Making Cannon

[johnv]

This is the cannon of Cresta Croce , in Adamello
149mm calibre , it was an old cast iron cannon encircled in steel
in 1916 WWI , it was carried by force of arms from 1850m altitude of to its current position at 3257m
towing the disassembled piece and loading it onto sledges were about 200 men who nicknamed it ‘the hippopotamus’.
the story of this feat, handed down by veterans, tells that to accelerate the ‘goodwill’ of the Alpine soldiers; a keg of schnapps was placed at the daily target
today it is still up there , the destination every year of a pilgrimage of the Alpini on leave , and of many mountaineers who climb the Adamello
The writer is old enough to have known Alpine soldiers who fought the ‘White War’ up there.


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Artilleryman, your photos reminded me of another incredible feat of artillerymen getting their heavy pieces into mountainous positions. This one on the Kokoda Trail, New Guinea, September 1942. Where the Australian Army Artillery was decisive in the first defeat of the previously invincible Japanese Army. No snow or
schnapps, just mud, malaria, jungle and mountains.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Indomitable human spirit!
Despite mud, malaria, and jungle, at least one guy is smiling for the camera.

Roger

 

[Philski]

NIce work! Is that the stl from Thingiverse?

CGTrader

 

[johnv]

CGTrader

Thanks Philski. I bought from CGTrader and download and printed a 1:18.6 scale on my filament printer in one session. (see photo) That was the biggest that I could fit on my Qidi X-Max3. The stl is good but not perfect. No carriage protrusions between the slides, and only a half length bore. Also negative breech preponderance, but solved with a steel screw. Not yet painted, but will be useful when I make a 1:10 scale model in steel. The first photo is the finished print after 17 hours! The second is the assembled parts, yet unpainted.
It will be useful when I get into my 1:10 model in steel.

 

[Roger Pellett]

As one not involved in 3-D printing this is all very interesting. One comment. The flare at the muzzle appears to be exaggerated. As shown on the drawing it’s more of a subtle rounded shape.

Roger

 

[johnv]

As one not involved in 3-D printing this is all very interesting. One comment. The flare at the muzzle appears to be exaggerated. As shown on the drawing it’s more of a subtle rounded shape.

Roger

Yes, I agree Roger, although I had not previously noticed that. One problem with using stl files from other modelers is that it is difficult to alter details like that unless the original CAD drawing is available (which it never is with purchased stl's). I will be able to modify the shape by sanding the flare or even turning it down slightly in a lathe prior to painting.
My main motive in printing the gun, carriage and slide was to see how the bits all fit together, before making a 1:10 model in steel and wood. Another reason was to test my fairly new filament printer, Qidi X-max3, to see if it would handle the complex and often fine details. The vendor of the stl recommended using a resin printer, with warnings that it is a complex and difficult print, but my resin printer died recently, with parts not available. I was pleased with the filament print quality, although it is not perfect. If you compare the details and surfaces with the same gun printed to a smaller scale on a resin printer by Philski #218 you will see the difference.

 

[johnv]

just two beautiful photos:

Расчёт британского девятидюймового крепостного орудия, Fort Scratchley Австралия, 1880-е гг.

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Those photos were taken at Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Obviously a staged shot, but showing excellent detail, particularly of the chase projectile hoist. That is a rifled muzzle loader, an 80lb Armstrong.

 

[Philski]

NIce work! Is that the stl from Thingiverse?

From CGTrader

 

[JerryTodd]

Ah yes, Artejaol's gun. Like many Europeans that are not "historians" or knowledgeable of the US Civil War, Artejaol seems to get their "research" from movies. - and charge money for it.
Their CW figures have all sorts of anachronisms as well, and they take no suggestions and will make no corrections. They do beautiful modeling otherwise.

I have several guns on Thingiverse and 2 XI Dahlgrens, all free to download. The link's in my signature