Gatling Carriage

[Larry White]

First post here so here goes. This is the carraige for the .22LR gatling gun I am presently working on. I built the carriage first because I had some of the material on hand. Remaining material arrived before I needed it so all went pretty smooth. I am now working on the gun itself is just off barely off the start line. I was hoping to have it ready to fire on 4 July but that date is beginning to look too optomistic. As a reference point, the wheels are 20 inches tall

I purchased drawings online from RGG. Lots of drawing errors so far but nothing major yet. Anyway, here is what I have completed to date. I will share more pictures when I have something more to show.

 

[rleete]

Wow, neat stuff.

How long did that take you to make?

 

[Tony Wells]

Nice project, Larry. Keep the pictures coming!

 

[Larry White]

Thanks for the compliments. I really have no idea just how many hours I have invested in the carriage. I would venture a guess of well over eighty hours though. The wood is red oak, all leftover from other projects, I also like building furniture so hardwood is always available in my shop. I had considered white oak or even hickory but I like the looks of red oak.

The prints called for solid 3 inch brass rounds for the wheel hubs but I came up with a way to use 1/4 inch flat stock and turn a hole large enough to accomodate a turned 2 inch round with a turned shoulder to make up the needed blank. A tight almost press fit and silversoldered in place produced an invisible seam. Took a little longer but, I'm retired so ....

I would make wooden wheels differently if I were to do it again. I followed the designers directions but I really should have known better. I would split the hubs next time, building them in two pieces and just lay the spokes in rather than force them into a solid center like this time.

I'm working on the barrels presently, have milled a hex on the last two inches of the muzzle end, and am in the process of turning the OD of each barrel down to .49x. Still haven't threaded the ends yet but that will be the next step. Probably a week or more out yet on the barrels.

Unruly neighbors - not here in Texas. Pretty friendly place. Thats all for now

Thanks
Larry

 

[Loafy]

Very Beautiful work!!!! that's going to be sweet. I'll be sure not to fly over your house, how close to Amarillo do you live? I'm 60 miles east and a little north. Can't wait to see more.

 

[Old Iron]

Nice work Larry, Be looking forward to the updates.

Paul

 

[ScrapMetal]

Beautiful work. I'd love to have a complete setup like that on the front porch. Wife won't let me though, says I'm too anti-social as it is.

-Ron

 

[mfim]

Hi larry, I have been a winter texan for past 15 years. you do very nice work. Heres a couple of old pics of a non firing gatling me and a friend made in the 70,s. Everything made from scratch so cannot help you with questions. Curly maple and polished stainless. Spins. clicks, swivels, etc. Anxious to see your posts progress.

 

[yxrancher]

Thanks for the compliments. I really have no idea just how many hours I have invested in the carriage. I would venture a guess of well over eighty hours though. The wood is red oak, all leftover from other projects, I also like building furniture so hardwood is always available in my shop. I had considered white oak or even hickory but I like the looks of red oak.

The prints called for solid 3 inch brass rounds for the wheel hubs but I came up with a way to use 1/4 inch flat stock and turn a hole large enough to accomodate a turned 2 inch round with a turned shoulder to make up the needed blank. A tight almost press fit and silversoldered in place produced an invisible seam. Took a little longer but, I'm retired so ....

I would make wooden wheels differently if I were to do it again. I followed the designers directions but I really should have known better. I would split the hubs next time, building them in two pieces and just lay the spokes in rather than force them into a solid center like this time.

I'm working on the barrels presently, have milled a hex on the last two inches of the muzzle end, and am in the process of turning the OD of each barrel down to .49x. Still haven't threaded the ends yet but that will be the next step. Probably a week or more out yet on the barrels.

Unruly neighbors - not here in Texas. Pretty friendly place. Thats all for now

Thanks
Larry

How is the Gatling coming along?

 

[Larry White]

How is the Gatling coming along?

I just got started on it again after pulling off for a couple years. Wife had some 'have to do now' projects so my stuff took a back seat. Couple of friends and neighbors needed parts made/repaired and last summer I built another storage building. All takes lots of time. Doing the actual assembly of the gun it self and finding many drawing errors - nothing yet that can't be resolved but it is irritating. I will post pictures of the finished gun when I actually get it running. I have absolutely no idea when that will happen at this point but hope it is by this summer.