I made up the cannon lock to be operated by a pull lanyard from behind the cannon. That is not the best place to be when watching where the cannon projectile is headed due to smoke and stuff so it has now been adapted to a side release spring actuated mechanism. This was hard. Not doing the work, but coming up with the big words in that last sentence and spelling them correctly without using spell check. It would have killed a lesser man. Anyway, after a lot of experimenting with different springs and rubber bands and holding back the urge to just chuck the whole thing into the ocean, a friend of mine said a magic word, mousetrap. So using a mousetrap spring here is the lock. And it works every time.
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/hotfxr/Cannon/Cannon%20Shots/DSCN0136%202_zpsq0es7xjv.jpg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/hotfxr/media/Cannon/Cannon%20Shots/DSCN0136%202_zpsq0es7xjv.jpg.html)
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/hotfxr/Cannon/Cannon%20Shots/DSCN0134%202_zpsffhixajh.jpg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/hotfxr/media/Cannon/Cannon%20Shots/DSCN0134%202_zpsffhixajh.jpg.html)
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/hotfxr/Cannon/Cannon%20Shots/DSCN0135_zpslsxuen6t.jpg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/hotfxr/media/Cannon/Cannon%20Shots/DSCN0135_zpslsxuen6t.jpg.html)
It can be pulled from either side and give a feeling of control with instant boom results. And if the spring or it's back up fails, I can still make it work from behind with a pulled string to make it a slap hammer. Plus it can still accommodate a fuse, if that is the way we want to roll.
So now it has a plethora of ignition choices, an accurate aiming system, and a historically correct elevation/distance system, all I need is a place to fire it where it can pummel a target at 1000 yards without having DHS swooping down upon me. Apparently there are a number of rondy's up north a few hours away that have cannon events so if work improves to the point I can afford to take a few weekends off to join in, there should be fun in the near future. For now, it is doing it's job annoying my neighbors as a signal cannon, as many times as we can come up with a reason for needing one.
Mousetrap spring should work better than rubber bands for sure. Rubber bands deteriorate quickly. As a former zip-gun maker, I know. ;D
Just a note to the quality control members, I will clean it up and change all the bolts & such to historically correct ones before it heads out into the Rondy world. ;D