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Post by insterburger on Mar 11, 2015 21:17:01 GMT -5
Drac, one thing to keep in mind is that the Bondo glaze no doubt strengthens the seam. It may be plenty secure with the ABS glue, but if not then having your mag split in two in the heat of combat would be less than desirable. Just a thought.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Mar 11, 2015 21:47:21 GMT -5
I've put in internal support. I can't fit the included lead weight into converted mags, nor cut them with any ease, but I am putting rods into them that crossover the seam. Just for structural integrity purposes.
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Post by insterburger on Mar 11, 2015 21:56:57 GMT -5
Good idea. I have a few of these to do and may follow suit.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 11, 2015 22:23:00 GMT -5
with the Miter your cuts should align perfectly but I noticed they were off a bit. Let us know how your next effort goes. Without a miter I use masking tape to mark my cuts and prior to cutting I can eyeball to insure the cuts are going to be 90 degrees edge to edge and side to side.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Mar 12, 2015 11:24:36 GMT -5
Second run finished. Took about 2.5 hours for 5. Not bad. These came out a lot better, despite run off from the adhesive. Top: 1st run. Bottom: 2nd run. M2 Mag for scale. My little trick worked for the most part. There is still a very slight bend, but all the seems match up quite well and don't look heinous. This is what I mean by saying the saw is bent: Only thing I can do about that is get a new saw. Its either the saw or the miter box itself, for not being perfectly straight, that caused to cut at a "not-quite-90 degree" angle. But I'm very happy how this second run came out, even with the slight bend, they look much better, haha.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 12, 2015 12:28:47 GMT -5
They look great. The MAG factory is churning them out. So Brownien initiated the process, Volks did a bunch for himself and someone else, I have done a bunch (and have more to do) and Drac has taken them on. Anyone else? By the way, Drac, are you going to try to go back and rework the ones that failed on you?
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Dracul
Master sergeant
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Post by Dracul on Mar 12, 2015 13:03:09 GMT -5
Definitely am. Even though those failed ones in question are Thompson Mags, you can never have too many mags.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Mar 13, 2015 11:05:00 GMT -5
Just finished my last run for these....for now... I plan on getting a few more Carbines and more mags. This is my best of the three runs. Not sure if you can tell by pics, but the last three I've done are actually straight. Now this is over, time to work on some Commonwealth stuff. MAYBE attempt at the PVC SMLE that Jimmiroquai made.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 13, 2015 12:54:30 GMT -5
Awesome job. It is always nice to experience the opportunity to refine and enhance any effort and the joy of "Doing it Yourself"
I too am doing up some SMLEs.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 21, 2016 12:12:06 GMT -5
So its now been two years since I did up my first batch of shortened carbine mags and by today I have probably done close to 200 of them. To date, by all accounts all continue to work fine and are holding up. All of the ones I kept for myself have been issued out for several events with my loaner carbines and there hasn't been a single missfeed that I am aware of. I remain extremely impressed with the little CYMA springer carbines and would have to say I think they are the best dollar for dollar value in airsoft.
I am waiting for them to again go on super sale again and will buy another batch of them. They are absolutely perfect loaner guns as they are cheap, hard shooting, nice replicas that are flawless performers even as loaner guns. Aside from some busted up sights occasionally, nothing on them seems to fail.
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Post by rullow on Jul 1, 2018 14:28:35 GMT -5
Hi guys, I ve tried those - ready for 3d print - I just need to try if it works fine..... I ll keep you posted... Could be the best solution so far for the M1 carbines...
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 2, 2018 15:33:58 GMT -5
Three D printed mag halves assuming you can do up the tiny nipple/ channel guides and sping cap along with sourcing the right springs would be awesome. Anything that could dramatically reduce the production time and materials cost would be great! Keep us posted on your progress.
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Post by rullow on Jul 4, 2018 4:24:07 GMT -5
as I checked it already - the follower and spring guide are printable..... I am more afraid about the tolerances of the feeding extrusion - if it will be right to feed the BBs properly... well I ll try and see.... otherwise tha mag is traight copy of the original one - so if you have leftover springs and small parts - you shoul be able to use them.... for the spring - my suggestion is to canibalize damaged single feed mags from AEG or cheap springers.... costs nothing and nothing there to go wrong....
with the current expansion of available 3d print - it could be the same price or even less than the cyma banana mag....
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Dracul
Master sergeant
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Post by Dracul on Jul 4, 2018 9:17:47 GMT -5
I've seen other 3D printed mags. Unfortunately just common ones like M4 and AKs, and everything is printed, sans springs. Though, I haven't seen a source for springs outside of people taking apart VSR-10 mags.
For a springer mag like this, alignment and tolerances need to be nearly exact, and probably printed out of a styrene material (ABS, ASA) or maybe even nylon. Even with co-polys, I'd be afraid that the lips would break off (I'd want to be proven wrong though).
The price might end up being more expensive than the Cyma banana ones. Those go for real cheap, $4 each on Airsoft Megastore, and I can see the material and springs used would total more. However, each mag would still likely be under $10 if springs sourced are cheap enough, and or but, if no springs are supplied and just the printed parts, it would definitely be comparable to Cyma's pricing.
I hope I didn't come across as pessimistic, though. I think this is a great push forward, and if tolerances and tests were carried out, it could be a great thing.
EDIT: If anything, this is giving me inspiration to try and make mag some mags myself. I've been wanting to make mid caps for STG, Thompson "20 rounders," FAMAS etc etc. But don't think I have the time right now to do so.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 4, 2018 14:35:33 GMT -5
The shorty carbine mags and 20 round (low cap). Thompson mags would have a ready market along with Garand/M14 conversion flush mounted clips. BAR lowcaps,MP 44 lowcaps etc. I could see that along with non existing WW2 replica conversion bits being a viable side business. Lots of product opportunities not currently realized by "The big boys" and the Internet and search engines being your marketing outlet.
Wish our once encouraging player who progressed nicely with his FG 42 and G43 was back from hibernation.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jul 4, 2018 19:45:45 GMT -5
After some e-mails with 2ndBat, I remembered that DIY 3D scanner kits existed. I'm going to try to print and build one. I just started and should have something done by next week. These aren't large platform ones, but should be big enough to scan in and help replicate smaller parts like sights, barrel/stock bands, and maybe even a shorty carbine mag, or a number of other possibilities.... Not to steal anyone's thunder though, I don't even know if this will work, haha.
I just got a set of MG34 models, I was originally planned for a static prop, but now I hope to mod to accept airsoft materials. Its definitely going to take some time, so its likely to just be a pet project of mine.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 5, 2018 0:24:43 GMT -5
Were the MG 43 bits full sized? If so that would be very cool to figure out a drop in conversion using airport soft internals.
I attempted a home made pseudo MG 43 and some supplemental components would clean it up nicely. I used an AEG RPK to supply the functional bits.
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Post by rullow on Jul 11, 2018 7:00:11 GMT -5
well. 3d print allows lot of possibilities - prindet frontguards are quite common now.... blackprint.cz/ those guys have possibility of printing up to 600mm what I ll probably use for the next project... receiver is impossible to get a real one, so I ll use 3d print + some metal inserts.... for the mag - 3d print is sturdy enough, I am afraid mostly about the tolerances of 3d print.... however - this can be treated by hand finishing of the part - for a springer there is no need of such smooth feeding as for high cadence AEG.... also the pressure generated by the spring is rather small.... its like in your ballpen... spring can be found separately sometimes - time to time some producer have them as a spare part (single stack even the double stack...)
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Nov 5, 2021 15:30:34 GMT -5
As you get older time seems to just fly by. Its hard to believe I first did this project 8 years ago. These cheap little carbines remain in my opinion the best value in a WW2 airsoft gun. I still have a half dozen of them and they remain my favorite loaner gun. I have probably loaned or rented them each out a couple dozen times each and after all that use havent had a single failure. I have had some sights break off and several lost magazines but these just continue to soldier on. No failures or missfeeds whatsoever with these modified magazines. I just went out and plinked in the back yard with what I think was one of the very first carbines I bought. It still shot accurately and hard and hasnt lost anything to age that I can detect. I still wish Cyma or UKArms (the two distributors for these ). Would do a full on legit WW2 version with the right rear sight, no bayonet lug and the 15 round length magazine. Hey how about an airborne folding stock variant?
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