WWA Info Exchange

Hey, Zulu! So are those 2 wedge pins the only thing holding the barrel once it is secured to the collar?

You're getting all the luck I have to spare Seriously...I have such confidence in your work that I feel pretty sure this is gonna be card lock!

Lemme SEE

Don

Don,
Yes, those wedge things are the capsquare keys. They keep the capsquare from opening.
The 2240 lb. barrel is assisted from jumping out of the carriage by gravity.

The truth will tell tomorrow.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Went to the Alamo today and back.
400 miles round trip!

Lifted the barrel with the engine hoist and rotated it upside down.

Crossed my fingers and set the trunnion collar on.
Not only did it fit, it was a perfect fit.
You can't believe the relief I felt.

There will be a 1/8" thick rubber gasket between the collar and the barrel.
I am not allowed to have metal touching the barrel.

Now I can move on with the carriage.

Here are some pictures.
Remember you are looking at the barrel upside down.
Zulu















This is where the carriage will sit.



The wall on the left is where the carriage will sit.

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

This is some interesting information on the 16 pounder barrel that the Conservator of the Alamo sent me yesterday.
Zulu


16 PDR, another cannon in poor condition, with the trunnions and cascabel broken off, the vent spiked with a nail, and no visible markings. There are a few distinctive features, the wide breech band and a bell curve going down to the missing cascabel, and the muzzle with a prominent square / straight projection. These two features are a French design from the Saint Gervais Foundry, from the early 1700’s. The cannon is relatively short and very light for a 16 pdr (94” & 2,240 lbs.), the size actually reflects that of a 9 or a small 12 pdr cannon. It was most likely re-bored (to a larger diameter), and was originally a lightweight commercial cannon. This is what gunners referred to as a “lively” cannon, in that it was lightweight and recoiled violently from the firing – less iron to absorb the recoil shock. This cannon was one of five guns recovered from a wreck in Matagorda Bay (Ellen Tooker ?), in 1817, that originally came from (“merchants in” ?) New York. The vessel was aground in Bay, and the locals had managed to recover the cannon and get them onto the beach. The Spanish / Mexican authorities then arrived, and took the cannon to the Alamo. The cannon is one of the guns found by Sam Maverick in 1852, and was later recovered from the Gibbs building in 1908.
A few facts here – an 18 pdr cannon has a bore diameter of about 5.29 – 5.3”. American and British 18 pdr’s are generally the same size, the Americans carried on the known establishment – in regards to the bore. The cannon currently at the Alamo is actually 5.19”, which would be an undersize 18 pdr or an over size 16pdr in respect to bore diameters. More likely, it is a worn out 16 pdr cannon. Now, when one looks at the actual size of a regular 18 pdr cannon, you are talking about 10’ in length and potentially 3,600 lbs. The 16 pdr at the Alamo is ~ 94” long, and weighs 2,240 lbs, which would be very small for an 18 pdr. Now, it is feasible that a smaller cannon (9 or 12 pdr) was bored out to a larger diameter, so that it could fire shells with a smaller propellant charge – but cause more damage. The Mexicans were known to fire explosive shells, but did the Texans have any at the Alamo . . .

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

That looks like exactly what I expected! You do fantastic work, Zulu! This is going to put you down in the annals of WWA all time greats! There are a few folks who have performed outstanding craftsmanship and been recognized here. I think Mango & Jim will, definitely include you in that number!
Can't hardly wait to see the finished project...will DEFINITELY drive to the Alamo to witness it's unveiling.

Don

Don,
Really? You're making my head too big to fit through the door.
Believe me, I'm just some guy that bit off more than he could chew and is trying to make the best of it.
However, I am somewhat pleased at how it is turning out.

Zulu Big Head

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Some good progress made over the last two days.

All four transoms cut to size with a 1.25 degree angle on both sides.
All horizontal holes drilled for the transoms at 1.25 degree angle.
Glue up of the top piece of one cheek. Now that cheek weighs 170 lbs!

I'll glue up the other side tomorrow.

It is my estimation that I could possibly deliver this thing sometime the week after the 4th of July.

I'll firm that up later.

The time frame the Alamo has given me to mount the barrel is dawn to 9:00. 9:00 is opening and I have to be gone with all equipment by then.

That means I have to leave my house no later than 3:30 or 4:00 AM to get the 200 miles there.

There is no way I can take the chance of having a trailer with this thing stolen out of a motel parking lot. Won't even consider it.

Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Does that include the wheels or will they be delivered separately and mounted on site?

_________________
I bring to life, I bring to death:
The spirit does but mean the breath:
I know no more. (Tennyson, In Memoriam)

Gene,
I hope the wheels will ship by the end of the week. I need them really badly.
They take a while to paint.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Moving right along.
I still have to finish the leveling screw and platform.
When that is done, this thing will come apart for final sanding and painting.
Also I can finish the axle housing. It needs to be drilled for the rear capsquare bolt and the capsquares finished..
I can't cut the axle to final length until I get the wheels. Hopefully, by the end of next week but I will see.

Overall, at this point, I am happy with the build. We will see how it finishes.

With the iron installed, I think each cheek pushes 300 lbs.

The pictures show where this thing is right now. Nothing is leveled. Nothing is tight. It is not in it's finished state.
Don't be too hard on me.

Zulu



Rear pintle plate.





Leveling screw plate for 1.5" Acme threaded rod.

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

I love seeing this thing come together!! I can see the sweat equity you've invested in this project.....if it was me...would be hard to part with it....too bad you can't just rent it to them REALLY fine craftsmanship, Zulu! Thanks for sharing!!!

Don

I respectfully disagree with Don. While it is beautiful and you should be proud it should be put where other people can enjoy it too. Not hidden in your or someone else's collection.

Rog

_________________
Dont badmouth no strangers, they just friends you aint met yet.

An ounce of responsibility is worth a pound of State and Federal laws.

I spent most of my money on woodworking
tools and beer, the rest I just wasted.

I got the leveling screw platform finished.
The screw is 1.5" Acme thread. It screws into a nut welded to the underside of the leveling screw plate.

I am working on the leveling screw handles next.

The floating platform will raise or lower. The position it is in right now will have the muzzle of the barrel slightly elevated.

The breech of the barrel is 15.625" diameter. It will sit on top of the platform.

Because this is a "below center trunnion" barrel, it will sit high on the carriage.
I have always found this problematic when making a carriage be it a field carriage or a naval carriage.
The barrel just sits too high.

I will take the carriage apart tomorrow and start the sanding process which will probably take two days.
I will also be able to drill the axle to accept the rear capsquare hook bolts.

The Acme thread will be cut to final length when the carriage goes back together after paint.
Wheels should ship on Wednesday I hope.

Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Very true, Roger. I just tried to convey that it's hard to trust others to appreciate the personal sweat & passion embodied by such craftsmanship. Of course all should ber able to enjoy it.

Hey Zulu, does the breech have a pad or does it just sit on the flat platform? That thing is an absolute monster! Thanks for the update!!

Don,
The barrel will sit directly on the wood.
The underneath side of the wood will have a 1/4" thick strike plate attached so when the leveling screw is turned, it will be metal against metal.

It is, indeed, a monster!
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

I have taken all these pictures, not only for my own records, but because it was part of my proposal. All of these pics have been going to my contact at the Alamo also.

Everything is disassembled.
Everything is final sanded.
The cheeks are moved into my foyer for paint by my lovely assistant.
The rest will be moved in tomorrow.

Zulu

The pintle plates.





The leveling screw plates



Cheeks ready for paint. Note all the holes. They are drilled at 1 1/4 degree angle.





In the foyer ready for paint.

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Lordy ONE thing for sure...you are married to a KEEPER!

Paint color chosen by the Curator of the Alamo.
Not my choice but probably will look okay with black hardware.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

The leveling screw turned out real nice thanks to my friend with the big lathe.
I polished the weld marks out with a die grinder and 80 grit sanding flapper.

Paint on the carriage will be finished tomorrow.
Wheels are expected to deliver on Monday.
Carriage assembly should start about mid week while the wheels are being painted.

Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

That is some awesome detail. That screw is going to be moving one heavy piece! Am I very far off in guessing that about 3" of thread will be engaged when this is in place?
THANKS so much for the posts!

Don