Hi Folks,

Twenty years ago I was conversing with a military engineer about improvised
field equipment. From his library he pulled a manual that showed the
construction of an illuminating device made from a 55 gallon drum, coffee
can, diesel fuel and gasoline IIRC.

Seems you would cut the barrel roughly in half lengthwise stopping 1/4 of
the length from the bottom. Then cut the piece from the barrel leaving a
tub at the bottom. An opened coffee can would have a small hole punched in
the bottom while several larger holes would be punched around the top lip.
The can would be placed upside down in the barrel tub, diesel fuel would be
poured in to a level above the holes punched in the lip of the can.
Gasoline would then be poured in over the diesel fuel.

Again, IIRC, you ignite the gasoline, which in turn heats the diesel exposed
inside the coffee can producing a jet of diesel vapor through the small hole
which ignites and produces lots of light.

Does this sound familiar? I'd like to get the specifics of that and the
other goodies in the book. There were a bunch of things you could do when
you had little more than a toothpick, mop and a squad of guys with nothing
to shoot at.

Thanks!
C