Fourteen ports in a day

Paulbo gave me a handy rule of thumb: ideally the centreline of the barrel sits a third of the way up from the bottom edge of the port, in other words the top of the barrel at half the height of the gunport. Looking at my last photo, the top of the barrel is at about the halfway mark. So that seems fine.

Paul also wondered whether the barrel isn’t rather big in relation to the port, and whether the ports are the right size. Of that I’m quite certain: they measure 14 by 16 mm. The only thing is that the kit contains both 9-pounders and 18-pounders. I’ve used an 18-pounder here; the 9-pounders are smaller, but those go on the upper deck. So this is what I have to work with. According to Paul the dimensions are about the same as on the Victory and it’s probably partly an optical illusion.

It’s quite a job. Yesterday I started at 7 in the morning and slogged on until 10 at night for 14 ports. I should try that at work sometime, being that slow. But it’s a hobby, so it’s allowed.

And tonight, at last: all the ports on both sides are cut to size. Tomorrow the linings.