M2A1 Half Track

[wadefreedomvehicles]

Hey guys, I am about to make it official and buy the M2A1 Half Track that my buddy has been trying to sell me for 2 years.
It does not have rear armor and SO I need to get that.
I would rather not have to pay an arm and a leg for repro armor.
I have access to a Plasma CNC Cutting table, and so does anyone know where I can get files to cut the rear armor for it, or if any exist?
Thanks.

 

[patracy]

I can't help on the plans for armor. But I do have some questions for you. Are you planning on using something that could serve as armor? (AR500 or better steel) Or are you just trying to make something cosmetically similar? A36 steel will be MUCH cheaper. I just couldn't bring myself to do that on my M114 repo parts I'm making. So I went with AR500. It's kind of a moot point really, but you'll end up with a HAZ on any thing like AR500 or better with a plasma cut. It'll be minimal though. But it's just something to consider. Waterjetting will not cause a HAZ. Just stuff to think about.

FWIW, I picked up some AR500 just a month or two ago. (Fall of 2016) When I was pricing it, a 3/8 thick 4'x8' sheet was around $750 plus shipping. Same thing in A36 would have been less than half that.

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

I plan on making mine with regular steel(mild steel) as I do not plan on getting shot at...

 

[DDoyle]

Not CAD files, but the MVPA Archives offers copies of the original Ordnance drawings of several models of half-track. You can contact MVPA HQ at 816-833-6872. That said, with the approaching holidays and vacations, I know HQ is short staffed, which may slow order processing.

Hope this helps,
David Doyle
www.DavidDoyleBooks.com

 

[frank8003]

Rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) is a type of armor made of a single steel composition.
Was MIL-DTL-46177 in WWll
Something like 1/4" SAE 4340?

Pattton
Battle of Kasserine Pass
Characters talking:
We shoot a 75mm they fire an 88 ............
What about the Half-tracks?
I asked the men how the armor holds up against machinegun fire
They say it doesn't penetrate it, it just goes in one side and rattles around the crew compartment!

 

[woodwalker]

Go over to halftrackinfo. There are drawings there.
The white style armor is roller faced hardened and 1/4 thick
IH halftrack have the rolled homogeneous armor it was 5/16 thick and had less protection
But it was easy to work, weld able, and had no seems

 

[bigmike]

I wish I had a buddy trying to sell me a halftrack. There are Facebook halftrack groups that can share the drawings with you as well.

 

[Wayofftrack]

I don't have any files with the dimensions but if you need any help with dimension verification I can do that. There are something like 19 pieces total for the rear on an M2A1.

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

Thanks. I now have the CAD Files, but it will be good to be able to compare them to someone elses to make sure they are correct.

 

[Maverick1701]

I wish I had a buddy who would continuously try to sell me a half-track

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

HAHA. It a rough life