Pennsilvania Long Rifle

[Ray]

Guys,
Here's some shots of a Pennsilvania rifle I just finished in 1/32nd scale, for you to critique. The stock is carved from plastic sheet, the barrel is hexagonal plastic strip and the rest, excepting the ram rod, is sculpted in AB tan, Gray, and Magic sculpt.

I've deleted the original pics as they were far too large for convenience. The resized pics are below in Gary's post. Thanks Gary.


Ray

 

[Ray]

Guys,
Maybe I should have said, sorry about the huge size of the pics. Sorry about that, I'm just learning how to work this thing.

Ray

 

[quang]

Looks good, Ray. A much more adequate companion for that Davy Crockett figure.

As for the pics, try to size them down. As a general rule, a picture height of 500-600 pixel works well for most monitors.

Looking forward for the patchbox

Cheers,
Quang

 

[garyjd]

Ray, Very nice. I've taken the liberty of resizing these. You can delete the ones you posted and refer folks to these. Or you can just right click on the pictures and put them in your picture folder. Then you can go to your original post and click edit if you scroll down to the bottom to where it says browse just go to your picture folder and click the picture you want and submit the edited posting. I do not know if there is a way to submit multiple images with this feature so you'll have to edit your original post and make 2 additional ones.~Gary

 

[MAB]

Hi Ray
Nice Work ..........you will reproduce in resin or to be an only piece.

MAB

 

[Ray]

Guys,
Sorry again about the size of the pics, I assumed, (and you know what that does to you) that kitpic would resize when compressing the originals. I'll know better next time. Until then I'm afraid I can't do anything about these until I get home, from where they were posted to begin with.

Quang, Thanks for the pic size info., I'll remember it when creating images. Also thanks for looking. By the way the patch box is there, just can't see it well with the poor contrast in these pics.

Thinking of contrast has anyone other than me had difficulty sculpting smaller details because of not being able to see the work due to the lack of contrast in the putties?

Gary, Thanks for resizing the pics, wish I could chuck the originals from here. I haven't been able to figure out how to get into the original post to edit it, nor how to edit the pics in kitpic. My goal is to delete the pics, once at the home computer, and replace with resized images, unless someone can tell me how to edit the existing ones first.

Maurizio, Going to make resin copies of the thing, (just as I suggested to you, as I'm sure you're referring to), both for future use and modifying into different versions. In the end I'd be happy to make copies of this or some of my other weapons and details for guys on the Planet, so long as they aren't items I've already sold to a manufacturer. I only reserve the right to reproduce this sold stuff for my own use so can't sell/give away sold stuff. This rifle however, is so far only my own. Anyone interested should send me an e-mail and we'll figure out some form of trade or justification for gifting. Also I suppose if anyone has anything they'd like to share (not figures or large expensive to cast/mold items please) I'd be willing to consider casting it for them so long as it is for sharing (not just with me) and their own work.

Ray

 

[quang]

Ray,

Looking at Gary's resized pics, I think that the stock is a trifle too thick and lacks somewhat the graceful lines of the Pennsylvania Long Rifle. I don't know it it would be easy to correct.

In any case, it's a brave attempt to make one it 1/32 scale.

Quang

 

[Ray]

Quang,
You're right, and it would be a problem to alter, though in truth I made the thing a bit heavy hoping of an easier to reproduce casting, also choosing an example with heavier stock for the purpose. In retrospect I think I should have gone with a more typical example and modelled mine accordingly, perhaps on the next on. In fact once I've got a casting it will be a simple matter to alter, less problem with contrast, the resin is more rigid than the plastic in thin sections and can be filed and carved down to an appropriate bulk. I'm not really discouraged by this kind of thing as it is not at all unusual for me to put a part, especially pattern, through several renditions (see response to Maurizio) before being completely satisfied with the result. Still I think, if no-one is adamantly in disagreement about it, that this one will work well enough for a figure or two.

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by quang@May 2 2006, 05:11 PM
I think that the stock is a trifle too thick and lacks somewhat the graceful lines of the Pennsylvania Long Rifle. I don't know it it would be easy to correct.



Quang

Quang, I'm not so sure. Rifles from the 1730's up to and maybe beyond the 1770's exhibit heavier stocks than what we typically think of when it comes to longrifles.

This is an early example of the evolution of the jager rifle to what will become a longer and more slender rifle. This rifle, circa 1730-1750 is believed to be the work of George Schroyer of Reading Pennsylvania. If the rifle is of a much later period then it may be a bit heavy.~Gary

 

[quang]

Ray,

I fully agree with you as I myself like to make my guns slightly heavier (thicker) than in real life. Firstly because of the casting allowances and secondly because it gives an impression of heft (weight) to the model weapon.

Gary,

The later jager rifles may grow in caliber but then they had to shorten the barrel because of its weight (muskets and especially long rifles were notoriously barrel-heavy). That would consequently evolved into the stockier and sturdier Plains rifle (of the Hawken fame).

 

[Ray]

Gary, Quang,
Despite everything, (that is my reasons for making the rifle a bit thick in the stock), I have to agree that heavier versions did exist, in fact I have in front of me now a photo of just such a thing. This one is called a 1750's trade rifle and is even heavier in the fore stock than mine. Having said all of that I am convinced from the examples that I've seen that the lighter fore end was the more common variety, though I'd be reluctant to make any bets on the subject knowing that each was individually hand made either to the purchasers or makers tastes. We'll see what my next one looks like, I think I'll ignore some of the casting limitations (accepting a greater number of unusable castings) and go for the lighter version as Quang suggests. Until then thanks for the feedback and interest, it's been informative and entertaining.

Ray

 

[quang]

Ray,

Trade guns were indeed thicker and sturdier.

As I see it (I may be wrong), the Pennsylvania long rifles were individually made (as opposed to mass-produced) to the specs of a given gunsmith with select material (figured maple, browned steel, ...) much like Fender Custom Shop guitars or designer's jeans as opposed to the regular Levi's 501.

Q.

 

[Ray]

Gary,
Do you inlet your stocks for the barrel when making a long gun pattern, or simply flatten the length of barrel to sit on top of the stock. For myself I find that inletting the barrel is a pretty simple and relatively precise way of getting the fit right.

Also, when are you going to post a shot of your completed Major Rogers figure in 1/35? I'd really like to see this guy finished, he's a really nice figure and interesting subject.

Ray