[thetechnicalguy]

Hello everyone.
I am here because of a "conceptual" project of mine.
I have a project regarding a DIY "technical" (you know,a pickup truck with a machinegun mounted on top of it).
Taking into consideration that I am not very good at physics and was not able to get any valuable information elsewhere on the internet,
I would like to ask you about it's armor.
Considering that usually in the type of situation technicals are used you don't really have access to composite armor or RHA (rolled homogenous armor) steel (that are used for modern armored vehicles) I thought whether or not you could use regular steel.
Sure,it would probably be really heavy and blah blah blah but I just wanted to know if it could work.
So I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could bring up any info about regular steel vs RHA or composite,e.g. RHA plate of X thickness is approximately equal to regular steel plate of Y thickness,etc..
Thank you very much!!!

[moonpie]

forget the pickup truck ‪Armored-Bulldozer-Rampage‬‏ - YouTube

[Gordo323]

I hope your project remains a "conceptual" project!
I am not a metallurgist, so the only advice I have is to introduce yourself in the introductions thread.
You joined a great forum though!

[JonM]

plate steel is a lot heavier than you think and a lot more difficult to work and mount on vehicles. there is a reason most ww2 tanks looked like boxes...

pirated from a metalworking forum:

thickness(in decimal format, ie .25) times width in inches times length in inches times .2836
a 12x12 1/2" plate
.5 x 12 x 12 x .2836= 20.4192lbs

[usmcprofessional]

yea man its conceptualy retarded. you might be able to put up some armor for small arms, but your stuff wont stand a chance against rifles. 5.56 can go through 8" of solid concrete, let alone anything else thats bigger in powder or in round. If you were to put up enough to do so, your truck wouldnt move.

[JonM]

i saw tom hanks blow up a german tiger tank once with a 1911. so unless you got more armor than a tiger tank you aint stopping a 45acp

[Shihan]

If you were to place thinner sheets at the proper angles, that would provide deflection with the sine of incoming angle versus the tangent of the angle providing the cosine of the outgoing trajectory is in parallel to the gradian of the velocity arc rounded out provided that the energy is dissipated, that should work.

[orangello]

I would think most of the "technicals" with any "armor" were using it more for concealment than cover/protection from projectiles. I would look into some layered-up fiberglass-type sheeting. Bullet Resistant Fiberglass and Bullet Proof Panels | SecureAll™ from Protective Structures, Ltd.

Originally Posted by JonM

i saw tom hanks blow up a german tiger tank once with a 1911. so unless you got more armor than a tiger tank you aint stopping a 45acp

LOL! I thought that was a great scene.

Originally Posted by Shihan

If you were to place thinner sheets at the proper angles, that would provide deflection with the sine of incoming angle versus the tangent of the angle providing the cosine of the outgoing trajectory is in parallel to the gradian of the velocity arc rounded out provided that the energy is dissipated, that should work.

I am NOT betting my life on friggin Geometry. About all i really remember is "oscar had a hold on arthur".

[CHLChris]

In most SHTF situations, we imagine ourselves as the F getting the S all over us. In your conception, it looks like you want to bring on the S, all by your lonesome.

[robocop10mm]

Kind of negates the whole concept of a "technical". It is a light, inexpensive, maneuverable, fast truck wielding a lot of firepower.