7 Pounder Rifle Muzzle Loader

[Zane Palmer]

Hi agai

n to all.

Here is another one of my models. I built this one a few years back. It is made from bronze castings and all rivets and screws are real. I own 2 of these cannons and so the detail is nearly 100% accurate. The wood I used here is Burmese Teak which came from the deck of an old tug boat. This gun was designed for use in the Eastern Cape of South Africa where the British were fighting long colonial wars in thick bush and needed a mobile shot gun to be used at relatively close ranges against spear wielding natives.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Very nice work.

 

[russellshaffer]

Do you know how many hours you have in this very excellent model?

 

[Zane Palmer]

Yes it takes around 450 to 500 hours to put this together. That does not include the development time to make the patterns or silicone rubber molds. That would be just the time to make the waxes, cast the parts, fettle them, sandblast them, wire brush and then assemble it. Woodwork I do on a little cnc router and each part is as per the original gun. The copper rivets in the ammo boxes are made from copper that I took from my original guns, of which I have 2.

 

[Treestalker]

Wow! Wonderful work!

 

[sheriff john]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Zane Palmer]

Thanks Guys...glad you like these.

 

[kh54]

I’ve seen some darn fine work before but this rises above artistry. I’m speechless!

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Wonderful work!

 

[Rawhide67]

Incredible work

 

[Barry Strickland]

Wonderful detail!

 

[Dude]

Now that you're all set up, will you sell kits?

 

[Zane Palmer]

Now that you're all set up, will you sell kits?

Hi. I never thought about selling kits! Just been too busy trying to make a living out of making models. Kits could work but they still would not be cheep. Maybe if I did American guns like the 3 inch ordnance rifle then they could work as kits. This model has too many parts that are riveted together etc that need to work and require a lot of fine tuning. Like the elevation gears etc. these never just fit together and work. Do you think there would be a market for 1/8th scale 3 inch ordnance rifles make either from bronze or silver? Would they need to work? I could do both?

 

[Davey Boy]

I want to see your work in person.

You are an artist.

What a dream to be able to do such work.

 

[Dude]

I'm new to cannons, so not the person to ask about marketability. I do know this thing is gorgeous, and if it can actually shoot, it's pretty damn cool! Me, I'd want it functional.

Take a look at the gun kits and see how they're priced, and what they leave up to the customer to finish. I'd think you'd have to make functional the important stuff, the technical things you know are difficult.

You could provide a mostly finished kit and another that requires more input for less.

What scale is this one? 1/8? What diameter projectile does it take?

 

[Zane Palmer]

I'm new to cannons, so not the person to ask about marketability. I do know this thing is gorgeous, and if it can actually shoot, it's pretty damn cool! Me, I'd want it functional.

Take a look at the gun kits and see how they're priced, and what they leave up to the customer to finish. I'd think you'd have to make functional the important stuff, the technical things you know are difficult.

You could provide a mostly finished kit and another that requires more input for less.

What scale is this one? 1/8? What diameter projectile does it take?

Yes it is 1/6 and the bore is 12.7mm. Yes they shoot which makes it extra cool. This gun is fully functional. Just need to make your own exploding shells!!

 

[skratch]

Excellent craftsmanship ! I like the elevation gear setup and the seats are something new to me
on a cannon carriage.

 

[Zane Palmer]

Excellent craftsmanship ! I like the elevation gear setup and the seats are something new to me
on a cannon carriage.

Seats make sense to get your gun crew to the action and then again away from the action when it gets too hot. Aim of the horse artillery is to put fire on the enemy from up close and then move back and again fire from the new position. This was a time before in-direct fire. It would not help to be as mobile as a foot soldier or they could catch the guns.

 

[TFoley]

I'm guessing from Mr Palmer's use of metric dimensions that he is not necessarily in the USA. I'm not a betting man, but from what I've so far seen he may well be in Southern Africa. Also, that is some commitment - 400- 500 hours to assemble the parts is a great deal of time. Working four hours a day - every day - a not unreasonable amount to spend on a project like this - it might take over three months of steady application.

Who's up for that?

 

[Zane Palmer]

I'm guessing from Mr Palmer's use of metric dimensions that he is not necessarily in the USA. I'm not a betting man, but from what I've so far seen he may well be in Southern Africa. Also, that is some commitment - 400- 500 hours to assemble the parts is a great deal of time. Working four hours a day - every day - a not unreasonable amount to spend on a project like this - it might take over three months of steady application.

Who's up for that?

You are right. I live in South Africa and that also has me leening towards the British guns. I am busy with a Dahlgren Gun as per the rendering. It is still in Kit form as you can see. The barrel is still a 3D print and the rest is bronze. I would like to do a scale sculpture of John Dahlgren and put it next to the gun. What do you think of that Idea? Did the Harley also. (Hope i do not get kicked off for a non ML Pic)