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Product Description
1/700 Scale Richelieu 380 mm/45 (14.96") Model 1935 Guns as seen in 1943 with Blast Bags. These parts depict the Richelieu as she appeared in 1943 with the addition on Large Dual Oerlikon Platforms on Turret II roof with 3 Large Ready Use Lockers in each. These are incredibly highly detailed parts modelled using dimensions from the ship builders plans as well as many photographs to make these the most accurate and detailed Richelieu turrets available. These parts are NOT lifted from computer game models like some other Shop Owners parts. Check to see which sellers show separate renders of their items not just the Shapeways default render.
Details include:
2x Mountings with Barrels printed in place set at elevation of 5º
with digitally sculpted Blast Bags in place
accurate rivet and hex nut placement
Twin Oerlikon Platforms for Turret II roof with 3 high detail US Ready Use Lockers in each,
printed separately for ease of painting
46ft rangefinder in both Turrets
Open Rangefinder hatches, blast bag hood fasteners, accurate venting and access hatches
Armour plating recess lines on Turret roof
These weapons were mounted in quad turrets, which were really more of a dual-twin arrangement. The quad mounting was chosen as a result of weight considerations, as it meant less turret and protective belt armor was required, an important consideration for ships designed under Treaty limitations. However, this configuration did mean that a single hit could destroy half of the main armament. The individual guns were sleeved, although some descriptions imply that the relative motion of the guns in each pair was limited. The French were apparently unhappy with the all-forward arrangement, as the design for the last ship in the class, Gascogne, returned to the more traditional fore-aft arrangement.
These guns were of complex assembly and a curious mix of modern and traditional French methods. Model 1935 had 31 components consisting of an A tube, breech bush, twenty hoops, breech ring, four tubes to the muzzle ending in the muzzle bush and a locking ring. Used a stepped loose liner that was held in place by a ring screwed into the breech end of A tube. Model 1936 was simpler, having only 20 components with the number of hoops reduced to ten and the number of tubes reduced to three. Both models were autofretted.
The Welin breech mechanism opened upwards automatically as the the gun ran out after firing. It was hydro-pneumatically powered and balanced by counterweights. An automatic lock with ten electric tubes for firing was fitted to the breech mechanism.
A total of 21 guns were built between 1936 and 1940 with an additional 9 guns built post-war. All of the post war guns were scrapped, but the pre-war guns have fared better. One gun from Richelieu is on display at the military harbor of Brest, near Recouvrance Bridge. A second gun is on display at Gâvres, a third at Ecole Navale Lanvéoc Poulmic and a fourth is at Ruelle. A fifth gun was removed from Richelieu as she was being scrapped and then used by the Italian Navy during the 1960s to test high-velocity projectiles. This gun is now on display at the Naval Arsenal in La Spezia.
Cleaning Information
Some part cleanup will be necessary. The 3D printing process uses a waxy substance to support certain part features during the printing process. Although the parts are cleaned by Shapeways, some waxy residue may remain. It can be safely removed with water and a mild aqueous detergent like "Simple Green" using an old, soft toothbrush, Q-tips or pipe cleaners. During the printing process, liquid resin is cured by ultraviolet light. Microscopic bits of resin may remain uncured.
Let your parts sit in direct sunlight for a few hours to fully cure the resin. Water-based acrylic paints meant for plastics is strongly recommended. Other paints, especially enamels, may not cure on Frosted Detail 3D-printed plastics. Use dedicated model sprue cutters to remove parts to minimise the risk of damage to parts.
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