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

Demilitarized vehicle weapons and static display accessories
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Andy Cole
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37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:39 pm

OK, I have been hesitant to post any of this, however I am going to start a thread.
I do not have the finances (at this point in my life) to own a real live 37mm anti-tank gun. What I do have is access to a metal fabrication shop, and the ability to work steel. In the shop are lathes, milling machines, and a CNC plasma cutter. About a year and a half ago, I bought a CD with the blueprints for the M3A1 37mm. They are not complete, and some of them are not legible, but there is enough there to make a real good showing. Ever since I got the CD, I have been squirreling back materials to build an as close as possible replica 37mm to pull behind my '43 Willys. My goal is for it to pass the "20 foot" test for 99% of the regular population. There is no way that the finished produce will be blueprint specific, but I am trying to stay close with most things. It might be ambitious, but I'm gonna try. I have seen the amazing work of those on this sight making mock M2HB's and 1919A4's, and was inspired. This is just a bit bigger.

At this point I figure it is going to take me over a year to finish....IF,...IF..I don't get burned out along the way. Honestly I have been know to start projects and stop for a while until it catches my interest again. We'll see.

This purpose of this thread is purely for entertainment, and constructive criticism or ideas. Please keep the comments tasteful. IF there is interest in this thread, I will update it as I add components and answer questions about their construction.

Many thanks to those on this board who have already helped so much with photos and measurements from real 37mm guns.

Here we go:

I am lucky enough to have access to a CNC plasma cutter, so I spent about 30 minutes or so programming in the large piece or armor. I had to start somewhere
Here is the results of the programming of the top armor. It will be CNC plasma cut from 1/4 inch steel plate (mild).

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I cut the armor. It is 1/4 inch mild plate Not AR. Here is a pic of the cutter working.

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I couldn't help myself. It cut so pretty, I went ahead and programmed the apron and the little guards. It is 1/4 inch mild plate as well
37mm cut armor.JPG
37mm cut armor.JPG (97.09 KiB) Viewed 3196 times
Later I found some time to program the spades, supports, and a few other small parts. I also bent a few things in the metal break. I cut the trails, and managed to get one spade welded on.

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I got the other trail/spade cut and welded up. It is a mirror image of the other one.
I have been sourcing prices for the barrel materials.....the cheapest I have found is nearly $600.....ughh. Well that is a ways down the road.
37mm welded spades.jpg
37mm welded spades.jpg (112.86 KiB) Viewed 3195 times

I finally got around to cutting an axle.
I have had to cut and turn the spindles to fit the tubing. That took a while, but I finally got it. I started making the rotating wheel chocks.
I had to turn the outside and bore the inside on the lathe to make it blueprint specific.
This is a really slow process, especially since I can only work on it during "stolen" minutes from something else.

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Fabricated the spring loaded catches for the rotating wheel chocks. I still have to lathe the pins. I have bolts through the pin holes for now.

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Here are the components just placed relative to one another to help give me a "feel" of how the project was progressing.

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Front apron armor hinges made and installed on the axle. Next I worked on the latch arms and latches to hold up the armor when towing.

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This brings us up to where I am now. I fabricated the latch arms and welding them to in their appropriate place on the axle.

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Now that it is all in "print" it does not look like that much. Rest assured there are many hours already in this "toy". Heck, those latch arms for the lower apron armor took about two hours each.

Like I said, if there is interest I will update this thread with pics and comments as I progress. If it is a waste of time, I'll just wait until I am done. It is up to ya'll.

Thanks for the time you spent looking so far!

Andy
Last edited by Andy Cole on Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:43 am, edited 4 times in total.
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


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

Post by Donovan » Fri Oct 03, 2014 6:00 pm

Andy,
I am not a 37 mm gun expert but from what I can see you are doing a great job! Keep it up and do not stop. Also remember that when they were making WWII equipment, vehicles, etc. it was not made to look pretty. So if you have some not so pretty welds that is a good thing! Maybe some weld splatters also. My vehicle has them and I am pretty confident they are factory welds!
Good luck,
Donovan
GPA 11374

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

Post by Tapper02 » Sat Oct 04, 2014 6:56 am

Looking forward to following your build Andy…keep it up!!

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

Post by Steve Webb » Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:41 am

Very nice, you need to post in Artillery forum also or at least get a link there
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by wreckless » Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:33 am

Please continue with the updates on your excellent work.
Rob
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by TopKick » Sat Oct 04, 2014 1:07 pm

Outstanding replica! 8)
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by jpmeserve » Sun Oct 05, 2014 3:57 am

Great work. Looking forward to seeing more as you progress.

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

Post by ardennes » Sun Oct 05, 2014 6:46 am

Outstanding work! I envy your welding skills. I wish my beads looked anywhere near that good. Please keep us posted as you progress.
Best regards,
Jim
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by mbatvburg » Sun Oct 05, 2014 7:10 am

Been watching your thread on the 1919 forum. I'm glad you posted here so I dont have to navigate away from the G.

Will this be display only or are you planning to do a propane/black powder setup?
Brendan

I've had a jeep or two

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

Post by Andy Cole » Sun Oct 05, 2014 10:20 am

mbatvburg wrote:Been watching your thread on the 1919 forum. I'm glad you posted here so I dont have to navigate away from the G.

Will this be display only or are you planning to do a propane/black powder setup?
I am not sure at the moment. I do know that I want to avoid destructive device status. So I am pricing seamless pipe/tubing that is 1.5 inches inside. 37mm is 1.45 inches. It will have no chamber at all, so that it can not accept any cartridge ammunition. I am leaning toward black powder, much like a huge smoothbore sharps rifle.

Dunno yet. As long as it takes to fabricate each small part it will be a long while before I get that far. It is ridiculous how slow this is progressing. There are a couple of hours worth of work in parts that will never see the light of day. However, I feel that those little details that many overlook are a matter of pride.
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

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

Post by SeanFarley1 » Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:40 am

Andy

Where can i get a set of the plans you have? Also what do you think your total cost of materials will be, not counting time? Thanks this looks great and is a very motivating post!

Sean

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

Post by Raymond Smith » Mon Oct 06, 2014 7:59 am

Your work looks very good.

Since the parts require so much set up and jigging, perhaps you should consider building twice the quantity you need and then sell off the parts for someone else to manufacture another gun. Or just build two simultaneously and see the second to pay for the first.

You may also want to consider priming the parts as you finish them. I know here in Florida if we left them bare, it would be rusted up the next day.
Raymond
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Andy Cole
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Re: 37mm anti tank gun build....non-DD

Post by Andy Cole » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:52 am

Todays efforts produced the two apron armor latches.

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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

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

Post by Blitzdough » Mon Oct 06, 2014 2:42 pm

Really nice work Andy!

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

Post by gpw6335 » Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:44 am

Nice welds, looks great
1943 GPW 103951
1951 M38 27714
1952 M38a1 28888
1969 M274A5
1972 M151A2
1943 MBT
1951 M100
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