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If you people have seen pictures and videos of the M551 at the Museum, yoiu will see/know it is missing some parts. While it is a runner and a fun one to run/drive, it needs visual love. Today, we received the first 5 of 11 smoke tube launcher end caps.
First, a BIG thanks to Brent Mullins! He is in possession of a Sheridan that has the smoke launchers on it! A year or so ago, I called him and asked if we could possibly borrow one of the tubes to re create a set for the Sheridan we have. He agreed and shipped on out to us.
It was a project that was giving me a headache trying to finger out how to EXACTLY re produce the tube. The hard part was the exit of the tube. It is complicated, and when you see the attached pictures, you'll see why.
The rest of the tube is an engineering nightmare, I do not know how people figured it out, Tapered tube, 90 degree angles cast into the tube, covers, plugs, electrical connections, my Lord, it is a slide rule nightmare!
I did some measuring and figured, to keep things simple, a regular 4 inch OD tube would be used, but I still had issues with what to use for the end of the tube. This is where a network of friends came into play. Someone bought a WWII jeep, it had civi wheels on it. They called me to see if there were some OG, WWII wheels at the Museum, there were. Questions bounced here and there, and, turns out, he does 3D printing! I asked about the ends in question, he told me to bring them by. A while later, got a call that said he could do it, but it was complicated, but, he would be happy to do it for some orignal wheels. A deal was struck!
We received the first 5 today. They are amazing, need a bit of trimming, but that is easy. I had a chance to mock up the box on the outside, measure the piece sticking out the rear of the tube, and get a measurement for the lugs to mount the tube to the turret.
Yet another project in the works.
The Huey is coming along, too hot to paint here now, the carb kit is here and I did the cleaning of the carburetor and painting today. Maybe tomorrow it runs and gets put back on display. Pictures to follow in the correct forum on those.
First, a BIG thanks to Brent Mullins! He is in possession of a Sheridan that has the smoke launchers on it! A year or so ago, I called him and asked if we could possibly borrow one of the tubes to re create a set for the Sheridan we have. He agreed and shipped on out to us.
It was a project that was giving me a headache trying to finger out how to EXACTLY re produce the tube. The hard part was the exit of the tube. It is complicated, and when you see the attached pictures, you'll see why.
The rest of the tube is an engineering nightmare, I do not know how people figured it out, Tapered tube, 90 degree angles cast into the tube, covers, plugs, electrical connections, my Lord, it is a slide rule nightmare!
I did some measuring and figured, to keep things simple, a regular 4 inch OD tube would be used, but I still had issues with what to use for the end of the tube. This is where a network of friends came into play. Someone bought a WWII jeep, it had civi wheels on it. They called me to see if there were some OG, WWII wheels at the Museum, there were. Questions bounced here and there, and, turns out, he does 3D printing! I asked about the ends in question, he told me to bring them by. A while later, got a call that said he could do it, but it was complicated, but, he would be happy to do it for some orignal wheels. A deal was struck!
We received the first 5 today. They are amazing, need a bit of trimming, but that is easy. I had a chance to mock up the box on the outside, measure the piece sticking out the rear of the tube, and get a measurement for the lugs to mount the tube to the turret.
Yet another project in the works.
The Huey is coming along, too hot to paint here now, the carb kit is here and I did the cleaning of the carburetor and painting today. Maybe tomorrow it runs and gets put back on display. Pictures to follow in the correct forum on those.
