"Rite of Passage" the 1/96 Constitution

Arnie60 - can you tell me where did you locate your barrels and crates or were they handmade? Your work on this model is fantastic!

Arnie60 - really nice work! Did you use the eye bolts that came with the ship on the bulwarks for the guns? Do you remember what size drill bit used for the eye bolt holes? Thanks for your post and for any tips!

Fright

Such superb crftsmanship as this, so cleanly executed, is always insipring.

Question:  I understand the need to pull the cannon back after a shot due to its recoil.  But I do not see any means to pull the cannon back to load the first shot!  It seems to me there neds to be some metal ring at the tail end of the cariage, attached via a rope to a pully so as to pull the cannon back to clean and reload.  Else you would need someone on the outside of the ship to load it!  Where are the attachment points, are they put in just before combat so as not to interfere with foot trffic behind the guns?  Any answers?

 The answer to your question can be found starting at about :40 or so here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQSBxQiLSyQ

 The video shows a simulated loading of a "cold" 24-pounder by the crew of USS Constitution, including use of the rearmost line to haul the gun inboard sufficiently to allow for initial loading, as you surmised.