WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

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Quest Master
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WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Thu Apr 14, 2016 9:48 am

With the recent finds of "DesertRick" of original rusty WWII ammunition fiber tube cloverleafs and shipping tube caps, I decided to start making some of my own asphalt impregnated fiber tubes with the original caps. The caps are crushed glass blasted to bare metal, painted semi-gloss black and stenciled in white. Then, the tubes are fabricated to the exact length and diameter as the original tubes and correctly wrapped in asphalt impregnated paper just like the originals. Finally, they are sealed in ink stamped cloth sealing tape, with the color of the tape to the corresponding ordnance. Here are my first run of various examples for my own museum collection, with more versions on the way. Enjoy! :)
WWII M44 fiber container for 155mm M2 Propellant "White Bag":
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WWII M46 fiber container for 155mm M1A1 Propellant "Green Bag". I made one container open to show a replica of the 1-5 charge green bag:
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WWII M51 60mm 6 round mortar fiber container (center). Also shown are 6 M50 60mm fiber containers and 6 M49A2 60mm mortar rounds, also restored by me:
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WWII M39A1 105mm fiber shipping containers:
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Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519


Mike McCrea
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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Mike McCrea » Fri Apr 15, 2016 8:38 pm

Wow...They look fantastic. Great Job.
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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by tankbarrell » Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:59 am

Great job Van, how did you do the end cap stencil?

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:27 pm

Mike McCrea wrote:Wow...They look fantastic. Great Job.
Thanks Mike! Always looking to do something different. :)
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:31 pm

tankbarrell wrote:Great job Van, how did you do the end cap stencil?
I pride myself in detail work. I absolutely love looking at others work and trying to push the limits with my own restorations. All of the end cap stencils are actual stencils, specifically made for each project that I do. I don't produce enough in quantity to produce a rubber stamp for huge quantities. So, every stencil that you see on these tubes and all of the ordnance that I have posted in this forum was designed individually by me. Happy you like them! :)
Last edited by Quest Master on Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Quest Master
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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:34 pm

Just finished the stenciling of the 155mm propellant tubes.
U.S. WWII M44 "White Bag" for the 155mm Howitzer:
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U.S. WWII M46 "Green Bag" for the 155mm Howitzer:
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Enjoy! More to come!
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by DesertRick » Sat Apr 16, 2016 2:03 pm

Those look fantastic! They look like they're fresh from the factory. Glad I could help you out with the endcaps and cloverleafs. It's always great to see how someone restores these parts. Keep up the good work!

Rick

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:26 pm

DesertRick wrote:Those look fantastic! They look like they're fresh from the factory. Glad I could help you out with the endcaps and cloverleafs. It's always great to see how someone restores these parts. Keep up the good work!

Rick
Rick,
Thank you. And thank you for finding them!
I'm working on the 81mm's right now: 6 round cloverleaf set and M37A1 long round tubes. Stay tuned! :)
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by RobL » Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:02 pm

Looks great! Well done!

The green bag and tubes, and the 60mm tube and round set is particularly impressive.

really cool!

Rob L.

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Thu Apr 21, 2016 6:12 am

Thanks Rob!!! :D
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Quest Master
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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:45 am

The next restoration/fabrication that I've done: WWII 81mm M36 and M36A1 fiber tube bundle for the M43A1 HE mortar round with M52 Point Detonating Fuze.
The six M36A1 fiber tubes in the cloverleaf bundle, with two M36 fiber tubes standing in the rear:
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This is what I started with:
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I still have to do the stenciling on the end caps.
Enjoy! :)
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:02 am

New WWII fiber tube restoration/fabrication work. These are WWII M37A1 Mortar (long) fiber tubes, marked for the M56 HE 81mm Mortar Round. The caps are original (sand blasted and painted) - the tubes and sealing tape was made by me. Also shown is a WWII M57 White Phosphorus (inert) 81mm Mortar Round with M52B1 Fuze that I also restored. The mortar round was ground dug and had a SLEW of pitting. It looks nice now. Enjoy! :)
Image
Image
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Quest Master
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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:07 am

Another side project, I purchased these replica WWII Mk II Hand Grenade M41 fiber tubes from RobL a while ago. To add a little more detail, I made the sealing tape for them. Also shown is an original WWII Mk. II (inert) Fragmentation Hand Grenade that I restored. Enjoy! :)
Image
Image
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

User avatar
Quest Master
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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by Quest Master » Wed May 04, 2016 8:37 am

New restoration to go with the WWII M39A1 105mm fiber shipping containers that I previously fabricated from original end caps and cloverleafs: This is an original WWII U.S. 105mm M1 High Explosive Shell (BATFE compliant inert). The olive drab paint is original, I added the stenciling because it had worn off. The shell was made by M.I.R. 1945. Also shown are two WWII 105mm shell casings: one is marked 105mm M14 Type I, R.C.&B. INC. 1943 and the other 105mm M14 Type II, GL 1943. Enjoy! :)
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Image
I'm still looking for a WWII U.S. M-51A4 or M51A4 fuze to go with the shell.
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
"If the DUKW was introduced in 1944 it would have been called a FUKW."
45 GMC DUKW (105mm)
42 Ford GPW
44 Willys MB
44 Clark CA-1
43 Studebaker T-24
42 Harley WLA
44 Cushman 53
42 Willys MBT
44 Columbia F-92L
43 Huffman G-519

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Re: WWII Fiber Tube Restorations - with pics

Post by 917601 » Tue May 17, 2016 4:42 am

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Not sure if you are interested, but I have a hard to find M78 CP (Concrete Piercing) fuze dated 2-45. They were used as bunker busters developed for destroying the Japanese caves and bunkers. I put one on my 1968 dated 105 after an old Redleg from Vietnam said they used them and they were WW2 dated. They made hundreds of thousands of them during WW2 anticipating an invasion of Japan, they worked so well this fuze is still in use today. It is dis colored but has no pitting, excellent shape.

Markings on fuze, "Lot SOP 214-2 2-45 Fuze C.P. , M78, 025 SEC"

I am asking $40.
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