Sources for .50 AN-M2 replicas? Barrel port/fairings for TBM

[EstorilM]

TIA basically - wing gun ports on our CAF TBM-3E were covered with solid pieces, likely during tanker conversion ages ago. I meant to fix this last year, but obviously winter mx keeps everyones hands full and projects like this are more of a bonus thing.

The TBM's ports are so far from the guns that there's zero protruding barrel or even barrel tip, so all I really need to get / make is the beveled ports - I can fabricate those myself (although I'm trying to avoid a two-piece welded method, which might be required depending on how deep the bevel is on the panel.)

I'd really like to be able to open a gun access door at the air shows to see the .50 M2 and ammo belt though - maybe just one side. Anyone have ideas on where to get them or who makes replicas?

[tom roberts]

Try www.bmgparts.com

[Cvairwerks]

There are several companies out there that make excellent non-firing replicas. Getting enough parts from BMG will be much more $$$$ than aluminum replicas.

I talked to BMG about a couple of parts for the .30 AN-M2 installation on the Fairchild, and it would have been quite expensive. Still debating about whether to spend the $$$$$ or not.

[EstorilM]

There are several companies out there that make excellent non-firing replicas. Getting enough parts from BMG will be much more $$$$ than aluminum replicas.

I talked to BMG about a couple of parts for the .30 AN-M2 installation on the Fairchild, and it would have been quite expensive. Still debating about whether to spend the $$$$$ or not.

Yeah direct from them seems expensive and not really required since it'll be pretty far out on the wing. You still get a good view from the trailing edge side walking around though.

This seems like it would be the PERFECT application for 3D printing if you could paint/shade the parts correctly? Getting someone to do the modeling would be the hard part.

[chainfeed]

What do these parts look like? do you have any photos? I'm a manufacturing engineer by trade so I might be able to help.

[Cvairwerks]

Drawings are out there for the .50's without too much searching. Now the .30 is something completely different. I've had queries out for .30 drawings for over a year now and nothing has turned up. I know they are out there somewhere...

[AG pilot]

You could buy just the big items like the sideplates (RH de-milled of course), floorplate, trunnion, backplate assembly, top cover, barrel, barrel shroud, and trunnion adapter, and you would have most of what you need to make up a ANM2 50 cal. You do not need the internals.

There are resin versions out there too.

Try the gun sites to find these more reasonably priced.

[Stoney]

google replica guns, they aren't cheap

[p51]

I'd contact anyone flying a B-17 these days, as most have replica ANM-2 .50 calibers mounted...

[bomberfan]

I have a set of drawings and have built a few replicas and am in the middle of another set for a warbird project. They aren't too terribly difficult to make, I have been toying with the idea of selling parts kits that includes all of the sheetmetal parts cut on a CNC plasma. How much fabrication equipment do you have access to? To build mine, I use a drill press, a welder a turret mill, Plasma cutter and a lathe. I wanted one that had all of the bells and whistles, so for that one I also used a CNC mill. If you just looking for wing guns, they're a bit difficult to see, so you can get away with omitting some details like the trigger group, opening feed cover and retracting slide group if you wanted.

Attachments

[bdk]

http://gryphos.com/M2HB_CD_Gen_III.zip

[airnutz]

http://gryphos.com/M2HB_CD_Gen_III.zip

The photo of Mother laid out across a tarp was highly suggestive..norty boy!

[oscardeuce]

What do these parts look like? do you have any photos? I'm a manufacturing engineer by trade so I might be able to help.

I have a firing M3-AC and have an extra barrel or 2. I can give you photos and measurements.