This re-do includes the major improvement of being now engineered in two parts:


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---FULL RES--FULL RES-----A separate gun and carriage - the latter accurately widened by sticking together (bottom-left) two of the original-version carriages, which had the right height but were 'way too narrow. And the gun now of course has an elevation gear. Both these parts and the assembled gun, in particular (see below), look great to the (more or less) naked eye - however, a lot of trouble began with these attempts to get super-enlarged/zoomed pics.

First of all, these parts are almost impossibly tiny (I really should take some pics of them on a ruler, for you), thus pushing the limits of my camera macro, simply to focus on them - and then holding the camera steady enough while pushing the shutter - to even get any clear shots at all. (Even these took me something like 20x tries.)

Far worse however, these super-closeups revealed for the first time, multiple shocking facts:

1) Though all but invisible even to the headset-magnified eye (a clear sign I need to get some stronger lenses), nearly all the sculpted areas - that is to say, just about everywhere - look like they're made of stone;

2) Much of the intended detail is so fine that even this thin(nest of all) Tamiya paint gums it up, and;

3) Both the elevation gear and (elevation-setting?) wheel on the gun are just way too large.


Neverthelss, the new two-piece design, of course, for the first time permits this High-Angle 4-incher to be assembled at…well…a high angle :

Or indeed, at any desired angle - which is inarguably a substantial improvement. But, clearly you can see why I am also calling it "concrete".

So while I certainly will mold and cast the above - at the very least, to provide a backup/spares - I may well try yet again to re-do it better, as well. This is what "development", and "developmental stage" is all about.

Meantime, if anyone(s) is in a hurry to get theirs now, again these already will be a major improvement over the original, and I can make a note to cast some extras for you, ASAP - just let me know.

Cheers,

- Matty