Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
2012/03/14 16:23:35
Subject: Details for scratch building tank cannons
Everyone thinks of using plastic or metal tubing for the gun if you are building tanks, but the results can look kind of boring. I'm going to show some features of real world tank guns that can lend the extra bit of detail to a home made tank cannon and tell you how they work. Bear in mind I don't claim to be an engineer and my technical details may be a little off.
There will be a lot of pictures and I'll try to do one post per feature
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/14 16:42:00
For the Emperor! Kill Maim Burn!... I mean purge the unclean!
2012/03/14 16:27:27
Subject: Re:Details for scratch building tank cannons
First feature - Bore Evacuators
These are the slightly enlarged sections on a gun barrel which can be placed anywhere down the barrel's length. They store pressurized gas when the gun is fired and direct it out the gun tube to keep fumes and gasses from coming back into the crew compartment when the breech is opened.
This is the easiest feature to model, just by pressing on a little green stuff and molding it to suit
For the Emperor! Kill Maim Burn!... I mean purge the unclean!
2012/03/14 16:31:55
Subject: Re:Details for scratch building tank cannons
Second feature - Muzzle Brakes
Muzzle brakes are used to reduce the recoil effect of powerful guns by directing some of the pressurized gasses to the sides or backwards. Not every tank gun will have these since the weight of the tank and their built in recoil systems are usually adequate. Muzzle brakes are found most often on artillery vehicles with very powerful long range cannons or on light tanks and towed guns
This could be a challenging part to build but if anyone builds regular tank models there may be some in your bits, or if you are good you might be able to GS one
For the Emperor! Kill Maim Burn!... I mean purge the unclean!
2012/03/14 16:36:30
Subject: Re:Details for scratch building tank cannons
Third feature - Recoil Systems
Most guns are mounted in a sliding cradle that lets them bounce back a bit as they fire. There will be a set of hydraulic shock absorbers that absorb the force and push the gun back into firing position. If you look at the Earthshaker on a Basilisk this is built into the gun mount. Abrams tanks for example don't use this system, as their gun mounts include coil springs, and some of the big WWII assault guns just had guns bolted directly to the armor relying on the vehicle's mass
For the Emperor! Kill Maim Burn!... I mean purge the unclean!
2012/03/14 16:40:43
Subject: Re:Details for scratch building tank cannons
Fourth - I'm going to combine two here because they are seen together. Range finding equipment and thermal cladding. These are on the current generation of computer wonder tanks. the range finder uses a laser and it's the bit that looks like a gun sight on the end of the barrel. The barrels are sheathed in an insulating layer that regulates temperature over the length of the barrel to minimize thermal warping. This can look like quilted material or like a smooth layer resulting in another slight diameter change
For the Emperor! Kill Maim Burn!... I mean purge the unclean!