Warbird Information Exchange

I was just wondering if any of you folks could tell me what the approximate difference is in the weight of the replica guns (made from aluminium I understand)/ammunition installation and setup that some of the 'stock' restoration P-51s, P47s, and other US fighters use, compared to the weights of the original guns and ammunition installations? (I have plenty of detail for the original wartime/operational gun and ammunition weights for the various fighters, but am interested in how the replica setups compare).

And I was also wondering just how much ammunition (be it replica or deactivated) some of these restorations use?

From the various pictures I've seen, it looks like they have a full complement of ammunition, but I've wondered if they actually do, so as to keep the weight down.

Cheers

Paul

The weight of an aluminum 'Ma Duce' depends on how much internal stuff is in it and who made it, how much isn't steel (as some parts you probably want to be steel) and which model you're dealing with (as in the AN-M2s in fighter planes, v/s the flexible mounts on bombers, which have sighting equipment and mounts that the fighters don't.
A real AN-M2 machine gun would weight about 70-80 pounds if memory serves. the only Ma Duces I ever worked with and fired were ground/vehicle mount versions in the Army.

_________________
Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

I've been researching the Browning ANM2 for a while as I'm building a non firing replica. The originals came in at around 64lbs. Aluminum replicas tend to be around 30.