1/100 Royal Navy 20mm Oerlikon MKIIA 0º x2

1/100 Royal Navy 20mm Oerlikon MKIIA Mounting 0º Elevation x2 (Depressed/Firing). These are highly detailed parts modelled using the Norman Ough and John Lambert plans and many reference photographs taken at Priddy's Hard Naval Depot Portsmouth to create the most accurate and detailed 20mm Oerlikon Gun available anywhere. See My Shop for other versions.

• 2x Mountings
• Highly detailed and accurate parts, modelled from plans and photographic reference.
• Barrel Elevation is set at 0º, see My Shop for 45º elevation (other elevations can be requested)
• Gun can be trained as desired
• Hex nuts, accurate Rivet placement, 60 Round Ammo Cartridge, Sights, Operators Rests
• Guns are in Depressed position
• Each Gun comes in 4 Parts: 1x Main Oerlikon Gun, 1x Gun Cradle/Shield/Trunnion, 1x Main Base and 1x Spent Cartridge Bag

Historical Data
Widely used by many nations, this 20 mm automatic weapon originally designed by the Swiss firm of Oerlikon was probably produced in higher numbers than any other AA weapon of World War II.

In 1937 the British Admiralty initiated tests to find a weapon suitable for arming merchant ships and minor warships against close range air attacks. They rejected the Oerlikon Model 1934, but in 1938 the Admiralty informed Oerlikon that if they could raise the muzzle velocity and demonstrate that the weapon could be used and maintained by non-specialist personnel, such as fishermen and merchant seamen, then it would be acceptable. Oerlikon made the necessary changes and the first prototypes of the new design were delivered late in 1939. These were immediately accepted into service as the 20 mm Mark I and Britain placed large orders with Oerlikon and obtained a manufacturing license. However, only a few additional guns were delivered prior to the German occupation of France, which cut off the supply route. This is basically why so few British ships had Oerlikon guns during the early part of the war, with the official USN BuOrd history stating that the Royal Navy had only 100 Oerlikons at sea in November 1940.

Shortly before France fell, the British took advantage of their manufacturing license with Oerlikon to obtain a set of production drawings. These were brought back from Switzerland by Stewart Mitchell, who had previously been Inspector of Naval Ordnance Contracts at the Oerlikon factory in Zurich. Mitchell, together with the famous ordnance expert Charles Goodeve and with Cmdr. S.W. Roskill (then working in the Admiralty Staff Division and later the famous Capt. Roskill, author of "The War at Sea") set up a factory at Ruislip to produce Oerlikon guns. "Considerable difficulties" with equipment and labor had to be overcome before deliveries of the British version of this gun, designated as the 20 mm Mark II, began in the fall of 1941. In November 1941, the battleship HMS Duke of York was commissioned with six of these weapons, which I believe to have been the first warship to carry British-produced Oerlikon guns "as completed."

It is not specifically known how many guns were built by Britain and the Dominion nations, but the Mounting Appropriation Lists of September 1945 show about 55,000 guns in service in the British and Commonwealth navies. This total probably includes weapons built in the USA that were provided as a part of Lend-Lease or installed on those ships refitted in US shipyards. Some British Auxiliary ships still carried these weapons as late as 2006.

In 1935 the USN purchased two Oerlikon 20 mm Model 1934 guns for evaluation purposes. The USN rejected this model on the basis of it having a low muzzle velocity and an unsatisfactory rate of fire (265 rounds per minute cyclic). Some historical irony: Oerlikon almost went bankrupt when the USN rejected the Model 1934. Only the Imperial Japanese Navy's purchase of license rights saved the company and permitted further development work, which resulted in the much more successful version used by the Allies during World War II.       

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.
Please take a look at my other items.      

Painting tips and preparation