Before the Anglo Boer War, the ZAR government purchased four 155mm Creusot field guns for the Transvaal State Artillery from Schneider et Cie (based in Le Creusot, France). The guns were to serve as fortress guns to protect the city of Pretoria from enemy attacks, but not a single shot was ever fired with a Long Tom from any of the four forts (Klapperkop, Wesfort, Wonderboom, Schanskop).
Instead the guns served as field guns in the early parts of the war, notably at the sieges of Ladysmith, Mafikeng and later Kimberley, and were nicknamed "Long Toms" by the British soldiers. It was the first artillery field guns to make use of indirect fire, and also held an unofficial world record at the time for the longest range of a shot fired by a field gun (about 11 km at Ladysmith). If not for an ammunition deficiency unbeknownst to the Boers, the effect and destruction of the Long Toms in the early parts of the war would have had a much greater impact (as seen in Kimberley after the ammo issue was sorted out). As the ammunition ran out and supplies were cut off, all four Long Toms were eventually destroyed by the Boers to prevent them from falling into British hands. The last Long Tom was destroyed near Haenertsburg in Magoebaskloof on 30 April 1901.
The Long Toms weighed 6500kg, was 7,5m long, and had a barrel length of 4,2m. The caliber was 155mm and could fire 94 pounds (43kg) shells up to 9000m, although longer distances were recorded.
The 1/35 scale model kit is a DIY unit consisting of the gun (barrel, chassis, wheels), the firing platform and a moulded base (with sandbags) - the kit comes standard with a wooden box. You have to assemble and repaint the kit yourself, and no perspex cover or extra base is provided.
This same model's assembled unit in a display case is also for sale under a different BoB listing.
SHIIPING/DELIVERY: The models are available for collection in Pretoria. DELIVERY OR SHIPPING COSTS ANYWHERE ELSE IS AT THE BUYERS COST, FROM A COURIER COMPANY OF THE BUYERS CHOICE. The responsibility therefore lies with the buyer to get a quality courier company with quality courier insurance.
In general the kits are made on order, a final 'ready' date will be communicated as soon as the order is placed and the money cleared. I might have kits available immediately, but if new kits need to be casted it might take up to three weeks or even longer depending on circumstances. Before you place an order, I will give you an indication of when the model will be ready, but the final 'ready' date will only be communicated once the funds have cleared.
I prefer EFT or bobPay, and please note that an extra fee will be charged for cash deposits.
