as for Kevin's site been there. I think that's where i got the 48'' barrel from.

mother,

you can also find several mortar manuals online...I've found several by just typing in the number while doing a google search or the like...below are two you may try...

FM 23-92 - 4.2 inch mortar, M30

TM 9-1015-215-10 - Operator's Manual for 4.2 inch mortar, M30

I'll check on a few others I have...

Thanks.... I thought maybe they were pressure test ing it......
if they do that......

11Charlie is right. It's a sub caliber training device. Not used that often. This was setup for the kids at a 4th of July display.

Paul

All I could furnish are the basic overall dimensions easily found on the internet or in some of the TM/FMs that I have. I do not own nor do I know of any engineering drawings available for this weapon. (There would be quite a few drawings involved, and there were early and late production differences altho the basic "M30" designation did not change.) You might be able to contact a former manufacturer and see what they could/would provide.

My advice to you would be to gather as much pictorial reference that you can find and scale up the Tamiya offering unless you've got all kinds of time to 'fully' research this puppy.

It would be fantastic to see this in 1/16th scale. Best of luck to you and I for one would be very interested in seeing your progress.

Paint colors also varied, the ones that I've seen (and what I based my example on) were in the typical US Army dark OD of the 50's and 60's. Much darker green than in Paul's photo.

Did a little bit of googlage and found the TM on line.
"The cannon (also referred to as the barrel) is a rifled tube 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) long with an inside diameter of 106.7 mm (4.2 inches) between lands."
Link below. If you have the tammy 1/35th scale version, you could scale it up, like Kevin said, using the drawings at the link below.

Shaun

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/23-90/ch6.htm

Kevin I started it last night, using a 9/32 evergreen plastic tube. Inside dia. 7/32 close to 4.2" in 1/16 scale. Length of barrel 3''. Tube cap trunnion pins, shock absorber,morter locking pin, coupling and sight assembly, and elevating mechanism are done. I'll finnish the bases hopefully tonight. That morter site, does it belong to you? If so i would like to send it to you to put in your show case.

....Thanks Shaun




Nope, you didn't get that tube length from me Joe.

Here's a shot to help with the rifling:


Paul

I could use pics of the site mechanism, have any.

I'll check this weekend to see if I have any pictures of the M53 sight.

Paul

Good man Paul. Thanks

Keenan, if i did this right, scaleing a 1/35 (tamiyas) barrel (only) from top to bottom comes out to about 48". In 1/1 scale thats about 4 ft.

Yes it does and please keep me posted Joe.