P.E. No. 2 Half Stick Wrapper

[Houndsworth]

I made up some inert replica PE No. 2 for my WW2 British sabotage and special forces display a few years ago. I was just reading the period "Sabotage Pamphlet Mk II" and it says the 1/2 pound Plastic, H.E. cartridges were wrapped in waxed paper. I used brown paper and put wax on it, like others have done. But the 1/4 pound cartridge was supplied in "cellophane covered cartridges." I had made up some half sticks using the paper thinking that was logical but would this be incorrect during WW2? If cellophane, what would a modern equivalent be? Cellophane was a clear, cellulose-based film used for food packaging and cigar wrappers. Still is I guess. So should I use a non-stretchy clear film and make sure my fake PE is yellow?

 

[millsbomber]

i think the SOE striker boards are wrapped also in this Cellophane

 

[Andysarmoury]

Could you use the clear cellophane they use to wrap flowers in, just a thought.
Cheers
Andy

 

[Anders]

i think the SOE striker boards are wrapped also in this Cellophane

Yes and cellophane was also used to contain the black powder ignition charge in the 1¾ lb. Mk.I & Mk.II Fire-Pots. I have never seen cellophane wrapped sticks of any kind.
Not that they did not exist but I haven´t seen them.

 

[BMG50]

S-mine 44 propellant charges that resembled a clear plastic pen full of black powder was made of cellulose. Made it water proof, a problem they had with the early S-mines.

 

[Houndsworth]

Could you use the clear cellophane they use to wrap flowers in, just a thought.
Cheers
Andy

Good idea. I wonder if the cellophane used in the 1940s for these military applications was that thickness? The flower-wrapping film I have used is pretty stiff.

 

[Anders]

Good idea. I wonder if the cellophane used in the 1940s for these military applications was that thickness? The flower-wrapping film I have used is pretty stiff.

The ones I have encountered were very thin and brittle. Maybe the brittle part was due to old age.