Lowering Cannons on USS Constitution

[Burroak]

I have an issue with my USS Constitution cannons. They sit a little high in the gun ports. Only about 1 1/2 mm to 2 mm but it's noticeable. The options I have thought of are to

 

1) place a small 1 1/2 mm piece of wood under the but of the barrel

 

2) make the notch deeper that the wheel axles sit in

 

3) cut notches in the axle where it mounts to the carriage

 

4) make a flat spot on the wheels.

 

5) make a different carriage all together.

 

If you have tried any of these or have a better remedy I sure would like to hear from you

 

Thanks

 

Greg H.

[GLakie]

Is there a quoin under the rear of the barrel that can be pushed in or out to raise and lower the gun? 

[mtaylor]

Are the barrels all at the same angle?  I think George has the answer.  However, if the barrels end point downward to be centered, then the carriage needs to be modified.  Pictures would help.

[GLakie]

Greg there isn't a quoin under the barrel in the rear.

 

The red arrow indicates the quoin! 

Edited January 26, 2016 by GLakie

[Burroak]

George I bought the cannons from Model Expo separate from my kit, so I didn't know about the guoin. I sure thank you for your help.

 

Greg H.

[GLakie]

No problem Greg. Making those shouldn't be a problem.

[trippwj]

Once the port is framed the rest of the way (bottom cill, side timbers) that will be pretty centered as is. It looks high now because the port opening is wider and taller than the finished opening.

[jbshan]

Also, if you click on the drawing provided above, make sure your axles are at least as high as the drawing, check the height proportionally of the trunnions, side cheeks, basically everything to each other.  You may find something you can alter to make up the difference.

Once specific guns and carriages were determines, the carpenters would adjust as needed to make the guns fit the port openings; your situation is not unusual, especially with your guns and ship coming from different manufacturers.

[Altduck]

In the first photo, it looks to me like the trunnions are sitting too high on the carriage - the centerline of the trunnion should be even with the top.  If this is the case, you might be able to deepen the notches to lower the cannon a bit.

 

Richard

[shiloh]

From the first photo it does look as if the trunnion C/L is to high, it also looks as if the trunnions are at the bottom of the barrel, not the C/L of the bore. That was done with Cannonades not with cannons and required a different mount with slides etc.. Think you might have the proper carriages but the wrong guns to go with those carriages.

jud

Edited January 26, 2016 by shiloh

[mtaylor]

Shiloh,

English and American long guns had the trunnions not centered but 1/3 of way down.  The picture/plan above is correct in this.

[usedtosail]

Greg, I had the same issue. My fix was to take a slice out of the sides of the carriages.

[Burroak]

When I posted the pictures they were not turned sideways, so I don't know how they got turned. Sorry about that.