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Offline cannonmn

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It is done
« on: December 22, 2007, 06:21:53 AM »
Here's the restored 10-inch Spanish mortar with some of the replaced, original bolts and wood shown.









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Offline Terry C.

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Re: It is done
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2007, 06:39:52 AM »
That's beautiful!


I think you're gonna need more powder...

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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: It is done
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2007, 06:59:14 AM »
NICE work!

I realliy like the perspective of the powder can inside the bottom of the tube!

Tim K
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline Double D

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Re: It is done
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2007, 07:03:27 AM »
John,

I'm coming to your house to play, you got some neat toys!!
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Offline lance

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Re: It is done
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2007, 07:20:45 AM »
 I LIKE IT!!! been keeping my eyes on finding ya some ammo for it, Have a Merry Christmas!
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Offline intoodeep

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Re: It is done
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2007, 08:12:24 AM »
John,

 Wow, that's a Beast!!! Looks like a hernia in the making... :D Anyway, it does look Good! Nice Job!


 
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Offline tnmike55

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Re: It is done
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2007, 08:52:36 AM »
Outstanding job!!!!!  What are the side plates made out of? Its hard to tell from the pic...MIKE
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Offline Ex 49'er

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Re: It is done
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2007, 09:29:36 AM »
That is one fine looking mortar. I don't think I'd want to stand behind it when you touched if off, tho.
It kinda looks like it'll roll quite a ways on that there cart. ;D ;D ;D   Congrats on winning a kewpie doll!!!
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Offline seacoastartillery

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Re: It is done
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2007, 10:13:08 AM »
     Absolutely first-rate, John!!  It really looks good.  Looking at these photos reminds us of that great visit we had to Florida to see all the Spanish artillery on the terraplien of Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.  If you are still looking for shooting ammo for this mortar, we think you might want to consider Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty.  It is available in 25, 50 and 100lb. drums.  The staff at Ft. Ticonderoga in upstate New york used mortar shells made of this putty back in the 60s when they were giving British Coehorn firing demonstrations near the fort.  Range was about 80 yards.  Dry "poster black" can be used in the mix so you don't need to do any painting.  FYI

Regards,

Tracy and Mike

 
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: It is done
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2007, 12:22:48 PM »
Quote
What are the side plates made out of? Its hard to tell from the pic...MIKE

The sideplates are bronze castings.  They are both marked to the effect they were cast in Havana Cuba in 1849, and weigh about 700 lbs. each or so.  The tube was cast in Seville Spain in 1784.  Looking at the bore, I don't' think it has been fired much.

Tx for suggestion about the putty.  We have two slightly undersized iron balls, about 95 lbs. ea., we'll fire with lighter charges and have something to protect the bore and fill up space a bit.  We're still thinking of filling basketballs with concrete since the bore is basketball diameter.  We'll have to support the basketball so it doesn't get out-of-round due to the weight of the concrete, before it hardens.  We'll try anything that will result in a shell weighing maybe 40-80 lbs. or so.

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Offline Artilleryman

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Re: It is done
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2007, 01:58:25 PM »
Very nice looking mortar.  What does the tube weigh? 

I know of a six pounder gun crew that was using a material called hydra-stone for making cannon balls that they wanted to bust up when it hit, and so it would carry too far.  They used it at Greenfield Village back when we could still live fire there.   Apparently this material was used industrially for making molds. 

To support the basketball, inflate it and set it almost half way down in plaster.  Then when you fill it with whatever you can set it back in the mold, or better yet fill it while it is sitting in the mold.
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: It is done
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2007, 06:17:08 PM »
Taking Artilleryman's suggestion one step further, I would fill the basketball with water (so it doesn't want to float) and make a full around mould (in two sections) from hydra-stone or hydrocal.  Once that it finished, put the concrete in the basketballs while they are in the mould so they maintain shape. And use the fiber reinforced concrete so the balls don't break up on the first shot.
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: It is done
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2007, 05:07:02 AM »
Thanks for the suggestions.  We'll certainly be trying some of them.

Here's something we posted on NSSA board that has more info on the restoration, if you are interested in that:

http://www.n-ssa.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=31078#31078
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: It is done
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2007, 10:08:51 AM »
Quote from: GGaskill on December 22, 2007, 06:17:08 PM

... fill the basketball with ....

Next were going to have Mortar Basketball competition!

Wooo Hooooo!

This will undoubtedly lend new meanings to the terms full-court-press, free-shot and slam-dunk!

NMBA rules apply.

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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: It is done
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2007, 10:55:38 AM »
Someone told me a soccer ball is also 9.5 in., so we'll have to try that too.
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Offline lance

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Re: It is done
« Reply #15 on: December 23, 2007, 03:24:51 PM »
Quote from: cannonmn on December 23, 2007, 10:55:38 AM
Someone told me a soccer ball is also 9.5 in., so we'll have to try that too.
cannonmn, i'll set up a net, you bring your mortar over. think we can talk Tim into being the soccer GOALIE..........
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: It is done
« Reply #16 on: December 27, 2007, 04:57:20 PM »
Direct fire - heck no.  Indirect fire the goalie might stand a chance to deflect the round - depending on where the sun is of course.

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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: It is done
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2007, 03:10:27 PM »
Quote
What does the tube weigh?

The tube weighs about 1400 lbs. and bed with new wood in it is probably about 1600.

We were thinking of making a 4x8 platform out of 4x4's, but I think that's overkill.  We're going to start with a levelled area of sand or gravel, and put a piece of oak plywood maybe 4x8x3/4 to give us a nice smooth surface big enough to work handspikes on.
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