Author Topic: Sandbox siege mortars (Read 2442 times)

rays89 · « **on:** August 03, 2008, 09:51:33 AM »

I could have called them Dictators but there was only one Dictator mortar and not three. I guesss I like these mortars because they have a sinster look. It was likeif one of these rolled into the outskirts of your town. You got a lot of problems coming. All three of these mortars were made from Brooks-Usa Barrels One is the 1 inch bore, 62 Cal (protoype barrel) and the .50 Cal. bore. I plan on taking the .50 cal and making a railroad carraige one of these days. Unfortuntley I am going to let go of the .62 bore "dictator" at an undesclosed auction. I am not going to give details. The reason why the lack of details. Is I do not want to ruffle Greybeards feathers. I have spoken to him once. While he might be strict on these forums, He is here to finance and keep the ball rolling so we can enjoy and learn from these forums. He is also a fair man. that is why I have left out the details I hope he will understand I am doing this to finance an another "Dictator Mortar" That I am getting from Dom (another great guy I had the pleasure to talk to a few times.) I have my eyes on that Goldball "dictator and gotta have one. When it comes I will post it in this thread Along with other Barrels that the Irishman creates.
I am also wondering if anybody else has any "Dictator" siege mortars they would like to post on this thread.
Ray

Tropico · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2008, 04:49:40 PM »

I am not sure how rays89 's triple - threat got past me ., but it did.
Great job on your carriages ., mine isnt exaclty correct., but its fun.
I'll join in with ya

Evil Dog · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2008, 06:16:46 PM »

This is a brass siege barrel that Dom turned out for me... I don't remember the exact bore size right now but think it was pretty close to a 36 caliber. Made the base from oak. One of those things I just had to have... didn't keep it all that long though as never could find where the ball landed unless I was shooting it over a swimming pool where I might spot the splash.

There is no doubt where the ball lands from this one though... a 2 1/4" bore.

rays89 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2008, 05:27:14 PM »

Unfortuntly I had to sel the .62. cal morar to fund more projects. But I have finished the .50 cal. and the 1 inch siege mortor also from brooks barrels. Mu current plan is to make a rail car for the .50 cal and a parapit for the 1 inch mortar. Corently i am waiting on the golfball mortar from Dom. Dom has been backed up but when I get it I wll post it in this post.

Sorry for rorgetting the goex can but in the prior posts you can get an idea
Ray

dan610324 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2008, 01:01:50 AM »

forgetting the goex can ??
ok its excused as you got it in your earlier post .

but what I cant excuse is that you dont have the goex in your black and white pictures

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2008, 12:12:01 PM »

The Dictator used about 20 lb of powder at each shot (if I remember correctly).

What size Goex can did they use?

GGaskill · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2008, 06:40:13 PM »

What size Goex can did they use?

I think they got their powder from Du Pont in kegs.

rays89 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2008, 05:33:03 PM »

I think I see a can of Goex in the first picture but the guy is standing in front of it. But if you look real closley...........

dominick · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2008, 02:18:47 AM »

I see it!

intoodeep · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2008, 02:56:14 AM »

Oh, Dom.... That's good!

GGaskill · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2008, 01:15:06 PM »

That must be the 5 lb size.

Max Caliber · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2008, 01:19:42 PM »

I believe that's just a can of mortar oil.

Artilleryman · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2008, 01:44:37 PM »

Trivia question: Why is the top step on some of the 13 inch seacoast mortar beds bent?

dan610324 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2008, 02:06:21 PM »

if you drop a ball when you are loading I suppose you are pretty quick to remove your foot , then you have nothing there to protect the top step

sorry dominick , I think I was tired the first time I looked at that photo , I didnt see it then

thats an good job you done to the photo , why not sell it to goex ??
they could use it in their commercials

Artilleryman · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2008, 03:58:48 PM »

Sorry Dan, If you drop the 200 lb shell it might hit the bottom step but not the top one.

dan610324 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 19, 2008, 04:48:10 PM »

it depends on what elevation they have

intoodeep · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2008, 04:52:45 PM »

Quote from: Artilleryman on August 19, 2008, 01:44:37 PM

Trivia question: Why is the top step on some of the 13 inch seacoast mortar beds bent?

My guess would be the tube swung down onto it.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2008, 12:43:27 AM »

Quote from: intoodeep on August 19, 2008, 04:52:45 PM

Quote from: Artilleryman on August 19, 2008, 01:44:37 PM
Trivia question: Why is the top step on some of the 13 inch seacoast mortar beds bent?

My guess would be the tube swung down onto it.

Tube or ball either would leave a recognizable mark. IF you could inspect it close up.

Artilleryman · « **Reply #18 on:** August 20, 2008, 04:02:35 PM »

Answer to trivia question. There is an ear on top of the tube that is used for hoisting the 17,000 lb barrel. When lifted the barrel is basically horizontal. This would cause the barrel to contact the top step bending it when mounting or dismounting the barrel. The proper procedure iis to unbolt and remove the top step before mounting or dismounting the barrel. Once the barrel is mounted it is set a a 45 degree angle and the top step is replaced. Obviously from the photographs sometimes this was not done. Having crewed on one of these I do not believe that there is anyway that the top step could be bent by a shell, maybe the bottom one but not the top one.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #19 on:** August 24, 2008, 03:18:01 PM »

Quote from: intoodeep on August 19, 2008, 04:52:45 PM

Quote from: Artilleryman on August 19, 2008, 01:44:37 PM
Trivia question: Why is the top step on some of the 13 inch seacoast mortar beds bent?

My guess would be the tube swung down onto it.

Intoodeep, I'd like to compliment you on your magnanimity; some people now like to use the phrase "a person comfortable in their own skin" while it used to be said that an individual "had a laid back attitude" but I have to believe that there are a lot of people that would have been yelling " hey guys look at my post, can't you see I got the right answer" and you evidently just shrugged your shoulders and I admire that, not that my admiration is going to get you a double burger or anything.

intoodeep · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2008, 04:13:56 PM »

Boom J,

Thanks for the complement kind Sir. I have come to learn that pounding your own chest only gets you sore hands and a bruised chest.

rays89 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2008, 11:25:42 AM »

Today I learned a few new words, the UPS guy taught me. If I was to write them here I will be banned. He also complained about going on disability. I decided to upgrade with some larger ordinance. One of Dom Carpenter's Golfball Dictator mortars. This thing is massive. Since they didn't have Goex cans during the Civil war I decided to throw in an old Boot from the way it smells it might be vintage When you conquer one sandbox it is time to Invade another and another ect. Or maybe go for some serious ground like a golf course......

rays89 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 30, 2008, 02:47:57 PM »

Presently I am not a happy camper. I had a fresh box of a dozen golfballs But I could only find one. While on Dom's website the Load is 140 grains of FFG. If I shoot diagonal on my yard I have 2 miles of woods. But we have rich neighbors that we aren't in good terms with so any noise I think the cops will get called. That is why my noisy tests are done at 2:00am gives me time to close up shop hee hee. So I figure a light load of 30 grains FFG Won't make much noise. Plus maybe I can recover the ball. I even set the elevation at about 50-60 degrees to shorten the distance. Well the noise was acceptable. But the ball easily cleared 100 ft trees and landed about 200 yards in the woods. Yeah I lost my only ball ugh. I need to get some orange "Rodney Dangerfield" golfballs. And I gotta try a 140 ffg load on this But man I am going to need alot of room.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #23 on:** August 30, 2008, 06:45:34 PM »

Quote from: rays89 on August 28, 2008, 11:25:42 AM

......

I FINALLY got it - your pictoral reference (above) to The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan.

A capital ship for an ocean trip
was The Walloping Window-blind
No wind that blew dismayed the crew
And troubled the Captain's mind.

The man at the wheel was made to feel
Contempt for the wildest blow
But it often appeared when the gale had cleared
That he'd been in his bunk below.

And blow ye winds a-blow
A-rolling I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore
So let the music play
I'm off on the morning train
Across the raging Main
I'm off to my love with a boxing glove
Ten thousand miles away.

The bosun's mate was very sedate
Yet fond of amusement, too
He played hopscotch with the starboard watch
While the Captain, he tickled the crew

And the gunner we had was apparantly mad
For he sat on the after rail
And fired salutes with the Captain's boots
In the teeth of the blooming gale.

And blow ye winds a-blow......

rays89 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 02, 2008, 03:39:44 PM »

Well Cat whisperer ya figured it out!!! Well to tell you the truth I just threw the boot in for giggles. I wish I could have thought of that...

Double D · « **Reply #25 on:** September 02, 2008, 05:13:10 PM »

Ray, you should know that CW is the Director of Culture here on GBO Black powder mortars and Cannon's. He graduated college, all four years, I only made 2...

rays89 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 06, 2008, 06:30:58 PM »

Right now I am posting video of as Brooks usa 1 inch seige motar I only used a 24 grain FFG load but it still knoked the camera over. Hopefully soon I will have the Brookes use seige motar video posted and Doms golfball mortar posted.
Ray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfGP0hS2jos

rays89 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 10, 2008, 01:34:51 AM »

This time I am posting is a clip of the .50 cal brooks usa mortar. The load was 50 grains ffg with a .490 ball. and the camera didn't tip over. Coming soon is going to be the "big one" But I have to wait ahwile I tried using 100 grains of ffg and the ball was gone I didn't even get to see it travel. I have 2 miles of woods and pray it didn't travel 2.1 miles and knock out a window of some Mcmansion. Or put a dent in thier Lexus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7D_YMc5470

rays89 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 10, 2008, 03:45:53 PM »

Well I finally made a clip of Dom's Dictator mortar in action. But I only used a very small charge of 50 grains FFG I wanted to watch the ball in flight. Well no luck again. I did wish I taped the one when I used 100 grains that was rather impressive. I didn't know that mortars made good salutes. on his site it said to use 700 grains max.(blank charge) Well I did 500 grains and it was loud enough. Windows shook and neighbors lights turned on. I really can't make as much noise as I used to when the rich people came. But hopefully I can take this monster some place and get some real good serious footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJU3ctKRns