37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Demilitarized vehicle weapons and static display accessories
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gearhead
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by gearhead » Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:32 am

Brilliant Andy!
A man once told me if you have good metal and welding skills you can fabricate almost anything!
So true! Keep the photos coming!1 :):)

Ed S 8)
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Andy Cole
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Mon Nov 10, 2014 2:01 pm

It has been a while since I updated the thread. Sadly, I have little "eye candy" to add. Below are some of the few details I have been piddling on.

I could not find a 1.5 inch ball, so I made (from scratch) a rotary cutter attachment for my lathe. I actually turned down an old trailer hitch ball.
I got creative on the socket side. I actually found a plumbing fixture that I was able to modify to close enough.

I am working on the trail locking mechanism. In these pics I know it is not finished. It is mostly tacked, or short welded to make sure it works. I have to tweak the pins , weld some gussets in, etc. I just wanted to update ya'll with the progress.

Image

Image

I have mocked up and test fitted the trail what-cha-ma-call-its. These are the supports that when the trails are open, they pin in place and support the trails when they are open for firing. I'll get them welded up and pins made in the next few days.

Image

More Later,
Andy
1943 Willys MB285433 D.O.D. 12-3-1943
1951 M100 trailer D.O.D. 3/51
1951 M37 Truck D.O.D. 5-28-1951
M3 37MM ATG
M3A4 Hand Cart
Wife D.O.Delivery 7-21-1979
Boy D.O.Delivery. 2-15-2007
Girl D.O.Delivery. 4-9-2009
Girl D.O.Delivery. 10-23-2012

Bill, Idaho
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Bill, Idaho » Thu Nov 13, 2014 4:44 am

Keep up the fantastic work. You ought to have it done by........................... maybe next week?

mmike
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by mmike » Sun Nov 16, 2014 3:59 pm

You my friend are possessed with a passion for detailed replicas far beyond what I had with my M2 replica builds! Keep the pictures coming!

Andy Cole
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Thu Nov 20, 2014 3:08 pm

I am being a bit ambitious, but on ebay I just won a WW2 US M6 Telescope for a 37mm Towed Anti-Tank Gun. It was mislabeled, and compared to prices at Hayes Otoupalik, I think I got a deal; $65...now just got to explain that paypal expense to THE book keeper here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371189009370?_t ... fresh=true

Andy
1943 Willys MB285433 D.O.D. 12-3-1943
1951 M100 trailer D.O.D. 3/51
1951 M37 Truck D.O.D. 5-28-1951
M3 37MM ATG
M3A4 Hand Cart
Wife D.O.Delivery 7-21-1979
Boy D.O.Delivery. 2-15-2007
Girl D.O.Delivery. 4-9-2009
Girl D.O.Delivery. 10-23-2012

42GPW
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by 42GPW » Thu Nov 20, 2014 3:22 pm

Just planning for the future Andy.

Matt R
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rlavantu
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by rlavantu » Sat Nov 22, 2014 7:03 am

Great looking job.
I have a 37mm ATG that is missing the shoulder/arm guard assembly.
Do you plan on making this for your project could I purchase a copy of the prints?

Thank you
Dick
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Greg Alexander » Sun Nov 23, 2014 9:29 am

Outstanding work! Keep the project going and thanks for posting these photos and descriptions.
Having restored an original 37mm AT I can really appreciate the difficulty in making some of these parts.
I can't wait to see the next features that you add.
1942 WC-54 Restored 2004
1943 MB Replicated armored Jeep 2005
1942 Ben Hur Trailer Restored 2008
1942 M3 Anti-tank gun 37mm Restored 2010
Current project 1966 M-151a1
Next Project 1942 GPW, all matching serial #'s

Andy Cole
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:40 am

Since I just got an original sight for this, I need the plans for the brackets, sockets, sight hardware, etc. They are not part of the blueprints I got. Does any one have a copy of those plans? Or would one of you fourtunate enough to own an original, be kind enough to take detailed pictures with a ruler beside the parts so that I can at least get my reproduction close.

Those parts are a long way off from production, but I like to have my ducks in a row so to speak.

Thanks for all of the positive comments and encouragement. It is slow going right now. Life and work tend to get in the way of all the fun!

Andy
1943 Willys MB285433 D.O.D. 12-3-1943
1951 M100 trailer D.O.D. 3/51
1951 M37 Truck D.O.D. 5-28-1951
M3 37MM ATG
M3A4 Hand Cart
Wife D.O.Delivery 7-21-1979
Boy D.O.Delivery. 2-15-2007
Girl D.O.Delivery. 4-9-2009
Girl D.O.Delivery. 10-23-2012

Andy Cole
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:01 pm

The M6 sight for my 37mm ATG wanna-be came in today. I am very pleased with it considering the price I paid. The condition was just as described regarding the optics. It has little spots which can only be seen when looking through it. They look like pieces of rust or other debris inside the tube, however if you tap it they do not move. They would not interfere with the aiming of a 37mm, they are just annoyances.

Is it worth trying to find someone to clean it, or should I just leave it as is. I am not sure I want to tackle the disassembly of this, and risk losing or breaking a piece.

Here are some pics of the exterior:
Image
Image

Here is the best pics of the optics I could get. The spots can be seen, but are a bit more clear in person.

Image
1943 Willys MB285433 D.O.D. 12-3-1943
1951 M100 trailer D.O.D. 3/51
1951 M37 Truck D.O.D. 5-28-1951
M3 37MM ATG
M3A4 Hand Cart
Wife D.O.Delivery 7-21-1979
Boy D.O.Delivery. 2-15-2007
Girl D.O.Delivery. 4-9-2009
Girl D.O.Delivery. 10-23-2012

Andy Cole
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Tue Jan 13, 2015 4:58 pm

Had to put the build a bit on the back burner for a few weeks...Christmas and family gatherings kept me pretty busy. I have made a few improvements, but need to take photos. I did decide to put a little rattle can OD on the trail end, but never posted the pics. So just to keep the thread kind of fresh, here you go. I still have to make a few parts for the trail end, but it is getting close.

Image

Image
1943 Willys MB285433 D.O.D. 12-3-1943
1951 M100 trailer D.O.D. 3/51
1951 M37 Truck D.O.D. 5-28-1951
M3 37MM ATG
M3A4 Hand Cart
Wife D.O.Delivery 7-21-1979
Boy D.O.Delivery. 2-15-2007
Girl D.O.Delivery. 4-9-2009
Girl D.O.Delivery. 10-23-2012

jpmeserve
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by jpmeserve » Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:10 am

Andy, looking very good
Joseph

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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by oldiron » Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:47 am

In regard to WWII and pre-1960 optics ! Most of the dirt inside is asphalatum used in mounting and waterproofing the lenses-- It drys out and flakes off putting spots inside the scopes- Most old optics have this problem no matter in what country they were made . I knew several optical repair guys and I was told it was a royal PITA to clean all of the old asphalatum and even when you think you got it, you put the item back together and guess what! Even more specks ! Best to leave that small stuff alone!! I sent out a couple of scopes to be cleaned to Parson's scopes in Kansas once and when they came back they had more spots than when I sent them in !! It was from shipping I was told!! also Sorry no warranty !! So I don't have much faith in scope repair people!
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1943Willysgpw
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by 1943Willysgpw » Wed Jan 14, 2015 12:37 pm

This is awesome. Thanks for showing the pictures of the fab pieces up close. Some time when I get finished building my second jeep, I want to build one of these. Thank you again for taking the time to share.
"None of us are as smart as all of us"

1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
1942 GTB 136166 DoD 9-18-42
1942 GTB 135938 DoD
1952 M100

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Navarre
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Navarre » Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:09 pm

Absolutely amazing project and work....such a incredible skills.
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition"
Ford GPW 86534 DoD 12-11-42...in progress!
Resto thread: viewtopic.php?f=144&t=198728


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