Tannenburg Mortar Team: Assembly and Crew Positioning Tips
By Victoria Miniatures by Victoria Lamb | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: How-to Guides
Build the Tannenburg Mortar Team with a clean assembly order and crew placement that reads clearly on the tabletop. Practical steps for a modular kit.
Quick answer
Build the mortar and crew separately, then position the crew around the base before gluing. Keep the loader's hands clear of the tube and the spotter's sightline open so the team reads at a glance.
Why crew placement matters more than the mortar itself
The mortar is a compact shape; the crew tells the story. A loader reaching toward the muzzle and a spotter looking past the tube create a clear triangle of attention. If both crew face the same way, the model looks like two figures standing near a prop rather than a working team.
Because the kit is fully modular, you can test poses before committing to glue. Treat the base as a stage: the mortar is the anchor, and each crew member should have a distinct job and a clear silhouette.
Victorian or Tannenburg crew: pick before you build
The kit includes components for either Victorian or Tannenburg crew. Decide which force you are building before assembly, because the head and arm options set the visual identity of the team. Mixing components from both sets can work, but it weakens the uniform look that makes a heavy weapons crew recognizable on the table.
If you plan to paint the crew in a specific uniform, check that the chosen heads and arms match the reference you are using. The kit does not include separate weapon options beyond the mortar, so the crew choice is the main customisation decision.
Step-by-step assembly and crew positioning
- Clean and dry-fit the mortar: Remove any print supports and test-fit the mortar components without glue. Check that the base plate sits flat and the tube aligns with its mount. If the tube rocks on the mount, fix that joint before adding crew.
- Assemble the mortar as a separate sub-assembly: Glue the mortar tube, base plate, and mount together, keeping glue away from the crew contact points. Let it cure fully before handling. A cured mortar sub-assembly is easier to position than a loose pile of parts.
- Choose your crew style and dry-fit heads and arms: Select either the Victorian or Tannenburg crew components. Test the arm poses on each torso before gluing, checking that hands can reach the mortar without crossing the tube. If a hand overlaps the muzzle, rotate the arm or swap to the other crew member.
- Plan the base layout with the mortar off-center: Place the mortar slightly off-center on the base, leaving room for the loader on one side and the spotter on the other. Mark the mortar footprint lightly with a pencil. Off-center placement gives the crew room to work and avoids a crowded rim.
- Position the loader first: Glue the loader so the hands are near the breech or ready to pass a shell, not in front of the muzzle. Check that the elbow does not collide with the mortar mount. The loader should look like part of the crew, not a bystander behind the tube.
- Position the spotter with a clear sightline: Place the spotter on the opposite side, angled slightly outward as if observing the fall of shot. Keep the face and any sighting hand visible from the front of the base. If the spotter's head is hidden behind the mortar, shift the figure outward before gluing.
- Glue the crew and mortar to the base: Once both crew are positioned and the mortar is cured, glue all three to the base. Use a small square or reference line to keep the mortar upright. Check the mortar is vertical from two angles before the glue sets.
Kit facts that affect your build
- Tannenburg Mortar Team: Includes one mortar and components to build either Victorian or Tannenburg crew. You can match the crew to your existing army, but you must choose one crew style before gluing heads and arms.
Tannenburg Mortar Team - Tannenburg Mortar Team: Fully modular physical kit. Dry-fit the mortar and crew before committing to glue so you can adjust spacing and sightlines.
