More Whitworth Photos - The Build Continues

[michaelfreeland]

Here are some more photos of the project as of yesterday
MOOSE: Please PM me; I'm planning on cutting the barrel off at the white tape line shown on the photo where it's sticking out of the tailstock. Is that a mistake???
The issue now is getting the trunnions to be as close to scale as possible, without looking strange; the Bofors tube is too small on the OD to keep scale, so we have to.......improvise.

I'm a little over my head, but still swimming.

[KABAR2]

Why not do a 1.5 Whitworth? there was one of these found in Richmond and is in a private collection Cannonmn is the owner and has posted about it in the past the breeching is slightly different than the 3 inch and instead of ball ends on the opening lever there is a handles on it....this is what I plan on basing mine on....
See link:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,127064.msg1098456211.html#msg1098456211

[Cannon Cocker]

The 3 pounder Cannonmn has is a smaller diameter tube (kind of spindly actually) than a scale reduction of the 12 pounder would be.  Maybe he can provide some detailed drawings or dimensions of that gun to help you out.  I don't know anyone who has that information or any measurements.  One of the oddities about that gun is that he says it has a 1.5" bore across the flats, but original bolts found (and displayed in photos by other GBO members and on collectors web sites) are all 1.7".  Either Cannonmn did a cursory measurement of his gun, or there were different 3 pounders, because the existence of bolts measuring 1.7" is not debatable.

[Cannon Cocker]

Correction: The actual bolts are 1.68" which would make the bore 1.7 because Whitworth used a 1% windage on his guns. 

http://www.civilwarartillery.com/

[guardsgunner]

It is possible that the gun Cannonmn has was not the same as the gun/guns for which the projectiles have been dug. His gun may be a early exp. model from 1857 or 1858. I think Cannonmn has posted a picture here of the Brits with a simular gun from during trials.
This is a 1.68 projectile recovered in Fl..
 

 
Bob

[michaelfreeland]

A question to all:
Do I gain anything by keeping the extra barrel ?
I always understood that the minimum projectile-to-tube weight ratio should be 1:150, but I was told by someone who has built two of these that it should be more like 1:200
I may need the extra barrel for weight alone, as I can see the projectile approaching two pounds.
So, what would you do ?

[KABAR2]

It is possible that the gun Cannonmn has was not the same as the gun/guns for which the projectiles have been dug. His gun may be a early exp. model from 1857 or 1858. I think Cannonmn has posted a picture here of the Brits with a simular gun from during trials.
This is a 1.68 projectile recovered in Fl..
 

 
Bob

Bob, if you check the link in my first post it goes to Cannonmn's write up on it....

[moose53]

PM sent , wondering if you received ? All the people I shoot with would say that longer is better, more accurate,better use of powder, more velocity.

[Cannon Cocker]

I think the 12 pounder breechloaders at Gettysburg are 106".  At a scale of .604 your gun would be 64".  64 divided by 1.57 (bore diameter) = a barrel 41 calibers long.  That's a decent length in any time period.  No need to go longer in my opinion.  Longer or shorter will take you out of your proposed scale. 

Thanks Guardsgunner.  That was the picture I remembered.  I think you're right about the 1.5" possibly being "experimental".  I would build a 3 pounder that looks like a 12 pounder, and maybe it did!  Just don't like the look of the pencil thin 1.5 in the photos.  The trunnion band, impact handle,  and breech hinge also don't have that classic Whitworth look that sets them apart from other breechloaders. 

[Cannon Cocker]

[quote
I may need the extra barrel for weight alone, as I can see the projectile approaching two pounds.
So, what would you do ?


I think you're going to see a projectile approaching or exceeding 3 pounds.  Even a Zinc projectile 5 or 6 inches long is going to weigh that much, and with a twist rate better than one in 40",  you'll want it that long for accuracy. 

[guardsgunner]

Sorry KABAR2, If that was the most foolish thing I did for the day, It was a good day.

[KABAR2]

Sorry KABAR2, If that was the most foolish thing I did for the day, I was a good day.

  No worries I've had those days too!  I should mention that there is a 1970's Artillerymen magizine that gave measurements on Cannonmns gun.... I will look for my copy...

[Cannon Cocker]

As long as we're talking Whitworth (one of my favorite subjects), here is a link I have never seen before with an interesting looking carriage.  Don't know if it's unique or just a poor artistic attempt.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/june/senator-douglas.htm