A Look at MPC's Breech Loading Cannon's - Pt 1 Metallic Blue SP with Pneumatic Tires

I've been photographing all of my MPC ringhand figures as well as individual set pieces for some time now. The next step is to hopefully play with this stuff and put together a diorama or two, but for now let's look at some of these terrific cannons by MPC. 

MPC made their cannons with pneumatic tires for inclusion in modern military playsets, and spoked wheels for American Civil War or Western playsets (this rule isn't set in stone as I've gotten modern military playsets with old style cannons). In addition, they came in firing and non-firing versions and all in a variety of colors. Firing versions used either a spring or rubber band as their means to fire projectiles and included a sprue of both round cannon shot and artillery shells. Non-firing versions became the default in the 70's when every kid's mother was afraid of getting junior's eyes shot out! These were of course the same cannon's but without the spring/rubber band and ammo. They measure 5 7/8" (14.92cm) L x 3 3/4" (9.52cm) W. Height depends on whether the cannon has spoked or pneumatic wheels. This on will measure about 1 3/4" (4.44cm) H to top of barrel. Spoked wheeled cannons will measure 2" (5.08cm) H as that is the diameter of the wheel and it sticks up above the barrel. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

As you can see, the tires are quite beefy. However, out of all the vehicles MPC made, this cannon could only be hauled by their Deuce-&-a-Half truck

The firing mechanism was somewhat finnicky as all the parts of the cannon were soft plastic. If they all mated fine and their was no flash on the parts, the cannon could fire quite nicely. If the plastic was warped a little, or if their was any flash, then they didn't fire at all.

The standard sprue which contained both cannon balls and artillery shells