well i sat down and looked at both prints, the 300 lb parrot and double banded brooke. couldn't decide which one to build so i did what any educated man would do. ... i flipped a coin. and the brooke one. so i have started turning a 1/6 scale brooke rifle out of some 5in steel i have. well it ends up being 1/5.9 but its close. to 1/6the scale. i am half way through turning the out side of the gun so i am now dedicated into this gun so i have to see it through. the carriage will be interesting, i am going with the carriage that is in the plans, the wooden naval center pivot carriage. lots of parts, and details to build. but i will just finish the barrel first. I plan to do this gun with as much detail as i can handle because this one is mine and will not make another, way to much time involved in these types of builds. god bless you guys at sea coast i can only imagine how much time you guys have in your guns.
and me trying to lift this steel into the lathe by myself was a little interesting. i couldn't hold it up with one arm to get the live center in. i had to put a steel pipe on the lathe and then over my shoulder with a strap to get leverage to get the steel up high enough to get the live center in. fun fun.
rick Bryan