Iron Duke Build (pg3)

Fitting one gun in the bow would be easy (only radio box to avoid) but getting three cannons in the stern, with the two gearboxes and two servo-microswitch mounts, will be a bit tricky. I decided to start with the double sterns, as they should be able to be simple "straight magazine" cannons that could run up through the deck via the rear superstructure without too much difficulty. After cutting the 1/4" copper tubing the right length to hold 55 bb's, I bent them so that they would run up over the gear boxes to the bottom of the deck, then up again through a hole I cut in the deck (into the rear superstructure).

FITTING IN THE STERN

After mounting th two cannons in the rear-most turret to be the double-sterns on this ship, I decided to use the other rear turret as a stern side mount. Room was getting scarece, but I noticed thhis big dead space between the deck and the two magazines of the stern cannons. SO.... I modified an older magazine design shown to me a long time ago by some veteran captains and made the 'mini-muffin' magazine you can see here tucked over the two stern cannon magazines. This fit in much more easily, and I was even able to attach a tube to the side that runs up out the barbette so that the muffin mag can be refilled without lifting the deck. [Note: I will make a page showing how to make these magazines and add the link here, after I finish this ship build]

Into the other end of the hose I then inserted a short piece of brass tubing one size larger than the pump outlet. I mounted this brass piece through a scrap of plywood that I glued down where I wanted the pump to be positioned. Now when I need to check the pump for clogs I can just slide it back away from the wood block until it is free, lift and clean it, and then slide it right back in place.