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Post by neoptolemus on Jul 14, 2007 18:35:42 GMT -5
I am thinking of buying the M-53 parts kit (Barrel shroud, compensator, charging handle assembly, pistol grip, upper receiver, stock, etc...) from either Centerfire Systems or Military Gun Supply and turning it into an airsoft rifle.
The barrel is 8mm so I don't know if I would need to dremel it out, but beyond that I think I could fit a version 3 gear box with AUG hop up and a butchered box mag feeding system into a lower receiver constructed from bent sheet metal.
I know several members of this board are very experienced in constructing airsoft replicas from real steel parts and so I would love to get their opinion.
-Is this project feasible for someone with limited custom experience (all I have done is modify real polymer hand guards to fit some rifles....)
-How is the quality of these kits (I know some parts are fairly damaged due to the deac process)?
-What would be needed to complete the kit?
Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated! I have not bought the kit yet, I just want see if anyone else has tried this.
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Post by mikkel on Jul 14, 2007 20:58:45 GMT -5
Remove the entire inner barrel and replace with thin-walled metal tube instead. It will greatly reduce the total weight of the gun.
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Post by binarypunisher on Jul 14, 2007 22:38:32 GMT -5
And you can sell the barrel to help recoup losses.
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Post by neoptolemus on Jul 14, 2007 22:51:07 GMT -5
well the kit costs 200-350 USD and since I already have a V.3 box with reinforced parts, I am not too worried about cost.
I would like to keep the barrel because not only is weight good (insert Snatch reference here...) I plan on integrating the quick barrel change feature for its novelty value and to assist in removal of gear box.
But would a V3 box be best?
What about a SAW type or V6?
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Post by neoptolemus on Jul 15, 2007 0:18:53 GMT -5
I found a resin multi part kit which I think is a better option than the yugo version. I don't know how to weld, but I sure as hell know how to work plastic!
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Post by Village on Jul 15, 2007 0:43:52 GMT -5
Hi neoptolemus, I am working on just the project you're suggesting. My kits were purchased last Fall before the ban on Yugo weapons exports. Almost all of the kits that are available now from retailers do not come with barrels. No worries, since you won't be able to use one on an airsoft replica. You can use an aluminum or steel tube as an outer barrel - the appropriate OD escapes me right now. There are four major challenges that I see from building an M53 kit into an airsoft replica: You'll need to fabricate a receiver using 16ga sheet metal. The real steel spec calls for .100in sheet metal but 16ga will work fine. A lightweight metal brake from Harbor Freight is just barely up to the task, but will work. For the most part the rear receiver is just a 2in x 2.25in square tube, but there are a couple embellishments around the buttstock and where the gripframe attaches to the bottom. Do you have access to a MIG or TIG welder? You'll need to butt weld your replica receiver to the end of the front shroud which is quite mangled by the plasma cutting process. The front bearing where the recoil booster threads on is also torched off. You'll need to either spend $150 for a Wiselite real steel replacement bearing, or have a shop fabricate a rough copy with the unique thread size cut into it. It's something like 46mm in diameter, not standard at all. This bearing needs to be welded to the front shroud. I'm following schmitty's lead and designing the gun to use a v3 AUG mechbox. There's no way an M249 mechbox will fit - the back end is too tall for the feed cover to close. The mechbox from an MP40 looks better, but as with the M249 the nozzle is mounted way above the center bore of the barrel. With a v3 mechbox and an extreme amount of Dremel cutting I think I can get the nozzle aligned with the outer barrel. About the v3 mechbox fit: The motor width is about 1-2mm wider than the metal gripstick from the M53. The mechbox itself is almost identical in width. Fortunately the plastic grip panels will cover up all of the area which you'll have to remove to wedge the mechbox in the grip. However, you'll need to create some kind of spring clip fixture, or just glue the panels to keep them on the grip frame. Their original bolts line up with the mechbox and motor. Also, even after you cut out the trigger assembly from the bottom of the mechbox, there will be very little room to mount any kind of electric switch to interface with the real steel trigger. My plan is to mount a micro switch in the grip and wire that to a MOSFET circuit. I *think* there will still be enough room in the receiver to also mount a horn relay as described by killbucket to drive the actual mechbox circuit. The receiver dimensions are slightly smaller than the width of two sub-C cells. Rather than build a custom 5/4 cell-sized battery pack I'm going to shove a 9.6v crane stock battery in staggered fashion, similar to a double-stacked pistol or rifle magazine. These, I think, are the major challenges you will face. I'm doing this project for the sake of a challenge, and because I could end up with a unique replica with out spending $1000+. If you take on this project I wish you luck. I hope to have mine finished soon. EDIT: how'd your post sneak in there?  There's at least one person who made an MG-42 AEG out of a plastic paintball gun replica. Is that the source you're talking about? |
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Post by neoptolemus on Jul 15, 2007 15:41:55 GMT -5
Nooooooooooooooooo not cushman replicas!
My post was quite sneaky however, in the future I will also consider editing posts so that after you complete your long message, you find out that the thread was apparently about FN FAL barrel jams! Just kidding...
I did extensive research on the excellent mg42.us forums and found all about the welding process and such before I realized that I didn't have the skills to complete the project. I do have access to a nice array of machining equipment through a friend, but I am far more adept at working at projects involving plastic (do to my customization be exclusively limited to modifying RS polymer hand guards to fit on my AK and working 1/35 resin model parts). I hope with the help of a dremel, I can cut and grind pretty much anything that needs cutting and grinding.
What's nice about the kit I am currently pursuing is that it keeps the full disassembly of the original which means, yes, you can replace parts of interest with originals. That means I can replace the sights with originals and the charging handle with one from an M-53. The plus to this kit is
A) it's a full model gun in 1:1 scale that can be assembled with no welding!
B) the receiver is hollow
C) it retains the working trigger grouping of the original it was cast from
D) it has the quick remove barrel feature
E) it's only 50 dollars more than the yugo kit from Military Gun Supply
Ultimately, I think this route will be more feasible for someone with my level of skill, but still keep me updated with your project! I might be able to use/borrow/steal some of your excellent ideas....
In regards to the mechbox, why AUG? I already have a fully reinforced AK gb so if I can make this work I will try.
How do you intend to implement the feed system? I was considering either
-Have a feed tube snake under a dummy belt of ammunition from one of those large belt boxes to an AUG hop up unit in the gun. The ammo box would contain the guts of a box mag, most likely the A&K one when they release it.
-Modify one of those side mounting drums with the same mechanics as above.
I am not at all familiar with the M249 feed system, but I have talked to a couple people making custom LMG's who have all suggested they will work with an AUG hop up and a hacked up box mag.
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Post by applestrudel on Jul 15, 2007 23:10:06 GMT -5
iwould use one of kill buckets ammo cans for the feed.
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Post by Village on Jul 15, 2007 23:51:30 GMT -5
Apparently I took a nap in between starting and finishing my post  Where can you get this plastic kit? Are you at liberty to say? I'm curious to see it! The reason I chose the AUG mechbox (picked it up from Warther's Originals on eBay) is because schmitty had pointed out the angle of the motor on the AUG properly aligns with the gripstick of the MG-34 (and MG-42 for that matter). The motor on the AK mechbox extends slightly more vertical than the AUG. My ammo feed solution is to build a self-winding drum like Gordak made for his Shoei gas gun. I've got the surplus drum and the guts of a Marui G36 magazine set aside. I just need a Futaba 3003 servo or similar and 6in of 5/16in spring to channel the BBs into the receiver. Interestingly, the winder dial on the G36 mag has an allen key hole in the center so I can use the allen key interface between the servo and the winder. I picked up a metal AUG hop-up assembly somewhat by mistake, but will try to use it by drilling an access hole in the left side and filling in the hole in the bottom with JB Weld or similar. I will have to feed the BBs into the belt intake of the receiver because the orientation of the high-cap winder requires me to run the spring out the top. Again, it will look just like Gordak's design. I've been told that the AUG operates and performs the same as the CA M249 hop-up. The 249 hop-up was my first choice as it was designed for top-feed operation, but they've only very recently come onto the market as a replacement part and are about $50 shipped from overseas. Getting them through my Spartan channels will cost $5 less, but there is a 4-5 week wait for some reason. |
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Post by neoptolemus on Jul 15, 2007 23:59:18 GMT -5
p067.ezboard.com/fmatsucorpfrm7.showNextMessage?topicID=77.topicNow assuming it will be good for a conversion, don't everyone go and email him! A) I haven't heard back yet B) I probably won't get one at a discount.... I will look into getting an AUG gearbox, an M249 hop up, and a G36 high cap! I recently saw the killbucket thread on custom box mags, so I will look into getting a drum mag.
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Post by valtteri on Jul 16, 2007 4:03:30 GMT -5
Gunsnguys sells a complete, working MG/42 drum mag for 2000HK$. They are used real steel MG/42 drums fitted with motor-driven hicap and come complete with a tube and all. They are madwe for the AEG conversions based on SHOEI guns. Shouldn't be any trouble to adapt them into a custom gun, they might even be drop-in.
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Post by Village on Jul 16, 2007 8:13:31 GMT -5
Nice find, valtteri. $255 USD before shipping is too rich for my blood though. I got a surplus drum for $45 shipped, the hi-cap was free (otherwise $30), and a Futaba servo is around $15.
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Post by valtteri on Jul 16, 2007 10:29:37 GMT -5
Don't forget the hourly rate for your time!
I'm only half joking. If you have already invested (or some other ways gotten your hands) into the parts, that's one thing, but if someone doesn't yet have any mag and will proceed with this conversion, I'd advise to get everything else ready and leave the mag last. That way you can flunk out (by spending money) and still get a working gun, if you happen to run short of time or enthusiasm. I just examined the mag and it looked pretty good job - it's even easy to change, faster than a real steel mag - if you're willing to spend the $$ for another one, that is.. The feeding tube can be extended so that I think it'll reach a custom hop chamber without customizing.
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Post by neoptolemus on Jul 16, 2007 11:00:17 GMT -5
Yeah that's a touch expensive, but thanks for pointing that out.
The seller of the replica emailed me back and he suggested that this kit might not be the best for rough use.
"I never intended on the kit to be modified for airsoft or rough play. doing so would invite breakage, that spot where the recievers meet could turn into a weak point.
Not that I'm trying to dissuede you from getting one, I'm just leting you know it will take quite a bit of work to do what you want it to.
An airsoft MG is still a year or so out in development and there is no promise that it will be reasonably priced."
I still might proceed though because all the parts are replaceable; he still has the molds and is willing to reproduce the items in heavier resin as well as produce them reinforced with fiberglass cloth.
The price has not changed and remains 400USD, so feel free to email him all you want ^^
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There's at least one person who made an MG-42 AEG out of a plastic paintball gun replica. Is that the source you're talking about?
