jonhall Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 (edited) My most recent random project - using my Silhouette cutter to cut 6 identical curved girders - this may turn out to be a prototype, for a MK2 incorporating a few improvements. I need somewhere to collate my research and photos, so this top post may get repeated editing as new thoughts emerge... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_12-inch_railway_howitzer 1) Drawings · Harry W Miller, United States Army Ordnance Department, Railway Artillery: A Report on the Characteristics, Scope of Utility, Etc., of Railway Artillery, Volume II, Pages 136-145. Washington : Government Print Office, 1921 Railgun. John Bachelor/Ian Hogg ISBN 0 85242 328 4 Southern Wagons Pictorial Mike King ISBN978-0-86093-597-1 2) Photos MkI's Mk I was introduced from March 1916. It is identified by its short barrel and recuperator above the barrel. Southern Wagons Pictorial Mike King ISBN978-0-86093-597-1 - page 176/plate 295 Probably showing a mk1 (short Barrel, compensator on top) http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072089 I think this groupo of photos is all of the same gun, possibly taken to show the new stabilisers http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205269795 mk1 with stabilisers http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205269796 close up of stabiliser http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205269797 from other side? http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205269794 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205269798 without stabilisers http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072183 all same gun showing preparations for firing http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072179 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072181 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072182 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072180 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072090 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205071224 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205071222 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205091097 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239629 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239621 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239622 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239079 Hiding behind a ruined building http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205236388 Major J. J. Llewellyn and his crew of 12-inch railway howitzer, named "Alpha", of the 52nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery at Dannes-Camiers station, May 1919. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205236387 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205244435 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205077942 Film http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060008215 MkIII The longer-barrelled Mk III soon followed, with a heavier breech to balance the gun. It retained the recuperator above the barrel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_12-inch_railway_howitzer#/media/File:12inchRailwayHowitzerMkIII26February1941.jpg with stabilisers at Wareham http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205080413 captured MkIII and MkI Mk V, dating from July 1917, moved the recoil buffer and recuperator into a single housing below the barrel, and Mk V also relocated the loading platform from the railway wagon to the revolving gun mounting. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205197349 mk5 with stabilisers and 2 mk3 without Catterick - see also British Pathe film. http://www.britishpa...ery/railway gun and with sound http://www.britishpa...ery/railway gun http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-british-12-inch-howitzer-near-queant-france-ww1-66155340.html mk5 without stabilisers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_12-inch_railway_howitzer#/media/File:12inchRailwayHowitzerShell444SiegeBatteryAndKitten19July1918.jpg Baldrick how did you get so much custard from such a small cat? http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072178 breach end http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205244326 same gun mk5 with stabilisers and unusual camouflage paint http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205244327 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213531 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205085733 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239623 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239627 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205238400 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205085732 peeping tom http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205165316 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205076744 model http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205378496 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205378495 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205378515 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205378513 https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1920/08/27 Graces guide 27Aug1920 Description and 3 photos of MkV gun, one with stabilisers two without. GWR Freight Wagons and loads on .... JH Russell Figure 310 possibly a mk5 without gun. (compensators below gun mount) "An Illustrated History of British Railways' Workshops" by Edgar j Larkin. there are a line of 8 MK5's ex works (none with stabilisers), the caption states that in 1940 23 examples went ot Derby Works to be refurbished, the first being sent to its destination on 16th April 1940 and the last by December 1940 --------------------------------------------------- For those wondering where MkII and IV fit in, they are the non-rail mounted Vickers 12" Howitzers. I'm increasingly convinced that the Stabilisers fittedto some guns are a later addition and were probably fitted to some, but not all guns once they were in France. Edited December 17, 2017 by jonhall 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Rixon Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Interesting. Is this a first-war or second-war piece? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDG Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Interesting. Is this a first-war or second-war piece? Hi Guy I think the picture says First World War archive Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted December 16, 2017 Author Share Posted December 16, 2017 Interesting. Is this a first-war or second-war piece? First war built, some, perhaps as many as 23 were deployed as coastal defense batteries in the second World War. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Jon, Thanks for highlighting these really interesting pictures. Curious about the captured guns, they must have been over run during an advance. I'd like to know more about that. Thanks Ernie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted December 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 16, 2017 Hi Jon Not talking to you any more http://www.juniorgeneral.org/index.php/figure/view/SuperHeavyArtillery27 31st illustration when searched on Google. That is an amazing amount of research you have done. I look forward to seeing it develop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 Hi Jon Not talking to you any more http://www.juniorgeneral.org/index.php/figure/view/SuperHeavyArtillery27 31st illustration when searched on Google. That is an amazing amount of research you have done. I look forward to seeing it develop. Of course, how could I forget the contributions from a veteran of your caliber. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
locomad Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Thank you for posting wealth of information always wanted to have a go modelling these guns Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 (edited) A little progress to report The files for the Portrait cutter had a little redrawing to change the way the middle mainframes work, and to more closely replicate the way the bogies will attach, I also added a few of the joining plate with scores for rivet locations but that was less successful. I've also discovered that the expensive micromark pounce wheels are much harder to use than the one I swiped from my mum who probably bought it from Woollies before I was born! The Barrel was turned from a series of telescopic plastic tubes, and has a little to cut off at the breach end, and its only perched on one sideframe as I damaged the other removing it from the sheet. The pivot is just a drill bit and the compensating tubes for the howitzer need the end filling, then tuning down to shape. I fear I may be building an early gun on a later carriage, which might not be prototypical. Jon Edited December 26, 2017 by jonhall 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Pulham Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Hi Jon, That's looking really good, what scale is it? I have had some success in creating 7mm scale rivets by scoring 0.5mm circles in 10 thou - the shoulder created by the knife cut imitates the rivet head. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Hi Jon, That's looking really good, what scale is it? I have had some success in creating 7mm scale rivets by scoring 0.5mm circles in 10 thou - the shoulder created by the knife cut imitates the rivet head. 4mm, I'm quite happy with the rivets pressed in from the back, its just the micromark tool is a bit loose on its axle and is particularly prone to wandering, which was disappointing considering the cost. I could have gone the whole hog and got the GW tool out to do them, but that's overkill for this little project, but the more I've played with it, the more I think it would look nice in brass and in 7mm - I have the technology, just not sure about the attention span... Jon 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Pulham Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 I have the technology, just not sure about the attention span... Jon I hear you on that score Jon, I have far too many part built scratch builds - they are balanced somewhat by a few part built kits too sadly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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