Steven's Artillery

Steven Marthinsen has kindly sent me some photographs of his completed PA Austrian and Russian Artillery - in both cases he has increased the crew to five by adding in an officer figure.

Mix-and-match Artillery

He has also sent an interesting photo showing his collection of mix-and-match guns using parts from not only other parts of the PA range, but also other manufacturers.

As can be seen there is a lot of scope for mixing parts from different moulds to get something which looks closer to the historical dimensions.

I only have the PA moulds, so to bring the information together Steven has provided me some additional information on the Artidee and Nurnberger moulds, so I thought it worth collating the dimensions of the various parts...........

Wheels

Dimension as measured on model (scaled up assuming 1:40):

   PA - SYW 6pdr                32mm = 1280mm (12 spokes)
   PA - Rossback 12pdr       32mm = 1280mm (8 spokes)
   PA - Karoliner 6pdr          27mm = 1080mm (8 spokes)
   Artidee - Prussian 12pdr   27mm = 1080mm (12 spokes)

These two diameters cover most of the Prussian and Austrian guns. The Austrians use the larger diameter for everything and the Prussians the smaller diameter for most of their 3pdr and 6pdr battalion guns, and the larger for the lighter 12pdrs (but not the Brummers).

Ideally you should use the 12 spoke wheels, the old PA 8 spoke are wrong.

Carriages

Again dimension as measured on model (scaled up assuming 1:40):
   PA - SYW 6pdr                 68mm = 2720mm
   Nurenberg                        68mm = 2720mm
   Artidee - Prussian 12pdr  59mm = 2360mm
   PA - Rossback 12pdr       57mm = 2280mm
   PA - Karoliner 6pdr          52mm = 2080mm
 
Information relating to carriages is not easy to come by, for example I assumed Napoleonic dimensions for the Austrians, and scaled the Prussians from Kronoskaf, however here are some examples:
   Austrian 12pdr - length 3191mm - nothing long enough
   Austrian 6pdr   - length 2759mm - there is a PA carriage for this
   Austrian 3pdr   - length 2440mm - the  Artidee 12pdr is closest (or PA Rossbach 12pdr)
   Austrian how   - length 2739mm - the PA Austrian 6pdr is fine
   Prussian 3pdrs - one is 1900mm -  the Karoliner 6pdr is closest
   Prussian 6pdrs - one is 2200mm -  the Rossbach  12pdr is closest

Barrels

There is quite a nice collection of barrels, dimensions are the overall length including the counterweight, which is longer then the dimension often quoted:
   Nurenberg                          - 55mm = 2200mm
   PA - SYW Prussian 12pdr - 51mm = 2040mm
   PA - Rossback 12pdr         - 47mm = 1880mm
   PA - SYW Austrian 6pdr  - 43mm = 1720mm
   Artidee - Prussian 12pdr  -  42mm = 1680mm
   PA - Karoliner 6pdr          - 36mm = 1440mm
   PA - SYW Russian Uni.   - 28mm = 1120mm
   PA - SYW Austrian how   - 26mm = 1040mm

I don't have a lot of information on overall lengths, but I measured the Austrian barrels in Vienna:
   Austrian 12pdr - length 2030mm - PA Prussian 12pdr is closest
   Austrian 6pdr   - length 1640mm - PA produce this (model is a bit long)
   Austrian 3pdr   - length 1270mm - Karoliner 6pdr is closest
   Austrian how   - length 1040mm - PA produce this

So What does all this mean?

Well if you want to try and match a gun you can try mixing parts from different moulds, for example an Austrian 3pdr would have:

• A barrel from the Karoliner 6pdr
• The carriage from the Rossbach 12pdr
• Wheels from the SYW 6pdr

I'll give it a go next time I get the moulds out!

As always comments welcome, and information on your projects would be welcome.

Just to let you know we are still here!

Cavalry 

Just a quick line to let you know that things are still moving along - slowly (these are not Prince August's top priority - but they are still progressing).

Cuirassier officer - work in progress

Next up are the cavalry, both cuirassiers and dragoons, which are almost done. Currently we are struggling trying to figure out how to cut them up to allow interchangeability of riders and horses etc, and it looks as if the parts will be:

• Horse
• 4 torsos - trooper, officer, standard and musician
• Arms (right)  for above
• Heads

The tricky bit is trying to figure out how to have interchangeable torsos on a semi flats, the traditional legs either side the horse will not work. I think we have it and I will hopefully post something in next week or so.

How are your projects coming along?

It would be nice to have some feedback on how your 40mm projects are coming along (mine has stalled waiting for the cavalry).

If you have any photos of your projects I can upload it would be appreciated, or alternatively links to your sites?