RF Masséna Golden Bear Models 1:250

[romanmodels]

Comeing on nicely Mike like the guns

[birder]

Looking very nice Mike, interesting hull shape still and really fine detail it looks like on the guns

[Michael Mash]

Originally Posted by Andreas1

I also like what your model. dlaczo shafts so come out?[IMG][/IMG]

Hello Greg, Don, David and Glen.
The positive feedback is always appreciated.

Andreas: Thanks for bringing the drive shafts to my attention.
I wondered if they would have been brass, since most (if not all) ships are not. I looked into the question but was not able to get an answer.
It seems more likely they were green. I’ll need to change them.

Mike

[Michael Mash]

Hello Builders,

Masséna is equipped with six mid-ship turrets. Four are 138mm and two are 274mm. They are all single-turrets, which adds a lot to the "antique" appearance of this ship. The positions for these turrets are all carved out of the tumblehome . . . . a challenge for the designer and builder of this project alike. Things fit together remarkably well, and I am pleased with the progress so far.

The two larger 274mm turrets appear almost perfectly round in the images, but they have a slight "egg" shape, with a domed roof. Another unique characteristic are the long gun barrels. Most of the pre-dreadnoughts had gun barrels that tended to be shorter than the warships of later years. But the French guns apear to be an exception to that trend. When I was watching Carl Beetz build the prototype, I wondered whether or not he had the length of the gun barrels correct. I now see, thanks to some of the historical images that he was indeed correct. I am no firearms expert, but if I am correct, longer gun barrels means greater accuracy? Would that hold true for navel guns of this size? The gun barrels were rolled using 20lb paper.

Regards,
Mike

[Joe711]

Fine work, Mike!
The cannons do not know, but I think proportionate.

Best regards, Joe

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by Michael Mash

Hello Builders,

I am no firearms expert, but if I am correct, longer gun barrels means greater accuracy? Would that hold true for navel guns of this size? The gun barrels were rolled using 20lb paper.

Mike

Not really accuracy but longer barrels will give longer max. ranges provided the breech and barrel can withstand the pressures required to propel the projectile with higher muzzle velocities. Accuracy is a more complex issue.

The guns on the Massena were Model 1893 guns so they would have been using cordite propellant which can produce higher internal pressure than the old black powder guns.

The guns on the Massena seem to have been 305mm (12") in the fore and aft turrets and 274mm (10.8") in the centre turrets.

Regards,

Charlie

[didibuch]

Hi Mike,

that are excellent guns. I like these old gunships. They have an unique appearance.

Greetings
Dieter

[Michael Mash]

Thanks Joe! Yes, the guns appear to be right.

Thanks Charlie for the helpful insight. Yes, increased range makes a lot of sense. I didn't think of that, but gun makers have used longer gun barrels for greater range going back to the early days of firearms.

Thanks Dieter!

Regards,
Mike

[Don Boose]

It is always a pleasure to see images of your work, your spotless workspace, and the historic images of the original ship, Mike.

As always, superb work on the guns and useful info from Charlie.

Don

[Beachead]

Those gun mounts look awesome...really nicely done.