CRI-CRI

I received basswood planks 4 mm thick for mini-desks of guns (twenty done about twenty-eight = 72%) :

Sixteen guns on carriages about twenty-eight (57 % done) :

Ten guns with carriages about twenty-eight (36% done) :

Beginning installation of guns on carriages for the first thirty-two pounder battery :

First duplicata of low battery gun (all carriages are now ready for receive their guns) :

All carriages sides cut (twenty-eight done) :

I think that the best for these guns is the natural unvernished brass, which will become weathered alone  😀

Result with grey-green patine, at 60° C :

Cut of twenty-four carriage sides about twenty-eight = 86% done :

Cut of twenty-one carriage sides about twenty-eight = 75% done :

Thanks Mark

Much preparations can be found on line

For fast darken effect on brass (selenium) :

For more slow grey-green effect on brass (unknown composition I hav'nt tested) :

Before, the piece must be well cleaned with acetone

After, a stop vernish can be required, I use simple water, and finish with a light polish by smooth clothe 

Painted test of old gun's color :

Following cut of guns carriages of first low battery (left side done, fourteen pieces = 50 %) :

Colour of low battery guns

The low battery of the Saint Philippe is the only bronze one of the ship, which poses the problem of its color. Indeed, bronze contains copper, which can give several varieties of grey green by corrosion in a wet environment

To summarize, in the presence of water charged in CO², the grey green formed is copper hydro-carbonate, which shoots frankly on the grey-green, as its name indicates. In contrast, in the marine environment, salt from spray forms a copper chloride, which rather pulls on the greenish-brown

For model making, there is the possibility to soak the cannons in water with added cooking salt, and vinegar to accelerate the reaction, which is nevertheless very slow. or ammonia vapours (faster, but very toxic)

There is also the satin paint, with an exact color difficult to find

Finally, it remains the solution to allow the natural aging of the brass, which will brown slightly over time, and lose all alone its glittering aspect :

For other batteries, iron made, the classic tourmaline, or browner, works well and fairly quickly since brass is an alloy containing zinc that blackens on contact with selenium salts (a bath of fifteen minutes is enough to blacken the brass)

I admit that I do not know what to do, since the model is made of natural wood, I am wary of painted or stained accessories

I’m interested in your opinion

Thank you in advance  

Following cut of guns carriages :

First group of low battery guns cut :

The modeller shall rejoice :

... with a circumstance adapted music :

Preparing cut of gun carriages :

Prototype of simplified gun carriage of 1st battery (twenty eight to do...) :

I received my guns of first battery (they will be grey-green colored, they were the only brass guns of this ship) :

Right side of ship completed, next step, first battery with twenty-eight brass guns :

Simulation of the final presentation :

Grey color for the layout base of the model :

Adding some details on upper gun-ports :

Following works :