British 13 Inch Land-Service Mortar
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Scale model cannon kit for sale
British 13 Inch Land-Service Mortar
1840-1881
Scale 1:28
Price - SOLD OUT
Dimensions
Model - 61 mm x 34 mm x 34 mm (l x w x h)
Weight- 91.5 grams
Metals - Zinc, brass and resin
Number of pieces - 6 zinc + 12 brass + 2 resin = 20 pieces
Technique - Spin, investment and cold cast
The story behind the selection of the 13 Inch Land-Service Mortar
The strength, compactness and brute force of the mortar combines to pack a big punch and as the 13 inch mortar is pretty much at the top of the evolutionary chain of black power siege artillery, Zane has always been intrigued by it.
Historical information
A land service mortar is a distinct species of ordnance which has a very short barrel of large calibre. Mainly muzzle-loading, the mortar was designed to throw exploding projectiles over obstacles such as fortress walls and into otherwise protected areas.
Mortars are distinguished from other artillery pieces in that their designation is given by the diameter of their shot as opposed to the weight of the shell which is used for most other artillery pieces.
British mortars were set at 45Ëšand relied upon the powder charge being adjusted to change the range of the weapon. It could either fire a shell which contained enough powder to burst the projectile on landing or a carcass. No, this carcass isn't a dead animal, but a shell filled with pitch or some other highly flammable mixture. These flaming, combustible chemicals were dispersed through 3 to 5 holes in the shell and were mainly used to set buildings alight.
Land service mortars fired their projectiles at low velocity and short ranges. Mortars unlike other artillery pieces had their trunnions at the base and not half way down the barrel.
About the model
A copy of the original drawings of this 13 inch Land Service mortar were found on the internet and used together with a walk-around of a mortar at the Johannesburg War Museum to make this model.
The 13 inch mortar was prototyped in brass and then to test his newly acquired 3D printer, Zane printed the barrel and end caps in supersonic orange resin. The final scale model cannon is manufactured in brass (12 pieces), zinc (6 pieces) and resin (2 pieces).
