Vickers Bl 8 inch Howitzer cannon of 1917

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I always feel we don't see enough sheet metal work. I'd love to be able to make something like this.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Next is to build a traction engine, same scale to tow the gun. Then probably find a military museum that might display the pair.

Ian S C

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hi all , well back to the Howitzer cannon build after xams hols and catching up with work, made some brackets that hold the portable compressor that was supplied with the cannon for charging the recuperator , and started to make the transom [front part of the trail] that the carriage attaches to, some pics below to see how its coming along .

Mal.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hi all , not much on the way of metal work to night,so emptied the kidz cereal boxes got out the paper work and logged on to the net to cut some cardborad ,thought i would do some measuring and cut out key components i.e cannon barrel and wheel to see if it looks about right ,couple of photos below for you guy's and gal's that are interested to see what you think ,looks about right to me although the wheel looks bigger in the photos than it actually is what you think.

 

Mal

Edited By mal webber on 18/01/2019 00:07:01

[PeroParticipant @pero]

Mal

I'm afraid I don't have any specific data on wheel diameters for the howitzer but my observations from old photographs and film would indicate that the wheel size varied during the war – most likely being of larger diameter and width during those periods of the war on the Western Front when extreme muddy conditions were experienced.

It may be possible to confirm/refute this observation – possibly from museum sources.

Brilliant work to date, I am following along with great interest.

Pero

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hi Pero thanks for your input , done a bit more research on the internet and managed to find the actual size on the wheels 170cm dia 30cm width ,so working to about a 2 inch scale the cardboard wheels in the photos are 8mm in dia to big , cut these to the right size and it looks a lot better.

Thanks Mal.

[SleazeyParticipant @sleazey]

Excellent CAD work! (Cardboard Aided Design)

Your fabrication skills are extreme. I will be following this thread with great interest.

Thanks,

Joe

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Thanks for the interest Joe I like it cardboard aided design brilliant , wish I had the kit and more so the skills to do CAD but its the old fashion way for me, good old ruler cardboard and a pencil.

Thanks Mal.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Hi Mal,

I dont know if it would be of any interest or of any help but I was on the Hannants site and came across a plastic kit of the BL 8 inch Howitzer. Its a 1/35 scale kit by Roden part number ROD813, its £40 though and not in stock but I think you can back order. If you go to Hannants site and do a search for ROD813 you should find it.

Just thought I would mention it in case it would be of any use.

Ron

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Hi Mal

Whilst I was on Ebay I had a quick search and found the kit for £19.99, if you search for Roden ROD813 BL 8 inch kit and scroll down you can find it . There is a kit from Poland but that is more money whereas the £19.99 one is a UK supplier.

Ron

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hi Ron,thanks for your input very nice models, there is also a nice kit that King Tiger do if you look up on the ipms nymburk site they do the 3 ton truck and the Bl 8 inch Howitzer mk vi , it gives you a detailed review of the components which has been helpful here's a link

Roden 1:72 FWD Model B 3-ton & BL 8-inch howitzer Mk. VI review …

 

https://ipmsnymburk.com/forum/viewtema.php?ID…

 

click on the text next to the display and hit the translate

Thanks Mal.

Edited By mal webber on 19/01/2019 12:58:43

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hello all ,small bit more done on the Howitzer build, still working on the transom, side braces for attachment to the trail for strength are done and started on the front towing eye ,couple of pics with a 12" square in them for a rough idea of size ,,,,,last pic is were my call out to a job today was,thought i would share with you.

 

Thanks Mal

Edited By mal webber on 24/01/2019 00:17:36

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Mal looks good progress but the last picture is great. Is that where you live, nice view.

David

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Posted by David George 1 on 24/01/2019 12:20:19:

Hi Mal looks good progress but the last picture is great. Is that where you live, nice view.

David

HI David ,the photo is the tip of Gower Peninsula South Wales UK . yes i do live near but was out on a job so thought i would take a photo and share.

Mal.

[MeunierParticipant @meunier]

Posted by mal webber on 24/01/2019 23:02:30:

Posted by David George 1 on 24/01/2019 12:20:19:

Hi Mal looks good progress but the last picture is great. Is that where you live, nice view.

David

HI David ,the photo is the tip of Gower Peninsula South Wales UK . yes i do live near but was out on a job so thought i would take a photo and share.

Mal.

Rhossili bay Mal ?
DaveD

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Thanks DaveD Rhossili bay wormshead in the back ground Broughton just befoe it with Whitford lighthouse to the left on the Gower peninsula

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hi all , thought I would give the front tow hook a go today as pictured below, this hooks up to the carriage which carries the firing platform for the Howitzer,not totally pleased with the finished part looks like the hook is worn out ,but not trying to make this look new it will do . Mal.

Edited By mal webber on 26/01/2019 23:49:33

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

As it looks a bit skinny, but also a bit thick (if that makes sense) why not heat it up and "tap it wiv an 'ammer" a few times? Might bring it closer to the profile?

Neil

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hello all, small progress on the Howitzer build does not look like much but it's been one step forward and three backwards, the hole on the inner of trail in the pictures below took quiet few times to get close to it looking like it does in the pictures, just a drill hole in the metal didn't look right so tried rounding the hole with a hammer and a bit of heat which came out even worst and distorted the part, so came up with a sort of combination on dies knocked  up in the lathe which stretched the plate a small bit at the time cold , so loads of hours spent and the result was worth it i think. Neil i did reshape the towing hook with heat and it looks a hole lot better thanks.

 

Mal.

Edited By mal webber on 18/02/2019 23:56:43

Edited By mal webber on 18/02/2019 23:57:21

Edited By mal webber on 18/02/2019 23:58:01

Edited By mal webber on 18/02/2019 23:58:33

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Perfect your attention to detail does you credit.

David

Edited By David George 1 on 19/02/2019 10:57:34

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

Very nice quality of work. It's nice to see something a little different from time to time. I enjoy the updates regardless of how much progress has been made.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hi all , give myself a break from the fabrication things and have some time out on the lathe to make myself a new paper weight, this is my attempt at making a Howitzer Bl 8 inch projectile in 2 inch scale , on the internet search they are 24" long without fuse and on the manual it states that the projectile is 28" long inc the fuse so this is made or as close as to the manual size , not a 100% happy at the shape but the more file work i did in the lathe the more i was making it to the shape i didn't like but i'll be making a bunch of these at the end of the build and will have them spot on by then.

 

Thanks for your interest Mal.

Edited By mal webber on 21/02/2019 23:57:40

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Well bit more done on the Howitzer trail {chassis},made the other inner side with corners riveted in so not many more big fabrication parts to be made on the trail it's self , quiet a few holes to be drilled and rivets to be done but I think the trail is starting to take shape and a bit of weight to it now ,there's a lot of parts that attach to the trail so I won't seal the trail up in till all parts are made and line up ,couple of pics how the I went about making the inner part of the trail nothing special just some bending of some plate.

Thanks for the interest Mal.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Nice shell – how did you fit the driving band?

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Got to say I'm impressed! And thanks for showing how some of it was done – I've learned summat.

Dave

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