"British 13/18 Pounder Field Artillery Question" Topic

I am working n a WWI British army and the artillery is 13 and 18 pounders. From pictures there is an area in front of the shield on the recoil that looks like it's wrapped in rope. Is this correct, and also what color should it be painted? I've checked numerous sites and books and cannot find out exactly what this is or how to paint it on a model. Thank you for any help.

Terry

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It is rope insulating the recuperator, painted white to reflect heat (and not just "gunner bull") – at least that was the explanation I was given at the Woolwich Rotunda many years ago.

As John Armatys says; couldn't it also be drenched in water from buckets during prolonged spells of firing to keep the barrel cool?

Certainly painted white when seen 'on parade' (i.e the current Kings Troop RHA which fire ceremonial salutes in central London parks), or in museum examples; don't know how this colour would last in action, though….

Actually it was a field expediency to protect the recuperator from shrapnel and bullet damage. Not proof against a solid hit, of course, but enough to stop spent fragments, etc. It doesn't take a lot of damage to the recuperator casing to put a gun out of action.

It should be painted a rope colour, unless you are looking to model the Kings Troop RHA on parade. I use hemp or darkish buff colour for this.

Yes, I usually do it a sort of tan colour.

Thank you gentlemen. I understand it now. I also understand seeing some pictures of some of the guns without the rope winding around it.

Terry