Black Powder 60mm Mortar Transit Case Project

[Kali Komrade]

Black Powder 60mm Mortar Transit Case Project

Materials for the project...
1 - Sheet of 7/16" Project plywood (This is a lower void plywood and has a better sanded finish remember you get what you pay for)
3 - Pieces of 4" x 3/4" x 8foot white wood (soft wood basically pine no knots)
A bit of Scrap wood I have laying around

Modified Hardware your choice here's mine

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1501.jpg

Screws, brads, staples, glue your fastner of choice... Duct tape if you got it but I don't think that would look so cool...

First I'm going to start off by making the bottom... What we want is a transit case with the

interior dimensions of 13" wide by 36" long and 9" high...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1502.jpg

So according to my calculations my bottom for this transit case will be 13"x 37-1/2" and the bottom will be framed out with 3/4" thick white wood...

Next I will cut my two end pieces which will be 9" height x 13" wide 3/4" thick and will screw the floor to the bottom of these...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1503.jpg

Floor Screwed to the bottom now on to the bottom battens...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1504.jpg

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1505.jpg

The bottom batten is 3/4" x 1-1/2" wide by the length of the bottom...
http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1506.jpg

The two batten's attached to the bottom... I use two battens on the bottom so the plywood sides have something solid to hold onto in the bottom of the transit case.

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1507.jpg

Now we are going to apply the sides these should be flush with the bottom an sides... the Dimensions should be 9" wide by 36" long... with will leave 3/4" of an inch of the sides to be able to be seen...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1508.jpg

Your now going to fasten them to the sides with screws or your fastener of choice...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1509.jpg

Taking a break seeing if I'm close to right ... The near Future I see... Lots of room... :big:

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1510.jpg

The top rail is notched so that 3/4" of it is able to slide behind the 7/16" plywood to back it for the joint between the plywood and top rail this also will hold the screws from the hardware better than just the plywood... So your going to have too rabbets here... One the length of the top rail and one across the grain to fit flush against the sides...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1511.jpg

Top Rail fitted... So you can have an idea of what madness I created...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1512.jpg

Ooooo... Slick huh...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1513.jpg

Time for the Decoration... Yup that's it and that's all...:cool:
It's time to break out the belt sander and take down all the high spots and have a nice flat surface to apply the rest of the 3/4" x 1-1/2" batten...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1514.jpg

Application of Batten (Sides first then Top and Bottoms)

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1515.jpg

All of the end side batten installed.

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1516.jpg

On the lid I used one piece of plywood "x "

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1517.jpg

Close to finish edging needs to be installed on lid as well as hardware and the interior...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1518.jpg

but all and all a really nice sturdy box...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1519.jpg


Added the Skids tonight and made the lifting blocks to attach at the side... Should have it ready for paint tomorrow...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1521.jpg

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1522.jpg

Ready to Paint :thumb:

You can see the lifting points I put on the ends... Hardware is nice but I don't believe if a transit case was built period like it would have metal hardware at all besides trying to protect the seems as I've seen in original crates... Remember it's a crate... These things were going from base to battle... not transported around in crates... So we are going for the crate look I am also using a piano hinge to hide the hinge and the other hardware on the front to hold the lid closed is very minimal...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1524.jpg

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1525.jpg

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1527.jpg

I dig the color but that's because I live in an OD colored world...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1528.jpg

and now the hardware installed pictures...

Rope Handles... Cause metal ones suck...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1530.jpg

Couple of Chest latches...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1531.jpg

You can barely see the piano hinge... Nice....:thumb:

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1532.jpg

Stenciling TA DAAAAAAAAA!!!
For some reason my dog manage to make it into every shot... Well at least they love me...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1534.jpg

Stenciling is simple with vinyl matting... It has a lower tacky backing than regular vinyl letters...
First you size it up and make sure you got it where you want it... Then you put what is called a hinge of tape on the bottom of the graphic to be and then you flip it down peel off the backing... and slowly work it up and smooth against the surface with a credit card... I went over it with my wallet to help push it tighter to the wood work...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1535.jpg

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1536.jpg

Now remove the masking tape and it should leave your vinyl stencil...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1537.jpg

Ah ha did something right... :thumb:
Mask the rest of the surface off the best you can over spray will get in where ever it can and usually does...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1539.jpg

Spray it... Don't get too intense with the spray and its best to have the surface laying flat so nothing runs or drips behind the mask... Light coats build up to where you want to be...

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1540.jpg

If your applying in direct sun light you'll be able to remove the mask in about a minute... Don't allow the paint to bond to it and the surface your painting...



http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1542.jpg

Enjoy your work...

[GUNRUNNER5150]

not bad at all brotha :thumb: you gonna be bringin it out to sandy?

you aint the only one that has wood :army: im bodging together a 5 rifle rack for sandy during the night time hours. Getting ready for sanding and staining prolly tomorrow. Although it seems your work is alot cleaner than mine.

[Kali Komrade]

I was thinking about building a rifle rack too but I have no time... This transit case is 1919_4_ME's and as far as I know it'll be rolling out to the Big Sandy along with the mortar... Think this project has been on hold for a year and it only takes about a half a day to build... go figure I guess I'm busy... I will be so happy to get some floor space back in the office again...:rolleyes:

I hope to get all this finished up tonight and the mortar in it don't know if I'll paint it... as we are running out of time... As for the Stenciling... I was thinking...

U.S. 60mm Mortar stars before and after the phrase.

[1919_4_ME]

I was thinking about building a rifle rack too but I have no time... This transit case is 1919_4_ME's and as far as I know it'll be rolling out to the Big Sandy along with the mortar... Think this project has been on hold for a year and it only takes about a half a day to build... go figure I guess I'm busy... I will be so happy to get some floor space back in the office again...:rolleyes:

I hope to get all this finished up tonight and the mortar in it don't know if I'll paint it... as we are running out of time... As for the Stenciling... I was thinking...

U.S. 60mm Mortar stars before and after the phrase.


Yea I almost forgot I had a mortar since its been sitting at your shop for a year now.:sad1: Anyways glad my mortar will have a new house so it can rest and get ready for the big shoot coming up. Hey thanks for your woodworking skills and for making all those cool projos for it I can't wait to try it out.:beer:

[anm2_man]

So what does it weight ? :tongue:

[Kali Komrade]

So what does it weight ? :tongue:

Don't know but if I knock it out tonight I'll haul it down to my freight scale at work in the morning and let you know... The box is about 10-15 not bad...

[Kali Komrade]

Still haven't weighed this thing... I've been more concerned with getting it painted and ready for the Big Show Next Weekend... I'll weigh it for FYI probably monday when I can sit it on the wooden floor and grab my freight scale from work...

Put the lifting points on tonight... and its getting its first coat of OD before we can get to the stenciling... It really looks nice... Now I just gotta build a Mortar and a Case for myself...:cool:

[Kali Komrade]

Updated with pic's of the painted transit chest in Post #1... :big:

Just waiting to get the layout done for the stenciling and it'll be all done...

[BMG 7.62 A4]

Updated with pic's of the painted transit chest in Post #1... :big:

Just waiting to get the layout done for the stenciling and it'll be all done...

Looking good! Nice pool in your backyard. :big:

[Kali Komrade]

Looking good! Nice pool in your backyard. :big:

Yeah it's big enough to be but that's the Koi pond I have to knock out this year... Then I have to sink the spa in the ground and put in a set of double french doors off the master bedroom...:big:

[Kali Komrade]

This is it officially done... I'll clarify some of the particulars above here real soon if anyone has any questions shoot...:green:
Will I be making anymore perhaps... If I get a mortar or BFS lets me borrow an 81mm... :big:

http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1544.jpg


http://www.beltfedshooters.com/photopost/data/543/medium/IMG_1545.jpg

[1919_4_ME]

Damn that came out pretty spiffy and looks good with the stenciling on there. Thanks for building that for me I owe you one.:beer:



And this thread wouldn't be complete without a demo shot...:cool:
YouTube- Beltfedshooters 60mm Black Powder Mortar

[GUNRUNNER5150]

damn fine lookin work there bro. Even had room to toss in some fuse and projos :headbang:

[Kali Komrade]

and the total weight is....

Can I get a drum roll please....


:rimshot::rimshot::rimshot::rimshot:



77.0 LBS.

[1919_4_ME]

Wow 77 lbs?That sucker is heavy.:big: I can't wait to fire it this weekend.:army:

[Kali Komrade]

That's fairly light although bulky... That's what kills you it's really a two person deal to carry I don't think transit cases were meant to be carried by one person... and certainly don't advise it...:thinkin:

I almost have enough material to build one for the Water cooled...

It would be nice to try to keep all the BFS transit cases the same size for easy stacking of multiple items... You could actually build some nice walls out of them if you were at a big shoot...