Vickers Bl 8 inch Howitzer cannon of 1917

Keep us up to date with information and pictures, magic work. But if you need any help just ask.

David

It's not until you see the vice in your last set of photos that it hits home how large this model is going to be!

Thanks David ,Jason the vise has 4 inch jaws so yes the model will be a little big, what the hell i'am going to do with it when its finished I have no idea but will enjoy building it for now.

Thanks Mal.

I know what you mean about not knowing what to do with them once complete. When I have completed my wooden models I have that exact problem but it is the enjoyment of making them for me.

Fantastic detail and all those rivets whether they are for holding together or decorative must take ages

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Excellent CAD work! (Cardboard Aided Design)

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

Thanks,

Joe

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.

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

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

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 ...

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

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

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