Replica .50 M2 HB

[mmike956]

Well Kevin, here we are at the hardest part of a hand made replica build, the dreaded pawl brackets! Here's how to make a set of them when real ones aren't available or are too expensive. They are $150.00 a set here in the US. I'm starting with three quarter by two inch flat bar or 19mmX30mm if you're on the metric system. I use a OO cutting tip on a Smith SC209 torch. 28psi oxygen and 7psi acetylene.

[mmike956]

I use the slicing wheel on a 4 1/2" grinder to start the slots for the cartridge stops then last but not least is the through hole that travels the length of the bracket. These brackets are highly visible and a poor job will be all too apparent. Every effort should be made to do the best job you can on these parts. This is the easiest way I've found to make them if you can't buy real ones. If these brackets are the only real parts you must buy with real money it's not a bad thing. Everything else can be duplicated with good results except for these. Even the retracting slide bracket is easier to make than these. I will have a time with them. I'll post more progress as it takes place. This replica will be an aircraft model which makes barrel production easier than the stepped tapered ground HB model. The SAS used aircraft models with success so why can't we? It will look good on the fender of a jeep!
Mike

[mmike956]

Here is the one that I've tried to expose to the weather for the acquisition of an acceptible petina.. No change so far so I guess I may have to result in more drastic measures to insure decay.

[woodsy]

Mike, I admire your tenacity! I make the pawl brackets with a milling machine and they are still a pain in the butt. Gas cutting, hacksawing, grinding and filing them must take ages!

[mmike956]

Not as bad as you think if you use a well thought out approach. I'll show you what I mean! The end result could very well be a paper weight!

[mmike956]

The weather has been too hot lately to do much work out in the shed. The pawl brackets are taking a back seat for a little while. I'm currently working on another mount to aid in holding the replica while muscle is being applied. I'll have some pictures soon. I could use a drawing of the M63AA yoke that holds the cradle if anyone has one. The ones I've made were guestimations. I have drawings for the cradle but not the yoke.

[Kev]

Keep up the good work Mike and thanks for the updates.

All the best Kevin

[mmike956]

Here is the latest. Not the pawl brackets but a hand made M63AA cradle and yoke. The yoke is a guess but it will suffice for utilitarian purposes. I wish I had an accurate drawing for the piece.Catch ya later.
Mike

[mmike956]

[woodsy]

Mike, you have done a good job of the mount. My one (pictured at the beginning of this thread) was drawn by scaling off various photos and working out the average measurements to create the drawings. Having the gun to get the exact hole spacing for the mounting points provided the required reference measurements to get the scale right. Original drawings are very hard to find and 'reverse engineering' is the only solution.

[mmike956]

Thanks, No doubt It's tough at best but a passion like this can be realized with dogged determination! I'm currently working on a mk16 naval tripod. I'll use fence post for the legs. Here are some beginning shots of it. I fight stress with these projects. They are impressive sights to some. It has a healing effect in a way when you can wow someone.

[mmike956]

Here's the progress so far. The galvanized fence post wasn't a good choice. I used it to show that substitutes for proper materials are out there for the picking. Welding this garbage leaves alot to be desired but at last here we are, ready for the socket and mount.

[mmike956]

These tripods are mostly used on ships or patrol boats but they make a nice display stand because of the height. It stands 34 inches tall and after a socket and cradle-yoke is added it grows about another foot or so. Ideal for display. The footprint is on a 24 inch circle. The legs are offset 18 degrees. The bent flat part of the upper leg is designed to permit the installation of the bolts and nuts to attach the socket. The round mounting plate is 6 inches in diameter. I have only seen pictures of real ones so I don't know if this is an accurate replica or not. It is close enough for display but it probably wouldn't bolt up on a ship where the holes are already drilled for a real one.
Mike

[mmike956]

Here are a few more pictures of the hand made M2 build I'm attempting. You may notice I haven't done any more work on the pawl brackets. I'll have to cross that bridge very soon. No way around it. Stay tuned!
Mike

[mmike956]

I really do hope these images can help those who want to build a replica from scratch. It takes alot of effort and determination to bring a project like this to reality. A picture can convey alot of information even without dimensions.
Mike