Author Topic: A Zulu Dictator (Read 2441 times)

Zulu · « **on:** January 30, 2010, 06:07:46 AM »

I just love this stuff!

Enjoy!

Zulu

Zulu · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2010, 06:10:20 AM »

Zulu · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2010, 06:13:13 AM »

more

These last of course are of the Dictator and the 10" Spanish Mortar I made which is still unpainted. $:-\$

RocklockI · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2010, 06:25:23 AM »

now thats cool , really like that 10 " Spanish job !

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2010, 06:39:04 AM »

WOW. You could do an ENTIRE calendar !

KABAR2 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2010, 06:53:56 AM »

Nice work! but the bore seems undersized....

Zulu · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2010, 07:07:22 AM »

Kabar2,
The original was a 13" bore in a 43" diameter muzzle. Mine is a 2 1/2" bore in a 7 1/2" diameter muzzle. Ratios are pretty close.
Zulu

Zulu · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2010, 07:26:13 AM »

This is the "Dictator" on display at Petersburg National Battlefield. It is made of concrete. See, I'm not the only one who likes fake guns.

This was made in 1936 and the construction was witnessed by a Confederate veteran who was at Petersburg when the original was being fired. (he was being shot at

)
Zulu

This site is the documented description of how they made this gun. It is pretty interesting.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/pete/dictator.pdf

More on the Dictator at Petersburg.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hmdb.org/Photos/47/Photo47472.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp%3Fmarker%3D6896&usg=__zGF8ApTNf3GCI6MmkEyjTQI8SiE=&h=300&w=400&sz=18&hl=en&start=55&tbnid=tmsuhgmcWRDJYM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bdictator%2Bmortar%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40

1Southpaw · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2010, 09:00:13 AM »

absolutely beautiful work you do .

It amazes me the quality and level of craftmanship seen on this board .

My hats off to all of you !

Zulu · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2010, 09:07:47 AM »

Hey! I got a kewpie!

EL Caz 66 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2010, 09:49:26 AM »

Bravo!! Outstanding,,

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2010, 10:22:50 AM »

   Zulu, I didn't think you could out-do yourself again, but you did! Congrats. You deserve that Kewpie and a lot of praise for that 'Dictator'. Keep going. Bye the way this is just a hopeful hint for one of your creations in the future, how about a 'Water Battery' gun for pool-side display. Everyone with a pool should have one! A nice Front Pintle Barbette carriage sporting a Seacoast 32 Pdr. would be just the ticket.

   Bye the way Allen, Zulu made the bore just slightly Bigger than the math indicates, not smaller.

   13:43=X:7.50
   1 x 4 / 2 = X
   13 x 7.50= 97.50 / 43 = 2.27
   X = 2.27"

   S/B 2.27" IS 2.50" We would have done exactly this, because of the following:

   If you look at an original 13 Inch Seacoast Mortar M1861 from about 50 yards away, the bore size looks miniscule compared to what your minds eye imagines it should be.

A pool defense gun would be nice.

Mike and Tracy

Josco · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2010, 10:38:30 AM »

Zulu,

Absolutely gorgeous!

In a previous post you mentioned you use Home Depot 2" X 12's" for your projects. Do you let them dry out before using and any problem with shrinking, checking and warping? Keep the pics. coming!

Regards
Joe

Zulu · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2010, 10:44:46 AM »

Josco,
Almost everything I make is from scrap. Its free.

I have purchased 2 X 12's from home depot before and not had much of a problem. Sometimes a glued seam will open a little after I bring it inside the house but it is easily fixed with a little filler. All wooden guns have to live inside. They would never make it outside. I have so many that I am trying my lovely wife's patience.

Zulu

RocklockI · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2010, 11:20:26 AM »

Zulu you are gonna have to leave some 'seed stock' for those Kewpies to reproduce !

KABAR2 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2010, 12:43:09 PM »

Well I guess my MK I* eyeball needs a little calibration

Double D · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2010, 12:49:11 PM »

Zulu,

You should contact architects and interior desgners and show them you wares. They are always looking of things like this.

Taxidermist friend of mine use to dispose of unclaimed merchandise by selling to those folks.

irishman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2010, 01:33:54 PM »

Zulu, Absolute beautiful craftmanship. You are to e commended!

Michael

lostintexas · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2010, 01:54:35 PM »

Amazing work there! How many hours do you have in the mortar? Do you/did you make a living doing woodwork? Carpenter/cabinet maker?

Very cool!

Frank46 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2010, 06:23:25 PM »

I have to agree with Double D. You could stand to make some $$$ selling these. Maybe restaurants, malls, who knows?. Frank

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2010, 08:17:33 PM »

Great work. Now, you have to build a cabinet to hold all of yer kewpies.

Zulu · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2010, 04:09:21 AM »

lostintexas,
I worked on the mortar for about 10days. Then paint took 3 days for 3 coats. In hours I would say probably around 40.
I built communication towers for 25 years. I only started woodworking in 1997. I bought a band saw and started my first cannon. At the same time I ordered a full scale 10 Pounder Parrott from Cannon Limited. It took 9 months to get it. I shot it at re-enactments till last year and sold it to a very good friend. I still get to play with it when ever I want to.
I have probably blasted through 500 lbs. of powder but all of it was blanks. I have never live fired.

I live in the Houston area and the biggest hill around here is an overpass over the highway.
I would dearly love to sell my stuff. I have not tried decorators. I am lost as to how to price this stuff. How much do you ask for a "Dictator" you have 40 hours in?

It takes some talent and $30,000 worth of tools to make one.
A starving artist paints the Mona Lisa and sells it for $125 on the street corner. And he has 40 hours in that.

In the meantime I'm filling my house with cool stuff.

Zulu

dan610324 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2010, 06:13:14 AM »

the more finished products you have to show when its time to contact some interrior designers the better it is
its difficult to put a price on your cannons
Im very curious to see the spanish mortar painted

Zulu · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2010, 06:37:26 AM »

Dan,
I have 15 finished pieces and the unpainted Spanish Mortar. I'm still thinking about paint $:-\$

Mike and Tracy,
a seacoast 32lber on a barbette carriage

I want to make a big one and drop one of my concrete barrels on it and put it by the pool but my wife won't let me.

I'll have to scale it down but I don't have anyplace to put it. A wooden barrel can't go outside.
I guess I'll just have to worry about where it will go after its made.

Does anyone have a drawing of a seacoast 32lber?
Zulu

Terry C. · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2010, 08:37:36 AM »

Is this what you had in mind...

Terry C. · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2010, 08:39:14 AM »

Those are from "Instruction for Heavy Artillery" published in 1862, which can be downloaded from Google Books.

Zulu · « **Reply #26 on:** January 31, 2010, 08:49:04 AM »

Thanks Terry C.
That is exactly what I needed.
Zulu

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #27 on:** January 31, 2010, 10:37:26 AM »

   Zulu, Please understand that mine is simply a suggestion, not an expectation. If your really have an interest in this type gun, I would use Terry C.'s drawings. The full set of drawings is 30 or 40 pages and is unnecessarily complicated, besides, 90% of the parts are little metal plates and bolts, etc.

   On the tube, however, you can have your choice of 4 or 5 different designs, some are more ornate than others, and the one featured in Instruction for Heavy Artillery is the most plain of all. The photo below shows a type with a Breeching Ring which gives this seacoast gun a very unique look. There are others which include this visually pleasing feature and Fillets and Astragals too with far more interesting Muzzle Swells.

   If you are truly interested, send me your email address via PM and I will scan and send these images to you. That's the very least I can do to help you continue your excellent recreations. Keep up the good work!!

Tracy and Mike

The 'Breeching Ring' is visible in this photo from an unamed "Circle of Forts", fort from the Washington environs.

GGaskill · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2010, 11:11:54 AM »

Regarding pricing your wooden artillery pieces, I would say set the price at a point that gives you whatever hourly wage you think you want. You already have the equipment, so that really doesn't have to figure in the calculation. And you aren't going to be making these for charity. If the potential customer won't pay your price (agreed upon in advance), you aren't going to make the piece. If you are making these in your free time, you have to determine what free time is worth, remembering that you are going to have to pay taxes on the income (although you can deduct the expenses, too.)

There undoubtedly will be times when it takes 60 hours to make a piece you estimated at 40 hours, but that is a hazard of working for yourself. At least you will know for sure the next time.

Zulu · « **Reply #29 on:** January 31, 2010, 11:31:10 AM »

GGaskill,
Thanks for the input. So, for instance, The Dictator takes 40 hours. Say I want the low price of $20 per hour. That's $800. And doesn't consider any material cost. I don't think anyone would pay $800. It might not be unsellable at $400 but your getting $10 an hour.

It is a typical artist problem. A zillion hours in your artwork and you still need to eat.
Zulu