Late 70's M72 LAW restoration

Tigerzclaw

Tigerzclaw

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've been told I should post this here.


Got 2 empty M72 LAW demilitarized tubes/launchers in pretty bad shape, top fiberglass "rail" busted, rusty and missing parts.
Here's a side by side comparison showing the state in which I got the tubes and close up of the completed restoration project as well as WIP pictures.
It took me the better part of my free time from mid-March to late April.
I tried to use only original parts but the entire sling assembly and the front sight are entirely made from scratch. Everything else but cosmetic parts and the top rail is original.
I did cannibalize parts from the second un-restored tube and I had to buy the rear sight and the trigger bar separately. The model appears to be from the Canadian Forces in the late 70's.

Image Listing:
https://imgur.com/a/dzQYyfR

Individual Images:
https://i.imgur.com/rUIPBkE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A6coW2z.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vkrfiIF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AqGnA2G.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0oo8Zrw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4ikKYq9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pDhgxf9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EJmpIME.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5DHST3Y.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ExmxHVt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cAOQNAF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PCuTvnK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DsN3pz8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/klLRjfP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5uYGIej.jpg
 
Oh, I've also been working on a replica for the 66mm warhead.
The fins are spring loaded and the whole thing fits so well in the M72 that it does not make noises when shaken.
I'll have to glue the label and add a nozzle at the rear.
The total weight is a bit over 1.3Kg, the inside is filled with plaster to simulate mass.

 
Very cool and interesting timing for a thread like this to pop up, some guys I work near found an empty tube in great condition (not de-milled) just the other day.

Unfortunately they thought it was illegal for them to have and took it upon themselves to smash it in half. I was choked when they showed me the before and after pics.
 
call2arms said:
Nice work. Are you going to launch anything with it?
Click to expand...

Thanks,
No I would be to concern about damaging it :) I used my fair share of model rockets launched form a shoulder held tube years ago and they would leave nasty burnt marks everywhere inside the tube.
The inner and outer tubes are fitted very tightly together, it wouldn't take that much to prevent them from sliding at all and even a small amount of combustion residue would act like sand in a gear box.

klaus enuff said:
Very cool and interesting timing for a thread like this to pop up, some guys I work near found an empty tube in great condition (not de-milled) just the other day.

Unfortunately they thought it was illegal for them to have and took it upon themselves to smash it in half. I was choked when they showed me the before and after pics.
Click to expand...

Haha, I'v been looking for a "mint" one for years and years, never found one for sale. As I was restoring that one, a good friend of mine in the regular Forces, NCO in Valcartier, sent me a picture he took after a day at the range for training with M72's...There's a pile of something like 30 empty/spent tubes and he added...Hey, here's what you wanted ? Sorry there's no way I can't get you one... :-(
 
Last edited:
buzzmagoo said:
Where were you ably to find a frount sight ,and decals ? I to have a couple that I want to restore ( part together from five busted ones,to build one or two ). Thanks .
Click to expand...

I made the front sight from scratch, I used the same 22ga sheet metal as for the rest of the top section. Folded with a bench vise sheet bender and than shaped it with a nibbling tool.
The "window" is acrylic and the red marks are made with a permanent sharpy and a lot of clear tape to mask areas. (done one line at the time)

The instruction decals are based on those -> https://www.ebay.ca/itm/CUSTOM-made-M72A2-LAW-label-sticker-reproduction-FOR-TOY-USE-ONLY/
I took the basic design but using an image editing software I've changed the hue to match as close as possible the paint I had, I also made a French version the same way.
For the "Danger Blast Area" one I took a picture from the tube I had and edited it, I had trouble matching the hue on that one but anyway..looks good enough.
The data/ID is completely drawn in software.

I bought some water resistant Avery laser printable sticker sheets but the colors coming off this plasticky "paper" are awful, I've been told by the print guy at Staples that this stuff is acidic and "burns" the green pigment making the result brownish.
I end up using normal heavy paper glued with stick glue first than coated with a varnish (Rustoleum Painter's touch Gloss Clear) the paper drinks it and the result is more or less flat and water resistant..Just mask everything else then the paper, use as little as possible and test it before, the solvent may dissolve the ink. Anyway I have no plans submerging it or going under the rain with it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom