“Dictator”
13-inch mortar
Near Petersburg, 1864
Some images in Dio style and others out in the sun.
Also include some attempts at “sepia” period prints for those that like the vintage look.
Here some in the open field:
Here a different set up in more of a proper dio spot:
Here the image that inspired the pose:
I wanted to get a different identity for the mortar, but only found references for the well known and photographed “ Dictator”. So lets say these images represent the famous mortar before it was placed on a rail car!
If anyone has reference of another late war 13 inch mortar in Confederate use I appreciate the information.
I used one of my battery gun crews, what I call crew #1, all have DID HS on DML bodies with DID hands. It is also the largest crew with 7 members. I then added a youngster from the command group and another young man from another battery, for variety. All these figures have tunics, but decided to go with shirt sleeve order (except the boy and the seargent) on this one.
Eventually I will get to set up and take images of the full battery.
Most of the uniform pieces are from BGT, with some SST sprinkled in.
Everything weathered as usual.
The 13-inch seacoast mortar was intended for seige and fortifications and not field work. The Dictator, weighing in at 17,120 lbs. was made portable for limited field use during the Seige of Petersburg by being mounted on a railroad car, specially strengthened with extra beams and iron rods to withstand the strain of firing. The mortar was placed on the car and run up the tracks from City Point along the City Point and Petersburg Railroad, to a point in the ravine in rear of what is now generally known as Battery No. 5, near the Jordan House, a side track from the main road being constructed especially for the purpose of moving the Dictator.
mes respect pour la reconstition de la photo d epoque 
