The small parts!

The trouble, or maybe the advantage, depending on how you look at it, is that with a kit where the main bulk of whatever is being constructed is in two parts, just putting these together can give the impression of a speedy build and nearly complete build. That is what it has felt like with this Trumpeter kit of the L/15 Mörser "Bär". However, as I have learnt today, there are a  great deal of small parts still to be fitted which will take some time to complete. Probably half that time is being spent looking for these small parts as they make a break away from the workbench and onto the floor! The various lifting hooks that are located around the upper panels of the tank are a case in point. Luckily there were a few spare ones on the sprues as I guess The guys at Trumpeter realised modellers were going to need extras! Therefore, even after several hours of Man Cave bliss, there is not a great deal of difference to see!

Still many small parts to fit including the hatches and cupulas on top of the mortar compartment and the bow gun in that hole at the front. Then I will need to deal with my arch nemesis - etched brass parts for the grills above the engine. Hopefully they should be relatively easy to fit with no bending required. You can hardly see those lifting hooks but there are thirteen that I remember and several of which had to be located on the floor before fitting!

One part that will be sealed from view once the hull lower and upper parts are permanently joined is the mount for the mortar. Some fairly hefty plastic here with the mortar mount pivoted between two mounts that are glued to the chassis. With some carful fettling, the mortar mount can elevate but is tight enough to ensure that the barrel of the mortar will stay in the chosen elevation for display. 

A few more hours should see the rest of the small parts fitted and my crawling on the floor looking for them ended!