Minor Project - QF 13-Pdr Model, 12/11/18

I have to apologise for the recent lack in activity on blogger but with this post comes a number of changes towards the QF-13 Pdr model. Nearing the end of the modelling process finalising details has become more of an issue. With the large amounts of mechanical details and lack of time, components have to be omitted but enough detail has to be created to give the sense of a strong and robust machine of war. One minor change is that the gun shield and its corresponding parts had to be shortened due to an error in the drawing.

Model nearing completion

Model front view

Model side view

The new addition is the breech and handle that swings round to complete the action of closing and locking the breech in one swift motion, giving the weapon its ‘quick-fire’ designation. To keep in time the breech has been greatly simplified removing the safety. Still I hope that retaining its key features will be enough to convince the audience that this is a working weapon fit for the theatre of WW1.

Finished breech with independently rotating handle

Of course with the addition of sights a slot has to be cut to allow them to be used. At first the cut out was modelled as a rectangular shape with rounded corners but as it turns out this feature was not specific to the ‘Nery gun’ which was far more rounded at the bottom. As it turns out there are a number of variations between models of 13 pounders produced. 

Cut out in gunshield for sights

The sight for the weapon is easily one of the most complex components of the gun with various notches, gauges and nobs to adjust and compensate for distance and wind. This could have easily consumed a lot of time if this was purely a project of passion but instead a simpler component was modelled. Normally the sight is slotted onto a vertical rail however a fixed sight is used instead housing a fictional scope (as the original could not be found in images).   

Sights with fictional scope and fittings

On the other side of the sight is a single handle that would be used to roguhly lay the gun’s elevation. Beside it should be a wheel with marking denoting the angle of the gun while also turning the gun on its axel.     

Elevation handle

The seats of the gunner and layer have been modelled. It appears that these simple seats are attached to struts that hold the wheels secure during firing.

Supporting struts and seats

The final components to be modelled are the centre structure that houses all the components into a single working weapon. Currently represented as a block it will also house another two rotating handles that will presumably lay the gun horizontally and vertically. The carriage does not allow the gun to turn left and right with a high degree. If a target cannot be tracked horizontally the gun would be simply picked up by the ground spade and rotated. To model this component more easily the gun has been elevated to its resting position so that it can be built around it.

Block model of supporting structure

As it can be seen in the picture at the IWM the gun has a lot of extra components. For me the most obvious include the support struts around the bottom and extra components tucked behind the gun shield. The struts have not been included to reduce time on the model but to also allow easier animation so that the crew can position their legs more freely. Soon with the final components of the model it will be time to move onto the German counterpart. 

IWM 'Nery Gun' with gun positioned at a 90 degree angle