03 February 2016

My SYW Saxon 6-pounder Quick Firer battalion gun

I'd like to share my latest skratch built gun model to be added to my SYW Saxon corps serving alongside my French SYW troops. Eventually, I did a model of this rather eccentric Saxon 1756 fielded 6-pdr ‘Quick Firer’ battalion gun, based on my earlier research. Please see my initial article under "Saxon SYW Artillery" in my Blog. It has the entire story to it, so I won't bother to repeat it all here. I LOVE IT. Its my master piece. Let's simply have a look at the result of it all.

Here it is in ‘firing position’ with the barrel locked in this distinctive iron machine case. Next comes My Model with unlocked or released barrel in ‘loading position’.
Now, isn't that smart looking?. Below are some more shots.
With its released barrel, it really looks like some sort of ‘too early’ AA gun – possibly meant to fight those Vatican sent worrisome ‘Spy Pigeons’.
I should note that all of these guns became the booty of the Prussians with the surrender of the Saxon army at Pirna in 1756. None were fielded later on. The Saxons instead fielded the French ‘Swedish type’ 4-pounder model. But I don't care. This piece is just too special to be ignored. My Saxons in French servive will continue to field their own invented so special guns.
My model isn't entirely skratch built, really. It should be more rightly called a conversion. I used a very nice cast 28mm range model fom Foundry Miniatures. They trade it as a SYW Russian ‘medium gun’ (SYWR009).This model really makes a rather smart match.
It is very well done. Great details, and really a great model to represent much more than just Russian ordnance. I'd make it also my Hannoverian guns. Fine enough, and so much better than using Prussian or Austrian models.
I converted this Foundry model with the help of my Proxxon micro driller and some wire, nails, sheet brass, and a left over copper chain that came with an old Hinchliffe gun model I purchased back in the 1980's. Really, with my new Saxon gun model I arrive at full circle, as I have loved the dress and this self confident pose of this Saxon Cannonier I know so well from my very first book on uniforms when I was a teenager and only started collecting miniatures.
I always loved the pose of this Saxon Cannonier. The gun model is done now. Next will follow the gunners. They have already been selected, and primed. Can't wait to see them serving the piece in my next game.

10 comments:

  1. That is a beautiful model, and the Saxon colour scheme is very striking.
    Simon

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  2. An ingenious mechanism, and a lovely model. I remember that book, but in English
    Chris
    http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. Beautiful work. I'm very fond of the Saxons too. :-)

    Ah, the nostalgia seeing the Preben Kannik book again. One of my first uniform books, too, which I bought in 1970 and which I still have, although somewhat worn.

    Cheers,

    David.

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  4. Christian,

    Great looking and very distinctive conversion.

    I also like your idea of using toothpicks as temporary holders for painting the wheels and gun barrel. I will have to give that a try next time I'm painting 28mm guns.

    Jim

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  5. Christian,
    You say that you'd use it for your Hanoverian guns too; as a battalion gun? Also are the wheels the right size?
    Hope you can advise.
    Best regards,
    Simon

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  6. Hi Simon,

    Yes, if would not want to take the effort of elaborate conversions or scratch building my models, I'd use this model as the Hannoverian 3-pdr light field gun or battalion gun. The dimensions are not dead on, but a much better fit then using Prussian or Austrian models, as these model have usualy much shorter barrels. The Hannoverian 3-pdr had a 24 shot barrel weighing approx 800 pounds. A rather old style piece. 24 shot length at 71mm for the shot diameter results in a barrel 172,5 cm long. At 1:56 scale thats 31 mm (excl button and cascabel). The foundry model barrel is near 35 mm long which arrives at a 3-prd 27 shot long. Really, Hannover did field pieces to these dimensions during the WAS. The carriage looks great & the metal fittings are fine enough, as we don't know how exactly a Hannoverian piece looked like. It also stands well in scale to my Fife&Drum French short and long barrel 4-pdrs.

    Cheers,
    Christian
    crogges7ywarmies.blogspot.com

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  7. Hi Christian,
    Thank you so much for your reply; it is very informative and a great help. One more question if I may - do you think the Fife & Drum Valliere 4pdr would be a good option as a Hannoverian 3pdr?
    Best regards,
    Simon

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  8. No, no, no. Not a good option. Its much too big or too long. The F&D Vallière model is charmingly dead on scale and your Hannoverian selected 3-pdr barrel should in any case be somewhat shorter and slimmer. That's why I find the Foundry model such a good match. Its shorter as well as slimmer to the F&D long 4-pdr and at the same time longer then the F&D French short 4-pdr Swedish style battalion gun. Just perfect.

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  9. Dear Christian, Thank you for your advice, it is very much appreciated. Your artillery blogs have made me want to be as accurate as possible with the cannons for my Hannoverians / British and French armies. I will furnish my Hannnoverian battalions with the Foundry gun. Best wishes, Simon

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  10. Dear Simon,

    Je reste toujours à ton service.

    Cheers,
    Christian

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