Here's an update on progress with this project.
First pic gives an idea of what the finished length of the set will be, ( around 65-70 cms, depending on final distance between oxen).
On the left, is the 4.7" Gun. (also shows in pic 2). Note that my barrel end repair is still not hard enough for me to sand down to completion. I had to sleeve the barrel down slightly ( it may be still possible to fire it using slimmer ammo!), and then fit a suitable length of (35mm) tubing to the end of barrel, using epoxy resin glue. ( I used the tube of an old disposable propelling pencil as the tube, which was of the same original diameter of the remaining piece of barrel. Once that was glued to the inner sleeve and barrel end, and after it was set again - I could begin applying Milliput ( two part epoxy putty) over the new piece of inner barrel, to the approximate depth required.
I am now patiently waiting for the putty to "cure", so that I can sand it back to match up with the old barrel. I've painted the rest of the gun to the shade I'm after. (Khaki Drill)
The limber and first two oxen has been built together into one piece - the gun of course, detaches for use. My limber was scratch built, using the pic that started all of this madness, as a guide. I sourced the all important wheels from Dorset Model Soldiers, who cast them especially for me at my request. (thanks to both owners Peter and Andy). I also purchased three seated figures and three Foreign Service Helmet/heads - my intention being to make them up into Royal Field Artillery - again as in the Original Pic. The original castings were beheaded, ready for new Foreign Service(FS) heads. Unfortunately, the guys sent me two FS helmet heads - and 1 Wolsely Helmet head - which explains the beheaded casting sitting between the two partly painted gunners! An e-mail has already been sent requesting the correct helmet/head.
It was important to make the limber wide enough to seat three abreast though - which is why I needed them before construction began.
The oxen have all been made up into pairs, and permanently pinned and glued onto small stands (7cms X 5.5cms). This is to facilitate their connection/ disconnection from the other parts of the set. Anyone who has ever wrestled with putting separate piece and connecting them all together with fiddly connections - into a cabinet - will instantly know why I chose to do it this way.{eek3} (The oxen will all eventually be connected by chain to the limber, and the gun connects by its trail eye, onto a hook on the limber (as shown in pic).
The rest of the paired oxen are in various states of progress - as shown in pic 3.
Rather than just paint the oxen in a solid colour, as most sets that I have seen do - I have tried to make each oxen a little more like the real thing, by using images of oxen found on google Images as guides for painting. I have also tried to make each ox just a little different from each other - and using contrasting beasts on each stand. You may see the progress starting from the limber pair - and contrasting them with the state of finish on each pair as they go towards the lead pair - which have to be painted - before they go on the stand - and have the top of the yoke permanently fixed in place. Needless to say, the hooves are pinned - and holes drilled in place to accept them in the stands (bases), before painting takes place - by dry fitting each pair first.
I'm going to fit a "ring" to the underside of each yoke - for a chain to connect all four pairs together - and then to the limber, once all parts are completed.
I will also make up another seven RA gun-crew members - who will be marching alongside the gun, (presumably they all took turns to ride for a time on the limber?). One will be a Sergeant, thus making up the gun crew that Obee suggested might be the crew for this weapon. I already have a mounted Officer ( as in the original set ) who does some admin task, who will also be along.
In addition, I have a small platoon of 8 Infantry - under the command of a Sergeant Major , who will accompany the group to their destination, to give fire support - if the Group is ambushed along the way.
However, I don't intend to begin these - until the Gun, Limber, and Oxen are completed. So these extras can be looked on as sub-projects for some time in the future.
That's it for now - (to be continued) jb:salute::
