Build log · Phase 12, Upper deck guns

All ten 9-pounders rigged

18 October 2023 · Milestone

I hadn’t visited the forum for months, and for a while not much was happening on the ship either. But now, well over a year and a half after starting in January 2022, I am finally done with the guns on the upper deck. All ten are rigged and ready for action: breeching, gun tackles, everything is on.

The quarterdeck with ship's wheel, binnacle and capstan, the starboard guns rigged
The quarterdeck with ship's wheel, binnacle and capstan, the starboard guns rigged
The same guns from the other side, with the coiled ends on the deck
The same guns from the other side, with the coiled ends on the deck
Two 9-pounders by the bitts, with the belfry in the background
Two 9-pounders by the bitts, with the belfry in the background
Looking forward along the deck: bitts, gratings, belfry and the port guns
Looking forward along the deck: bitts, gratings, belfry and the port guns
Overview from the bow: four guns, the bitts with the mast coat and the belfry
Overview from the bow: four guns, the bitts with the mast coat and the belfry

It was a long haul. Assembling ten gun carriages, ten breechings, gun tackles with 2.3 mm blocks, and in between a belfry because I was fed up with the guns for a while. But now they are there and I am pleased with them.

Now for the carronades. I have never done those before, so we’ll see how that goes. The kit doesn’t really supply anything nice for them, so it will probably be a fair bit of polishing.