PA80-8: 54mm French Gribeaval Cannon Moulds

The Napoleonic Wars (1803-15) were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly owing to the application of modern mass conscription. French power rose quickly as Napoleon's armies conquered much of Europe but collapsed rapidly after France's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon's empire ultimately suffered complete military defeat resulting in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France.

This product has 3 moulds that can cast 54mm scale metal cannon. Some assembly may be required. Assembly can either require soldering or gluing parts together. Glue is not included.

The origins of the French Napoleonic artillery were the Gribeauval reforms which started in 1776, which reduced the bewildering variety of artillery pieces then functioning to 4, 6,8 and 12 pound guns and 4, 6 and 8 inch howitzers. Gribeaval's reforms also improved and standardised the gun carriages, the limbers and the ammunition itself. Further improvements were later introduced in 1803 under Marmont's "System of the year XI", but because all such changes took so long to be completed, all campaigns fought up to the year 1812 were fought under the Gribeauval system.

The Gribeauval reforms also made the guns lighter, more mobile and easier to handle, than had previously been the case, and changed the role of the artillery from mere infantry support to an independent service arm.

If you have difficulty getting this mould to fill you could try venting the mould. Vents are thin channels that are cut into the mould surface, which enables air trapped in the mould to escape. Before cutting the vents warm the mould as this makes the rubber easier to cut. With a sharp craft knife cut 1mm channels from the part that is not filling to the outside of the mould usually to the top of the mould. Sometimes it is easier to drill a 1.5mm hole through the mould body and add a vent to the outside of the mould. You will get a small amount of flash on each vent, but this is easy to remove.

This product is not suitable for children under the age of 14.

a. Officer; battery commander.
b. Corporal; gun commander.
c. Ramrod.
d. Loader with bucket.
e. Portfire.
f. Ammunition carrier.