Hello all,
I bought this No 36M training grenade, it had a seized centre tube and no internals. It had only three holes in the body, all others I'd seen had five, anyone know why?
I decided to make a display piece using the body only. I removed the white paint and bought a set of repro lever, striker, spring and pin from Dugup, also a correct base plug, (JP&S) 1944, 36M Mk1.
After a great struggle the centre tube eventually surrendered, I made a brass tool to do it, and once out I could see that it was too corroded to be a viable repair. The three holes were filled with 'chemical metal', so they are invisible from the outside but could be drilled out if it was required to turn it back into a trainer. I gave the body a coat of black lacquer to protect it until I could find any any decent sort of amber coloured lacquer, I also need the purple colour as used in centre tubes. If anyone knows where I can get some of these I'd be very grateful to find out?
I assembled the parts and then went hunting for a useable centre tube. My fund's are limited but I found a damaged, crushed one, on Specialist Auctions with a a good base screw, thanks SMLE.
To get get the tube back to a usable state I made a tool to the inside diameter of the striker hole, and a truncated cone to open the oval top hole back to circular. By carefully driving these back and forth and hammering on an anvil covered with leather I managed to get it about right. and then re drilled the centre hole and the det tube. The split was filled with chemical metal and both ends turned on the lathe to fit.
When it's the correct colour I think will look OK. In the pictures I show the old tube and the temporary det and fuze made while looking for the bit's I needed. I will have to attach the pics in groups to fit the pages.
It's a cheap way to assemble a reasonable piece and I enjoy putting things back together! Hope this may encourage others to have a bash at restoration?
Best regards,
navyman.
I bought this No 36M training grenade, it had a seized centre tube and no internals. It had only three holes in the body, all others I'd seen had five, anyone know why?
I decided to make a display piece using the body only. I removed the white paint and bought a set of repro lever, striker, spring and pin from Dugup, also a correct base plug, (JP&S) 1944, 36M Mk1.
After a great struggle the centre tube eventually surrendered, I made a brass tool to do it, and once out I could see that it was too corroded to be a viable repair. The three holes were filled with 'chemical metal', so they are invisible from the outside but could be drilled out if it was required to turn it back into a trainer. I gave the body a coat of black lacquer to protect it until I could find any any decent sort of amber coloured lacquer, I also need the purple colour as used in centre tubes. If anyone knows where I can get some of these I'd be very grateful to find out?
I assembled the parts and then went hunting for a useable centre tube. My fund's are limited but I found a damaged, crushed one, on Specialist Auctions with a a good base screw, thanks SMLE.
To get get the tube back to a usable state I made a tool to the inside diameter of the striker hole, and a truncated cone to open the oval top hole back to circular. By carefully driving these back and forth and hammering on an anvil covered with leather I managed to get it about right. and then re drilled the centre hole and the det tube. The split was filled with chemical metal and both ends turned on the lathe to fit.
When it's the correct colour I think will look OK. In the pictures I show the old tube and the temporary det and fuze made while looking for the bit's I needed. I will have to attach the pics in groups to fit the pages.
It's a cheap way to assemble a reasonable piece and I enjoy putting things back together! Hope this may encourage others to have a bash at restoration?
Best regards,
navyman.
