Tag Archives: gun ports

Gun Ports

First Gun Port

My first Gun Port. I figured I better cut all of these out before I do the Painting.

The Gun Port itself is 12x12mm.

For the Gun Port Doors, I’m making some. This kit didn’t really provide the adequate parts so I had to make my own out of spare Lumber that I have.

Making Gun Port Doors
X-Acto with #24 Blade

X-Acto #24 Precision Blades is my main tool for this. I carefully push it into the wood. Unfortunately for this first Door, I went right into a Bulkhead!!! .. 🤔🙄😲

As you can see, I used some Masking Tape, which I cut right through! ..

Starboard side
Marking it out

I’m really annoyed with myself that I accidentally made the 4 Stern most Gun Ports too big. They are supposed to be 10mm Square and I made them 12mm Square and 13 in one case!!! .. Why did I do that???!!! .. Fuck if I know!!! .. 🤔🙄😲

So annoyed with myself!!!

The 2 Forward most Gun Ports are 10mm Square though.

Port side is correct… I screwed up on the Starboard side but I am not going to mention it because it will be barely noticeable…

Lower Gun Deck Gun Ports Starboard Side

Started work on the Lower Gun Deck. These Gun Ports have a Faux Cannon that I stick into those Basswood blocks that I made before.

Bits ..
I temporarily stuck a Gun into the Basswood Block
Fitting Block behind Gun Port. The Block should be 17″ from the edge of Bullhead
Gluing in the blocks

I use a combination of Dap Weldwood Contact Cement and SuperGlue for this.

All the faux-Cannon backs installed
The faux back painted

I found that around 17mm from the edge was the idea distance for the Cannons to protrude.

The Kit didn’t specify using blocks behind the Gun Ports. They wanted the builder to figure it I suppose. I had some spare 25mm Basswood Blocks lying around which I used for this.

I used Titebond Translucent
Clamping them in with Titebond

Gun Ports Starboard Side

I was just thinking to myself that I’m going in a semi-assembly line process instead of each door seperately.

What I mean is… I first sprayed all the Guns…

Black Spray Paint

Then I drilled all pf the upper rope holes for the Doors.

2 Holes above each door
First 4 Guns installed

I use Aleene’s Rapid Dry for this. Apply it to the Carriage and to the Gun. Waiting time is 2 minutes.

It has a rubbery feel at first, but once it sets, it sets strong. It’s rubbery so you have a bit of wiggle space.

Really, not much of it is visible. ..

Here is my review of it… Aleene’s Rapid Dry Glue

First one…
First 7 done on Starboard side…

So these Gun Port Doors. They require custom work on all of them because I first have to adjust the Widths so that they’re the same as the Gun Ports.

I figured out that if I make the “Hinges” the little slat that I glue on the end and put 2 wires to simulate Hinges. I taper these 2 Slates so that when I insert them into the Gun Ports, they slide right in.

Last 2 left on Starboard side…
Gun Ports Starboard side done…