Strelets Forum

Welcome to the Strelets Forum.
Please feel free to discuss any aspect of 1/72 scale plastic figures, not simply Strelets.
If you have any questions about our products then we will answer them here.

Strelets Forum
This Forum is Locked
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

The Improvised field mounts created by Captain Percy Scott for Guns from his ship HMS Terrible would be most appropriate, since it was these guns which effectively neutralised the Boer Long Toms...
4 x 12pdr Naval Guns, these had superior range to the armys regular artillery.
2 x 4.7" on static (they were designed to be repositioned) pintal mounts used at Ladysmith to good effect.
2 x 4.7" on field mounts.(this could be a single kit with a standard pintal mount and improvised field mount ala Percy Scott)

And I belive one 6" on field mount.

Also there were several similar guns on improvised mounts used in the Boxer rebellion(Percy again) and WW1 Gallipoli and Africa, notable the two Peggys from HMS Pegasus and the German guns salvaged from the SMS Konigsberg.

Currently available is the 4.7" gun on Percy Scott field mount in 20mm metal from Jacklex and is not at all expensive, naval crew and ox team is also available... and this would seem to be the best option in the moment.

http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/colonial_wars.html

:wink:

Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

Thank you, Ironsides! Great information. I'm kind of a "purist" which means I wish I could find some soft plastic leftover pieces big enough to make the wooden gun carriage as a conversion.

Cheers! - GC

Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

Granted plastic would be better but its pretty amazing that someone produces the Percy Scott conversion at all... and complete with limber and crew too :wink:

Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

GC, your enthusiasm put a smile on my face... :+1:

How did the kit go together? I bought one and am wondering if there is anything to watch out for? Regards, Pa

Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

Pa
GC, your enthusiasm put a smile on my face... :+1:

How did the kit go together? I bought one and am wondering if there is anything to watch out for? Regards, Pa
Good morning Pa!

This particular cannon is surprisingly simple and goes together well. Because everyone encounters their own, unique challenges with assembly kits, I'll just explain how I did mine and anyone can pick out any details/advice if they like.

Here is how I did it:

1. Wash your sprew with dish detergent before de-sprewing the parts (careful not to wash parts down the drain) (I use a super soft facial beauty brush from the drug store because it won't leave scratches in (soft) plastic.

2. Use sprew cutters and X-acto knife to prep all the parts to trim off sprew connectors and flatten any flash on flat surfaces.

3. I use "Bob Smith Industries" fast dry extra thick glue with disposable flexi-tips (turns a gusher tip into a hypodermic, tiny needle size dispensing hole so you don't overkill the glue drops (More than highly recommended; the tips are essential. I bought a couple of boxes off Amazon.com because they are disposable for each use).

4. At this point, I pressed the barrel and two trail sides together. I did a "trial fit" with the bottom piece of the trail. There are guides cast into the trail halves, but no holes, so - before you use glue, make sure you align the wheel holes on the left and right trail halves with the wheel groove in the bottom piece (this was my first problem I made and had to pry it all apart, reglue and do over).

5. Here, next, I glued the front carriage plate in place (this really helps to square up the cannons over all carriage/trail). I squeezed and held the parts together tightly until the glue held so there are no gaps. Took maybe only 20 seconds with quick dry glue.
Then I fit, then glued the trails top piece in place.

6. Here I used a pin-vise drill to make sure the wheel's axle actually turned. Drill in from the outside to the center. Do this from each side, in to center. The axle is too long so you'll need to shorten it, but leave about 2mm or so for a washer/spacer between the wheel and carriage. You will have to make your own so I used a piece of soft plastic, grey sprew by drilling a hole in it BEORE slicing it off at proper width (you know, like deli meat with a hole already in the center).

7. Here I glued on the two round hand wheels to the trail. I just slightly pushed them into their holes so there would be space between them and the trail for an authentic look. Let them dry.

8. My home-made axle spacers fit snugly onto the axle so put the axle on with both washers on left and right sides, and glue your wheels on. You have to continuously pry, bend, twist each wheel as they dry to keep them true when you spin them.

9. Lastly, glue the gunners platform onto the trail and - Bingo!

Note 1: I bought an extra cannon to make one set up with the barrel laid flat on the trail in the barrel holders for transporting. I've found two photos on Google Images of these things being moved across land and I've just got to have one set up like this!

Note 2: The time it takes to read all this (holy cow GC) will hopefully save everyone some grief. At least you'll have some things to consider before the glue makes changes undoable.

Have fun!

Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

Many thanks for taking your time to write up this very detailed instructions GC, much appreciated. It will come handy when I start that kit. Sure helps avoiding the odd trap, and will be useful to other readers as well. :+1:

Btw Plasticsoldierreview's review of that very set is now online. Regards, Pa

Re: Boer "Long Tom" & British "Long Cecil" Cannons

Well for those who want a Long Cecil gun in 1/72 your dream have come true..




More pics:
http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=22675&p=248218#p248218

For Crew you can use the figures from Strelets' set "British 15 pdr 7 cwt BL Gun."

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2676