Hey all!

Okay, it's pretty well known that I'm a "former" Artilleryman. Though I was Fire Direction for 20 years, "Pullin' the Tail" was one of the highlights.

My buddy was able to get me a "Training Round" a couple of years ago (wish I had a "before" picture! ).

This one is an M116E2 round: Projectile, 155MM, Smoke, HC, BE. Its original paint coat consisted of the traditional OD'ish color and several brush "swipes" of light blue (designating TRAINING). It also had a blue plastic(?) band covering the brass.

I took a wire brush (in my drill) and removed all paint....down to brass and steel. Primed it, then painted the base in the yellow and the main body in red (Artillery colors you know). I'll probably pull out the Dremel and polish up the brass ring.

Ultimately, my intention is to attach my ranks and unit crests (DUIs) to "Joe," and make a wood base for it to sit on. I'm also looking for a proper piece of wood I can put on my lathe and "turn" a "fuze" for it (to replace the nose-plug (lifting lug)).



More to follow!

Mike

It looks really cool Mike. As an FDO with Bravo 6/29 in Germany I remember those rounds. I think "smurf blue" would have been a better color Ha ha. Anyway looks like it'll turnout great>

Sweet Mike looks killer.

I am jealous.

Anthony,

29th FA? I was supposed to go to 3/29 FA here at Fort Carson.....didn't happen. Went to USAG instead and ran the M16 ranges. Admittedly, it was fun.

Jeff,

Thanks. I'm "diggin' it!" Took a long time to finally get one and needless to say - I'm happy!

I've started an initial base for "Joe." It's about 6 inches square by 1/2 inch thick. I routed the edges and then painted it red. My intent is to remove the red overspray on the top (to let the natural wood come through) and clear coat it. Personally, I think it's too small by an inch all around and too thin.

Matt (Red 4) gave me some 2 inch thick Purpleheart......I'll probably use that instead; 7 x 7 x 2 inches should do it.

I'm going to Woodcraft tomorrow to get some hose clamps for my dust collection system; I'll look for an appropriate piece of wood to turn the "fuze."

Mike

I am on to ebay and see if they have one.

Right.

Jeff,

Not sure if this will work for you: Here



Oh, forgot to mention; I have a green bag powder canister too. Now that one I wish were full!

Mike

Email sent .

Thanks Matt.

Here's a "generic" picture of the wood I'll use for the "fuze:"



I bought a 3 x 3 x 12 turning block of the Bloodwood from Woodcraft this week. Cost wise it was fair.....more than enough to turn the fuze and leave a fair amount leftover for figgy bases and the like.

Mike

Almost forgot....

The fuze I'll replicate:



Not going to try and recreate a time fuze in wood.

Mike

The Purpleheart base is done (cutting, routing, finishing):





There's not really enough room on the base to put nine unit crests there, so they may wind up going on "Joe."

And, I'm waiting until I get some $$ to turn the fuze....I need a honing jig for my tools first.

Mike

I was headind to 3/29th in April of 1991, but my orders got changed and ended up in MI in Arzione, For the rest of my active duty time. I'm OD green with envey over your Shell. I snuck an empty illum casing out of NTC. After my active duty time went back to 2/89th FA as a battery Co used it as a butt can. Wish I had it now.

Well Mike I have those was looking for a Training round also.

I almost had a 105 a long time back a real one but everybody got cold feet at the end.

Can't say I blame anybody.

Here's the powder canister I have (Charge 2, Green Bag):



I did a Google search for HOW 155MM M1 (as seen in the second picture) to confirm the M1 Howitzer. Until I really looked at the canister, I had thought this was for an M109-series SP. Heheheh, apparently it's from/for a "Long Tom."

HOW 155MM M1

OR......would the canister belong to one of these: M114 155MM Howitzer, as it was originally designated the "M1?"

Dunno..........

Mike

Matt Leese just sent me this link: Big Sky Surplus

I took a look through their listing (some of the links at the top of their page don't work, so you may have to scroll through the page to find what you're looking for - photos are available for some of the items by clicking on the "camera" icon next to each heading) and their prices are, uh, shall we say, pricey.

Thanks Matt!

Mike

Thanks for that link Mike.

I guess need to start saving some at $650.00 smack -a-roos dang was at a lot of bases where the cases were all over 20 MM and a few dude others but kind of stay away from things that are real big and did not go off.

I do have a 105 MM steel case that I found many moons ago that fell off the recycle truck while cruising the base.

But end is dented in maybe take to a shop and have them re round it.

Jeff,

I'd be inclined to think a "regular ole" machine shop would have the ability to re-round the case's end. It'd be worth it I'm thinking. Artillery rounds are "talk worthy!" A couple of my ex-Army friends were pretty stunned at seeing mine (some of the "stun" was lost when they were informed it wasn't a "hot" round!).

Mike