Gentlemen, we are fortunate indeed to have two friends who are artists and sculptors. They continuously keep us challenged by coming up with unique ideas and obscure artillery references. Bruce, who is a marble and bronze sculptor heard we were looking for a good woodcut of the Krupp Howitzer's barbette carriage from the late 1860s or early 70s. Yesterday he showed up with a reprint of an old industrial dictionary in four large volumes. Plate VIII attached to Volume 3 contained a beautiful woodcut of our gun down to the rivet and bolt patterns, etc. As soon as I get Bruce over to Kinkos, I will get a decent copy of this most marvelous carriage for the 1,200-Pounder Rifled Seacoast Gun and post it. The carriage is two and a half times the length of the gun's upper carriage and contains loads of very unique details. It would have to be very substantially simplified to be as affordable as the gun was.
It is extremely likely that this is the model that the Prussians mounted in northern Germany to protect key harbors from a suspected French Naval attack during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The attack never came, but the militaristic and thorough Prussians had enough of these guns waiting to cool the ardor of the emotional French. Not even with overwhelming feelings of elan, ( the feeling of invincibility ), could the French Naval Fleet weather a storm of 1,200 pound shells.
Psychedelic Krupps? DD, you're right, not too desirable. Hold the plastic bags!
Allen, we are cutting way back on adult beverage consumption during our cannon testing sessions, even if everyone waits until after the shooting, the mere presence of empty bottle and cans lends a less-than-professional appearance to our photos. Sculptor Bruce, the 82nd Airborne guy will have to deposit all those empties he produces into the chiminea as soon as he drains them.
Mike & Tracy
P.S. Sorry I missed your last post before I hit 'save', Gulfcoast, but Mike and I do agree that we can consider the simplified lower carriage (called a chassis) only after we deliver those Krupp Howitzers AND the 1/6 scale Brooke Treble-Banded Seacoast and Navy Rifled
Guns we owe our customers and will be delivering in July/August of 2011. Incidentally, we at Seacoast Artillery do appreciate those 'Shameless plugs'. Thank you!