1/350 Dunkerque 330 mm/50 (13") Model 1931 Guns

1/350 Scale Dunkerque 330 mm/50 (13") Model 1931 Guns. 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 Dunkerque 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 8 separate barrels and can be angles as desired
• accurate rivet and hex nut placement
• 12m rangefinder in both Turrets
• Open Rangefinder hatches, blast bag hood fasteners, accurate venting and access hatches
• Armour plating recess lines on Turret roof

These guns were used to arm the first French capital ships built since World War I, the Dunkerque class. These weapons had a high muzzle velocity, which gave them long range and good vertical armor penetration at the cost of having poor deck penetration. They were mounted in quad turrets, which were really more of a dual-twin arrangement. The design of the quad turret was based upon one designed but never built for the Normandie class.

Although equipped with RPC, the Sautter-Harlé-Blondel gear for these turrets was apparently far from satisfactory. As the guns were closely spaced together, these ships also suffered from problems with excessive dispersion.

The dual quad-gun turret arrangement was calculated to be 27.6% lighter than a quad twin-gun arrangement, but it did mean that a single hit could eliminate half of the main battery.

The construction of these weapons is not clear, but it is believed to have been similar to that of the 380 mm/45 (14.96") guns used on the Richelieu. This would make the construction a loose autofretted liner and A tube reinforced at the breech by a single row of short hoops along with an outer jacket. The breech mechanism was a Welin screw breech block, hydro-pneumatically powered and balanced by counterweights. The breech plug opened upwards. Actual bore length was 50.44 calibers.

Some of the APC shells for these guns were converted to aircraft AP bombs.

A note on sources: "Battleships: Allied Battleships in World War II" and "Battleships of the World 1905-1970" list this weapon as "330 mm/52" but, as noted above, the actual bore length was 50.44 calibers.

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