Gun Aiming

Discussion in 'Weapons & Pneumatics' started by tgalx3, May 22, 2023.

  1. tgalx3

    tgalx3 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2010
    Posts:
    675
    Location:
    Snohomish, WA
    Is there a good way to aim guns for fast gun ships on the bench?

    My Lutzow's guns are installed but not secured and move around a little, I would like to get them aimed and secured on the bench before the next battle.
     
  2. GregMcFadden

    GregMcFadden Facilitator RCWC Staff

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2006
    Posts:
    2,512
    I figure out where I want them to hit and then fire and adjust till there. Also think about how the ship rolls in the pond, some angles are much more difficult to reliably target than others just due to ship motion...
     
    tgalx3 likes this.
  3. Kevin P.

    Kevin P. Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2015
    Posts:
    1,715
    Location:
    Chantilly, VA
    Here are a few examples. To get multiple guns to hit together I constrain both the breech and the barrel tip. I use 1” aluminum angle for the barrel tips. For triples I use math to figure out the desired convergence point, but generally I keep them all at the same elevation and toe the two outboard ones in

    some examples, using rods in the barrels to see
    1751DFD2-338B-4A40-94B8-6204FDF87CF8.jpeg
    showing convergence
    60E63D64-0926-4F51-8ABC-86C0ABDA6CAB.jpeg
    elbow holders, i print them into turrets but it can also be done with wood or other material
    994DA0B1-BE00-49D9-A942-3FA5213DDEB3.jpeg
    example of dual sidemounts
    55885524-FED2-4262-A9B9-2574FE903A50.jpeg
    for single guns I use the same approach, it helps keep down angle and prevent movement from rubbing
     
    tgalx3 likes this.
  4. tgalx3

    tgalx3 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2010
    Posts:
    675
    Location:
    Snohomish, WA
    I was hoping to not have to use deck holders for the barrels but will if I have to.
     
  5. Kotori87

    Kotori87 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2006
    Posts:
    3,522
    A deck-mounted barrel brace is the most common solution by far. In your case though, since you've only armed one of the three barrels in each turret, you could install dummy barrels and use the dummy barrels to hold a barrel brace. Since the dummy barrels would be mounted directly to the cannon rather than screwed into an o-ring breech, it would provide a lot of support.