Panzerswecks for airsoft

[sniper]

I remember reading some where that some one made a rocket launcher using a PVC pipe , a Nerf rocket and a walmart rocket engine and igniter . I was thinking that if it was done correctly you might be able to make a Panzersweck , that could be used safely and have a decent range , this would only be used against tanks.Want if we made a tub to look like a Panzersweck with a face shield that way the user would be completely protected . ran the igniter into a trigger , and put a toy rocket engine into a modified Nerf rocket. Dose anyone have any interest in this type of project?

[2ndranger]

I believe you mean "Panzerschreck", I would avoid the whole "rocket engine" theroy, its dangerous and inaccurate. Inaccurate as far as range and accuracy not historically. I would go with a mad bull shell design. Its a bit more safe, you can use a foam rocket and from what I understand it gets great distance.

Franz

[Nimlas]

Why do I think that's illegal??

Eh, maybe it isn't, but its still a bad idea.

Stick to the madbulls, they work fine.

[YankeeDiv26]

I say definitely go with a 40mm madbull round, or mabye 12 gram Co2 cartridges. I used one at the Bulge event that I believe belonged to the Ersatzjack bro's, pretty nifty design. It didn't perform all that great because of the cold (same story with Sam's Bazooka) but definitely seems safer and more reliable. Also I believe people like the ATF aren't very fond of firing systems that use a bazooka-like design and is powered with rocket motors.

[Tough Ombre]

nimlas said:

Why do I think that's illegal??

Eh, maybe it isn't, but its still a bad idea.

Stick to the madbulls, they work fine.

Actually i believe it is illegal, i dont remember the specifics, i would have to look into BATF again.
-Cary

[2nd Bat]

Build a bazooka like device and set it up fro rocket propulsion and you are begging for a visit from the ATF and they won't be there cause they think you're making moonshine.

[biged]

Using any type of direct fire weapon should only be used by someone who has been trained with it. Always proceed with caution.

I like using tennis balls as ammo because they are cheap and abundant. I'm making a shrek and a bazooka. The shrek is of similar design of the one at the bulge event (co2 cartridge and ball valve) but it will be a tightbore (need a ram-rod) and have hop-up. My bazooka will also shoot tennis balls, be a breech loader, have hopup but will also shoot a 56 gram ball at around 695fps at 800 psi. Alluminum billet hi-pressure 800psi QEV.
If the bazooka valve works out ok I will use the same valves on my 81mm which will x4 the range. The valves are around $100 each.

///ed///

[savoy6]

Build a bazooka like device and set it up fro rocket propulsion and you are begging for a visit from the ATF and they won't be there cause they think you're making moonshine.

yeah the ATF told me the same thing....lol...after i had already built ,used and sold several of the rocket powered ones...go with the 40mm grenades and the nerf votexes. most fields will give you little or no trouble about setups that use them for propulsion. alot of fields have rules against the pvc built or CO2 setups.

[biged]

Certain mad bull shells can use CO2.
I make everything from steel and pressure test it first. Then add relief valve as a safety measure.
Never exceed the materials maximum rated pressure level. I stay away from PVC except for it's use in barrels.

Support weapon introduction for field use.

1. Show the effectiveness of your build to the field owner & operators.
2. Go over the safeties and how it is to be properly used.
3. Come up with scenarios ahead of time and discuss how you intend on using it in a scenario.

///ed///

[2nd Bat]

Everyone needs to fully appreciate how much pressure CO2 is capable of and understand that ABS and PVC will fatigue from use. In otherwords just because your initial build worked great doesn't mean 30 rounds later it will still handle the pressure. This is potentially fatal stuff so be careful. Using the plastics for the barrel only is truly the way to go and then check the pressure ratings and exceed your requirements greatly. For expansion chambers etc. Go with metal!

[p40warhawk]

I think a panzerfaust would be interesting as well....
make a standard aircannon.... 12 gram CO2 would be my likely choice of propulsion.... then cover the whole cannon with another tube for looks.... (make sure everything is small enough to look good) then carve a few replica rockets out of foam to act as the actual projectile. If you can find a big enough Nerf object you could probably just cut and paint it. Then its just a matter of finding a way of fitting it to the end. Perhaps use something to go down the barrel to keep it steady, with a cup shape on the end to capture the air. You could also put some sort of catch on the projectile so that it doesn't fall off the tube until you unlatch it. It wouldn't be accurate.... but neither was the 'faust. You could always put some fins on the projectile I suppose. A shreck is probably much more simple to operate... but a panzerfaust is so cool!

In fact I think the Panzerfaust lends itself to creation quite well! Here is a good image I dug up...
www.worldwar2aces.com/pz_line_drawing.jpg

The projectile looks a lot like a Nerf! If you could fold the fins up good enough to fit in the tube then it would work pretty well! You dont need any elaborate valve releases either since the actual trigger looks kinda like a... simple pull up style valve release.

[biged]

Ammo is the number one issue when building a support piece. The ammo should fit the barrel.
I can kill a nerf vortex in 2 shots with only 30 psi from a volume cannon. I can kill it in one shot at 50 psi.

Nerf Vortex Rockets
Pros: You can purchase by the dozen on ebay. Will fit 1.5 and 2 inch barrels.
Cons: Come apart easy in performance cannons.

Ping-Pong balls
Pros: Cheap and available anywhere.
Cons: No Range. I can maybe get one to go 60-80 feet even at 600 fps.

Tennis Balls
Pros: Available anywhere.
Cons: 2.5 inch conduit is not abundant. Steel Fence posts are available in 2-5/8ths ID and 2-11/16ths ID - available at your local fencing supplier.

Pool Noodle rockets - Hard to explane read the link.
Pros: Available almost anywhere. Sizes in 2 and 3 inch diameter. Have your squad carry the ammo.
Cons: Make them too heavy and you can hurt someone.

www.thesiegeshop.com/Pool_Noodle_Assm.html

///ed///

[bear]

I agree whole heartedly, I am very interested in building an AT4 for use in airsoft, but again I am concerned with the ultimate durability and or liability. I've shifted my interest from building a CO2 launcher to building a 40mm airsoft grenade launcher dressed up to look like an AT4. I would be willing to participate in a discussion on fire assembly fabrication.

Thoughts???

[biged]

The CO2 launcher is an pretty good start. A quick-change CO2 connected to an expansion chamber and then connected to a ball valve.
When the valve is opened the CO2 is released and the projectile will exit the barrel. I made one out of copper for paintball back in 93'.

2nd Bat had a couple of pics posted of his launchers last year somewhere on the board.

The key to performance when using a ball valve is speed in opening it. Spring loading the lever is one way of getting better performance. It won't operate as fast as a QEV or piston valve but it is a start. I have all the parts just need time to assemble one. Been working on a mid sized high performance cannon lately.

Firing a 40mm grenade is having a physical trigger activate the grenade. I've used car door actuators ($9) and a 9v battery to trigger them in remote "claymore style" land mines.

///ed///

[p40warhawk]

I'm gonna go for it!
I'm gonna make a panzerfaust for airsoft!
Here is the info I need though....
I want the metal cannon to fit in a PVC tube of around 4.5-6 cm. Soooo....what should the dimensions of the expansion chamber be? I would like it to be as small diameter wise as possible, and it must hold a full load of a 12 gram CO2 tube in sufficiant pressure to shoot a modified NERF Vortex. I suppose I would make the chamber larger lengthwise while keeping it within the PVC pipe.... but what is a good dimension to do it efficiantly... and safely?
I will also start another thread for the progress...

[biged]

Compressed CO2 is 800 psi. Any steel or copper pipe will hold that pressure.
The expansion chamber size will allow the CO2 to expand and be released when the ball valve is opened.
A small 1-3 inch chamber will have more pressure than a 8 or 10 expansion chamber when using CO2 cartridges.
To maximize your flow locate a large ball valve 3/4 inch or bigger. A diameter which is as close to the bore of the barrel as possible.
Barrel length is a variable. Depends on the barrel diameter, projectile weight, pressure & volume of air, and valve speed.

There is a program available to help in the math of each build, it's called GGDT.
Gas Gun Design Tool - thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT/

Performance = PSI + volume + flow + valve speed

///ed///