Author Topic: Finished! 1/2 scale Mountain Howitzer (Read 3551 times)

bpsteve · « **on:** October 31, 2006, 03:39:01 AM »

Here are some pictures of my 1/2 scale mountain howitzer.
The project took about 6 months to complete. I need to fab the ram rod, worm, swab and ball mould before I can fire it.
The bore is 2" (underscale) and the wheels are 24" (overscale) but all other components are made to scale from prints obtained from
Antique Ordnance.
I'm considering a matching limber for my next project.

moose53 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:03:17 AM »

Nice job!Always thought it would be fun to get a big piece of brass and make a howitzer,you will have fun keeping it clean.

Michael Az · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:09:34 AM »

Beautiful gun Steve! I'm curious, how many parts did you make yourself? The thing that would seem hard to me is making the wheels for a non woodworker.
Michael

bpsteve · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:38:01 AM »

Michael,
The wheels I didn't make. They were purchased from Hansen's Wagon Works in South Dakota. They are well made and are reproductions of cannon wheels but are 24" in dia. The actual wheels on a mountain howitzer were 42" so to be correct at 1/2 scale they should be 21" in dia. They sell for $175 ea. an are worth every penny!
Steve R

Double D · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2006, 05:18:53 AM »

Any reason for not half scaling the bore?

Blaster Bob will be along soon to remind you about PC

bpsteve · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2006, 06:41:56 AM »

DD
I bored the barrel with a boring bar. The reason they call it a "bore"ing bar is that each cut took about 15 min. I just got tired of machining it and I had a good finish at 2"
What is "PC"??
Steve R

The Shootist · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2006, 06:51:39 AM »

PC=Powder Can (for scale)

Santa Dave · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2006, 08:05:59 AM »

WOW!! GORGEOUS!
I'm drooling all over the keyboard again!
Santa Dave

Tropico · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2006, 08:59:03 AM »

Beautiful...., Outstanding.

opatriot · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2006, 09:15:45 AM »

SWEEEEEET !! Brass is so sweeeet ...was going to ask you where you purchased your barrel but you answered that question .......GOOD JOB...................

Will Bison · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2006, 09:57:25 AM »

Really nice job!!!!!!!!!!

GAWI · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2006, 10:53:00 AM »

Its great. Keeping it looking that shiny will be fun.

EL Caz 66 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:00:11 PM »

Yes she is Beautiful, Now we need to see some fire and smoke!!!!! please post a video or two...

Ed

CU_Cannon · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:32:42 PM »

Great looking work!!!

How did you attach the trunnions?

dominick · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2006, 01:54:17 PM »

AWESOME WORK STEVE!!

Michael Az · « **Reply #15 on:** October 31, 2006, 03:36:51 PM »

The wheels look great, as does the rest of it. How big is your lathe?
Michael

A.Roads · « **Reply #16 on:** October 31, 2006, 05:25:36 PM »

A very nice job, well done. Of course you'll have to do the limber now!
Adrian.

cannon man · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2006, 03:30:08 PM »

Incredible work beautiful gun
CM

Double D · « **Reply #18 on:** November 01, 2006, 04:12:58 PM »

Quote from: bpsteve on October 31, 2006, 06:41:56 AM

DD
I bored the barrel with a boring bar. The reason they call it a "bore"ing bar is that each cut took about 15 min. I just got tired of machining it and I had a good finish at 2"
What is "PC"??
Steve R

Aw yes boring bar, akin to watching paint dry only just a little more exciting, but only just!

Yes PC is Powder Can. Some time back Blaster Bob pointed out if you included a Powder Can in you picture it gave some scale to the gun. We have another post that is asking how to attach trunnions to a brass barrel. Care to share how you did it?

bpsteve · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2006, 02:36:56 AM »

CU & DD

Well the truth is out!! The barrel is STEEL. I welded the trunions on as well as the cascabel and then had it brass plated along with the elevating screw. Cost of plating-$65.00

Steve R

Double D · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2006, 06:25:37 AM »

Oh, Clever indeed!!!

Cannoneer · « **Reply #21 on:** November 02, 2006, 07:29:07 AM »

Excellent work on both tube and carriage, I wish it was mine. Steve, in the one picture the vent hole looks large; or is that just due to a shadow in the photo?

bpsteve · « **Reply #22 on:** November 02, 2006, 11:54:32 AM »

Boom J
I made a spring loaded firing device that wasn't screwed into the hole when the picture was taken. It uses a musket cap that is fired by pulling a lanyard.
Steve R

CU_Cannon · « **Reply #23 on:** November 02, 2006, 12:59:00 PM »

I hear the boring part. It took 12+ hours to bore my 12pdr from 2” to 4.62”.

opatriot · « **Reply #24 on:** November 07, 2006, 04:45:54 PM »

Gday friend...Just wondering ..where would one go to have their steel barrel brass plated ...?? looks sooo good..................davey

bpsteve · « **Reply #25 on:** November 10, 2006, 04:30:17 PM »

opatriot,
Most chrome shops can handle it.
Steve R

opatriot · « **Reply #26 on:** November 13, 2006, 03:25:01 PM »

THANX STEVE ....For the reply .....ill call around to see if i can find anyone and how much ........

bpsteve · « **Reply #27 on:** November 16, 2006, 05:19:41 PM »

First fire pictures!!!

GAWI · « **Reply #28 on:** November 20, 2006, 06:47:05 PM »

Did you do all the iron work or did you find someone to help? Building 1/2 scale napoleon myself, looking for help on iron work. Gary

bpsteve · « **Reply #29 on:** November 21, 2006, 06:07:01 AM »

GAWI,
Did everything but the wheels.
Got to shoot is about six times this weekend to open the Arizona State BPCR Silhouette Matches.
Used 430 grains of misc. leftover powder with paper wads. Alot of smoke and a big mess from the confetti!!!
Steve R