Vickers Bl 8 inch Howitzer cannon of 1917

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Amazing what you find inside a lump of metal 'innit. I can recall a couple of times I've found a crankshaft inside two pieces of metal.. . Looking good Mal.

George.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Well got some shed time in the last week or so and now I have a functioning elevating gearbox ,loads more to be done to make look something like the Howitzer gearbox but getting there.

Thanks Mal.

[Adrian 2Participant @adrian2]

Beautiful as ever Mal. Fantastic work.

Adrian.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Thanks Adrian, did try and post a small video of it worked out but could not manage it somehow.

Mal.

[Dominic BramleyParticipant @dominicbramley60728]

I get terribly excited when I see this thread appear in the latest posts – and Mal never disappoints. Fascinating project and amazing work!

Dom

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Thanks Dom , short vid how the box turns 32/1 ratio quite happy with so far

VID 20200716 181948 Howitzer gear box try

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Well managed to get that lump of bar stock to look something like the Howitzer elevating gear box, loads of filing and fettling and now I think it looks about right for an early version design, as I found out on the internet through pictures there are a few with slight differences ,couple of pictures below on how it turned out and how it will look on the trail.

Thanks Mal.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

One more from last post

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Most impressive, and thanks for providing pictures as the build progresses. I've often thought fine models like this are undervalued at Exhibitions because time is short and I'm distracted by all the other displays. Many models deserve hours of careful study, instead I go "yeah, another rotary aero-engine that's better made than a real one" , and pass on to the next superficial viewing instead of appreciating the details.

Thanks to everyone who shares photos.

Dave

[Mike JosephParticipant @mikejoseph75242]

And I cannot even get holes in two different pices of meatl to line up!

Well done.

[Mike JosephParticipant @mikejoseph75242]

For meatl please read metal – food was on my mind…

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Thanks Mal for the pictures of your fabulous work. Keep up the work.

David

Edited By David George 1 on 09/08/2020 11:40:51

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Looks and works great Mal! well done.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hello all small update on the Howitzer build , now that I have finished the elevating gearbox I thought the barrel carriage would be next so the fixtures to the trail can be riveted in place ,decided to make a jig to suspend the top bearing were they need to be and the distance to the gearbox for the elevating cog ,going to make the carriage around these parts with 16mm box then form plate over and rivet on, made the bearing carriers last couple of days which toe in about 6 degrees against horizontal bar they still need a bit of fettling with to finish them off, couple of pics below on how things are looking.

Thanks Mal.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

When I see work like this I think I should give up ME and take up knitting, it is so far out of my league. That's why I prefer the club stands at exhibitions, I can look at models there and get some self respect back

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Lot of work there Mal, looks top notch as usual!

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

You are an accomplished engineer & deserve a medal.

Steve.

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Thanks guys ,Steve wish my wife would see it that way I would have more shed time, she calls it playing in the shed {again} .

Mal.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

"playing in the shed" – ??? Would that I could play just a tenth as well as those pics show!

The wife of a distant friend was similarly dismissive of his hobby of model soldiers/battle re-enactment etc., and would refer to him as " out in the shed, playing with his privates again !"

rgds

Bill

[Robert Irving 4Participant @robertirving4]

Mal, Your attention to detail is superb and an inspiration for would be model builders. You have even silenced the usual rivet counters!

[mal webberParticipant @malwebber91786]

Hello all ,small update on the Howitzer build, I have been busy making the carriage frame which supports the barrel on the cannon , this has been made out of 16mm box section cut into various shapes and welded together [fighting the dam heat distortion ]. Next on frame will be to plate over with some sheet steel an rivet on but first I'll try and finish some fixtures on the trail, couple of pictures below on how it's looking.

Thanks Mal.

[Dominic BramleyParticipant @dominicbramley60728]

I love this.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Great progress Mal, well done!

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Great work Mal, looking excellent and so nice to see a different type of subject, great also that you have to design all of this from the full size.

Ron

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by duncan webster on 02/10/2020 23:27:56:

When I see work like this I think I should give up ME and take up knitting, it is so far out of my league. That's why I prefer the club stands at exhibitions, I can look at models there and get some self respect back

I know how you feel.

This is so good it makes me want to howl with a mixture of envy, and embarrasment at my own efforts.

[Author]

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