One down, one to go.
by John
1:10 Model Armstrong rifled muzzle loading 80lb cannon WILL be ready for Xmas.
Apart from minor touch-ups, the model and painting is completed.
I will take some careful photos before it goes to its final home, but here are a few snaps to show how it appears with some paint and lacquer.
So, was SWMBO correct about not painting the chassis? I like the look of this finish scheme, but now have to decide what to do in that regard with the “A” model, which was put aside while I finished this one.
p.s. I weighed the model, because I was curious. The full size original barrel weighed 81.5cwt/4.1 tons plus the carriage/chassis, about 5 tons/5080kg total. The 1:10 scale model should weigh 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1 or 1/1000th of that which would be 5kg/11lbs. It actually weighs a tad under 10kg/22lbs which is almost exactly double the predicted. It is a bit of a lump to carry around and I do NOT know where the extra weight came from. Or maybe my mathematical assumptions are incorrect.
(note added 1 March 2021. See the post added 1 March 2021. The total weight of the gun barrel, carriage, and slide – which I have been calling the chassis, was close to 10 tons! So my assumption that the model should weigh 1/1000th of the original was very close to correct!)
johnsmachines 
Looks great and the story of your rapid progression through investment casting techniques from scratch is inspirational. Well done John.
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Thanks Rob!
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Don’t think paint will improve perfection IMHO. Where is it’s final resting home?
Many thanks for including us on this ride.
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It is certainly not perfect David, but thanks for the nice compliment. That one is going to the daughter who became involved with the casting, and her husband who grew up in Port Fairy. It will be a surprise. (no-one in my family reads the blog). If they don’t want a dust gatherer it might end up on Ebay.
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Congratulations John.
So much work and innovation of technique.
Few will realize the amount of time and thought resulting in this little piece of history.
As to painting the chassis..that’s a personal choice of course. My two bobs worth would be to continue the painstaking adherence to scale and finish it accordingly.
But beyond all that, congratulations again.
Tim
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Thanks Tim. This one will be an interesting ornament in my daughter’s house, so interest rather than authenticity is the guiding principle. When I get back to the other one, which I put aside a couple of months ago, I will be more adherent to the principle of authenticity. It might even be a prop for talks on the subject. John.
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Model engineering at its best , great attention to detail, especially the riveting . What’s next ?
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I am now finishing another 80lb Armstrong RML for myself. I expect that will take 2-3 months. After that, not sure. MAybe a bronze version of the Dardarnelles gun which I modelled in wood a few years back.
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