Ratdude Posted January 17 #1 Posted January 17 Newbie hello. Hi everyone, so this is my first post. After several visits to the Royal Naval Historic dockyard in Portsmouth last year, the bug has really bitten me, and nearing retirement age decided on a new hobby. There seems to be a huge knowledge base here, so looking forward into broadening my basic skill set with you guys So I purchased a gun barrel on eBay which looks to be a Bronze casting. The Trunnions are not separate (part of the casting) The touch hole looks oversized, maybe drilled larger to stop it being functional? Strict UK gun laws make me think this was at some time a working, functional weapon, maybe a Signal cannon? Any info is greatly appreciated. Regards Kev. Paul Le Wol, ccoyle, mtaylor and 2 others 5
mtaylor Posted January 17 #2 Posted January 17 Welcome to MSW. On the cannon... hmm.... How big is it? There are so-called "signal cannons" and there's also some pretty small ones designed to be fired off as basically noisemakers. Keith Black and Paul Le Wol 2 Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)
Ratdude Posted January 17 Author #3 Posted January 17 Hi Mark, length is just over 300mm. mtaylor, Paul Le Wol and Keith Black 3
mtaylor Posted January 17 #4 Posted January 17 32 minutes ago, Ratdude said: Hi Mark, length is just over 300mm. That's a small signaling cannon probably then. Or something to make noise on certain holidays. Paul Le Wol, Baker and Keith Black 3 Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)
GrandpaPhil Posted January 17 #6 Posted January 17 Welcome! Building: 1:200 Russian Battleship Oryol (Orel card kit) 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans) 1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships)
SiriusVoyager Posted January 18 #7 Posted January 18 Welcome to MSW! mtaylor 1 - Eric Current build: Sultan Arab Dhow Finished: Norwegian Sailing Pram, Lowell Grand Banks Dory, Muscongus bay lobster smack, OcCre Palamos, San Francisco Cross Section
Gregory Posted January 18 #8 Posted January 18 Quote ...question on my first build What is your first build going to be? Knocklouder and mtaylor 2 “Indecision may or may not be my problem.” ― Jimmy Buffett Current builds: Rattlesnake On Hold: HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett ) In the Gallery: Yacht Mary, Gretel, French Cannon
Ratdude Posted January 18 Author #9 Posted January 18 6 hours ago, SiriusVoyager said: Welcome to MSW! Cheers Eric. mtaylor and SiriusVoyager 2
Ratdude Posted January 18 Author #10 Posted January 18 6 hours ago, Gregory said: What is your first build going to be? I have a 250 year old oak beam from a demolished barn, so I am doing a diorama of ships cannon Gregory, Keith Black, bruce d and 3 others 5 1
Ratdude Posted January 18 Author #11 Posted January 18 Bryan Woods, bruce d, vossiewulf and 4 others 5 2
Ratdude Posted January 18 Author #12 Posted January 18 catopower, Paul Le Wol, SaltyScot and 8 others 9 2
mtaylor Posted January 22 #13 Posted January 22 I love the way you did that. Looks fantastic. Keith Black and Paul Le Wol 2 Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)
BradNSW Posted January 22 #14 Posted January 22 I love the chain shot and water bucket! I may need to add the tompion (barrel cover) to my cross section of the Bonhomme Richard...yours looks awesome!! Have you thought about adding some of the tools needed for reloading? I added a few to each station on my cross section (see below). Thanks for sharing! Paul Le Wol, Keith Black and mtaylor 3 Loveland, CO, USA HMS Serapis 1:48 Scratch Build Bonhomme Richard Cross Section Build Log
Ratdude Posted January 23 Author #15 Posted January 23 Thanks for the comments. The chain shot are actual musket balls, and the chain is from costume jewellery bought from a charity shop. The Swab bucket was painted black inside, then filled with clear 2 pack resin to replicate water. The Tampion is just turned oak with a Royal Navy uniform button set into it. The tools are certainly on the cards. I am sort of making it up as I go along. How did you get the Cork screw effect of the barrel tools, very effective. Are the shafts from bbq skewers? Paul Le Wol, Ryland Craze and mtaylor 3
SaltyScot Posted January 23 #16 Posted January 23 Being a lover of any old wood I think what you have done here is fantastic. What a beautiful display piece! Congrats on the build and welcome to this wonderful forum! mtaylor and Paul Le Wol 2 Mark On the table: Endeavour 1934 - J Class Racing Yacht - 1:80 Next up: Lynx, Baltimore Clipper Schooner - MANTUA - 1:62 Awaiting shipyard clearance: HMS Endurance - OcCre - 1:70 Wishlist: 1939 Chris Craft Runabout - Garrett Wade - 1:8 Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen
Ratdude Posted January 24 Author #17 Posted January 24 Thanks SaltyScot, your comments make the effort worthwhile!. mtaylor 1
BradNSW Posted January 24 #18 Posted January 24 They are all much smaller scale than your superb build. The corkscrew effect was just wire wrapped around a small toothpick. The button in the tampion is brilliant and well executed! mtaylor and Keith Black 2 Loveland, CO, USA HMS Serapis 1:48 Scratch Build Bonhomme Richard Cross Section Build Log
Ratdude Posted January 24 Author #19 Posted January 24 The toothpick now gives me an idea of scale. Wow that’s some intricate work there. Do you have images of the Bonhomme Richard project? mtaylor 1
BradNSW Posted January 26 #20 Posted January 26 On 1/23/2025 at 10:56 PM, Ratdude said: The toothpick now gives me an idea of scale. Wow that’s some intricate work there. Do you have images of the Bonhomme Richard project? Pictures of the guns, ships oven and water station. My build log is on another forum. BHR build log Thanks for your interest. Loveland, CO, USA HMS Serapis 1:48 Scratch Build Bonhomme Richard Cross Section Build Log
Ratdude Posted January 26 Author #21 Posted January 26 Brilliant, your detail belies its scale. I can see so much time and effort. I did some reading on the ship, I had no idea the ship was lost off the coast of Scarborough, maybe 60 miles from where I live.
BradNSW Posted Saturday at 03:39 AM #22 Posted Saturday at 03:39 AM On 1/26/2025 at 7:41 AM, Ratdude said: Brilliant, your detail belies its scale. I can see so much time and effort. I did some reading on the ship, I had no idea the ship was lost off the coast of Scarborough, maybe 60 miles from where I live. Yep, that is where she did battle with the HMS Serapis. John Paul Jones was the CAPT of Bonhomme Richard and replied with the immortal quote "I have not yet begun to fight" when asked by the better armed Serapis CAPT to surrender. They fought for several hours, and John Paul Jones (father of the US Navy,) finally pulled alongside, tied the two ships together and boarded. A second US ship continued to fire into both ships. Eventually the Serapis CAPT surrendered and shortly thereafter, the Bonhomme Richard sank off the coast of Yorkshire, Flamborough Head (your backyard!!!) I built the Bonhomme Richard Cross Section to go with my scratch build of the HMS Serapis that I built over a 35 year period. There is a short photo summary of the Serapis build at this link: HMS Serapis Scratch Build Loveland, CO, USA HMS Serapis 1:48 Scratch Build Bonhomme Richard Cross Section Build Log
Nirvana Posted Saturday at 08:15 PM #23 Posted Saturday at 08:15 PM Brad, first of all, a warm welcome to MSW. Now as for the pictures and showing your build. Please create a seperate build on the correct topic area. Copy and paste from the other site. Again warm welcome cold Pacific Northwest. Paul Le Wol 1 Please, visit our Facebook page! Respectfully Per aka Dr. Per@Therapy for Shipaholics Finished: T37, BB Marie Jeanne - located on a shelf in Sweden, 18th Century Longboat, Winchelsea Capstan Current: America by Constructo, Solö Ruff, USS Syren by MS, Bluenose by MS Viking funeral: Harley almost a Harvey Nautical Research Guild Member - 'Taint a hobby if you gotta hurry
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