M1918A1/A2 B.A.R.

[TommyGunner]

Alright so I am making arrangements to hopefully have an AGM M-14 ordered at some point this week and hopefully have one at my door ready to rip into by next week. If I cane have the gun here by next week I will be fully capable of having a finished producted by the end of my winter break.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Alright, I am hoping that I will be able to post up pictures of the front portion of my BAR by the end of the weekend (Sunday night). I got home last night and have been working on it ever since. I have made some reall progress and I want to be able to post up pics before I put the primer on so you can all see the before and after.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Alright so tongiht I went to get soem pics taken and I did take several, but they really sucked, I mean they REALLY sucked. I have to figure out a way to take photos of white plastic. My camera really brightens the white plastic to the point of which its blinding.

I will give you all an update though...

I have the front assembly finished for the most part, and have sucessfully removed the molded in charging handle and have filled in the massive void left behind by its removal on the reciver. My next step (while waiting for my M-14 donor gun) will to be finishing the exterior bits I have to build like the selector switch, finish the charging handle assembly and build the rear sight assembly. As soon as I get the M-14 and can install all the internals and attach the front assembly to the reciver/stock group, then I will attach all the exterior bits and the I will be able to prime the gun.

TommyGunner

[Russian]

Jer,
Your camera should have a "white balance" feature in the "camera settings" selection after you hit the menu button. That is, if it's digital. If it's a film camera, this shouldn't need explaining. If your camera does have the white balance tool, zoom in on the object you'd like to keep standardized, then hit the white balance selection. This will balance your iris to this shade of white. Should take care oft he blinding problem. Back on topic!

[TommyGunner]

Well I have not been able to work on the BAR for a few days.........turns out its a big deal Im back in town and I have not been at home for severals days becuase friends keep calling me to do stuff.

Now I also have a slight problem there was a hang up in me being able to order an M-14 and kinda need that to proceed with the project at this point, but Ill figure it out.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Yay.........Im finally back on track with things. I was able to get an M-14 and I should have it by next week ish.

I have to thank 2ndBat for the M-14 he had one that I was able to buy from him and thus ensureing my BAR will be operational by the end of christmas break.

TommyGunner

[Guinness]

where are the pictures.....

it doesn't exist without photographic proof

[TommyGunner]

Very true. Ok then now I have to warn everyone that these pics really suck but I guess show the progress I have made on the BAR. Sice these pics have been taken I have done more work on the reciver of the BAR and the front assembly.
















Ill post up an explination of the pics right now though. Alright if you look at the pics you will notice alot of grey filler all over the front end asembly and the reciver. All this filler (plus way more) was nessecary to fill in the gaps/holes and seems covering the BAR. This may also be difficult to believe too but all the filler has been sanded down perfectly smooth to matt up with the plastic parts of the BAR. As soon as I put the primer on the gun then I can tell how weel I did with the filler for sure.

TommyGunner

[indie]

this is very interesting to watch it comming along. i can't wait to see the final gun! its looking great so far.

[gliderrider]

Looking good their.

On a related note, what do you guys think of this? www.relics.org.uk/bar.htm
not as a base gun but as a guide to converting an AGM M14, as a real steel/ de act is quite a bit more money.

Thanks
Syd

[Cpl. Hicks]

Looks good man, perfect for games in the snow!
jk ;D

[2nd Bat]

Anything actual BAR de-act or otherwise is huge money! The photos make for a great reference and Tommy Gunners pictures help illustrate just how much work goes into these efforts. Keep the updates coming Jeremiah!

[Ersatzjack]

gliderrider said:

Looking good their.

On a related note, what do you guys think of this? www.relics.org.uk/bar.htm
not as a base gun but as a guide to converting an AGM M14, as a real steel/ de act is quite a bit more money.

Thanks
Syd

The guns are advertised as mostly constructed of wood. They are good for pictures only and those taken at a distance. As fodder for conversions into airsoft guns I think they are completely unsuitable. Don't waste your money unless you just want to hang it on a wall as a display.

[TommyGunner]

On a side note Cushman just came out with a Kar-98.......not that it matters. But I will be buying his M3A1 Grease Gun soon to try my hand at an AEG Grease Gun once this BAR is done. Ill be using the Mp-40 internals for it.

TommyGunner

[Russian]

Looking *giggle* good there...*snort* Jer....*hmcpf*...


Naw, just Josh-in ya...


Looking good.


Mhm


Russian

[slick63]

Thats looking good pal. I`m intrigued by this project, having heard so many bad things about the cushman moulds. At least you`ve got balls for attempting it, and that front end is looking quite cool. Can`t wait to see the progress on this one...oh and can you get a better camera ;D

[TommyGunner]

lol I dont think I can get a better camera but I do belive that I will try taking pictures of my next progress update outside to see what kind quality of pics I can get from that type of lighting. Hopefully the next progress update will include the insert I will make for the M-14 internals, the charging handle assembly and the finshed rear sights.

TommyGunner

[troyluginbill]

Jerry you should go with originals for the rear sights. They are actually common and affordable....the only thing off a BAR that is.

[TommyGunner]

Heck If I can get a rear sight assembly for cheap then I would have no problem with using that instead of having to try and complete mine. Where can I get it?

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

UPDATE!!!!

Alright here we go, I have taken the new pics that I was waiting for to take and post up....but Guinness had to have his proof early So I took the nice pics I wanted too. (Just messing with ya Guinness) ;D

Anywho I have taken some primer and sprayed it on the parts that I had to use massive amounts of apoxy putty to fill in the seams on, and build up areas. I put the primer on to see how good a job I did in eliminating the seams, and i have to say that besides some slight clean up work and some small areas I need to put more apoxy in I am quite pleased with the results.














A picture of my best friends for this project...I love the power sander!!!! All the equipment and tools and supplies I have thus far used in my venture.

TommyGunner

[Capt. Zak]

Looking good Jer. It's starting to look like a BAR.

[Bull]

Outstanding work so far! You sure do have some talent Jer! Now where can I get me some of that?

[KippySmi7h]

Jer, that is really starting to look like a BAR. Great work. I like the little sig on the stock too.

[TommyGunner]

Well I decided to look for BAR sights and found out that well.........Im not gonna spend $70-$100 for a rear sight assembly. So I decied to build my own. I am really quite proud of my end result it is fully functional just liek the reall thing.. I also had a very good model to work from. It turns out that the ladder sight from the M1917 Eddystone Enfield I own are damn near the same things used on the BAR. So I took my Eddystone sights apart and used them as a referance for my BAR sight.

I will post up pics tomarrow.

TommyGunner

[Capt. Zak]

Jer, have you worked out a way to get the airsoft internals in it yet? Just curious...I know that question might be jumping the gun a bit.

[TommyGunner]

Well I am working on it. I have basically one option. I have to build and insert that I can house the M-14 internals in. then glue that insert into the BAR body. Its a bit difficult to explain but here it goes.

As we all know the BAR body is very hollow, so how the hell do I mount the internals into it. Well what i plan on doing is either making what is in essence an insert the shape width and correct sixe to fit snugly into the BAR body so that it can be glued to either side of the interior of the BAR. Now the insert will be made out of the pink sheet insulation Styrofoam. The reason for this being that I will be able to easily carve out a cavity in the insert for the M-14 gearbox and hop-up units to be glued into. Much like the way gryphon has carved out his PPSH stocks to fit his M-14 gear box and internals.

This plan my however change because as soon as I get the internals then I can tackle the real hurdle of this project. How to attach the front assembly to the receiver group and make it secure enough to withstand field abuse. This problem will ultimately determine how I set up the interior of the BAR.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Scratch Built Rear BAR Sight assembly

Fully functional ladder sight, built from strip styreen.









TommyGunner

[2nd Bat]

Wow!

Jeremy, You are truly making a silk purse out of a pigs ear. Amamzing work. I think you'll discover that you can leave the M-14 internals fairly intact with little modification or adaptation which will really make your life easier. Such was the case with the solid resin replica I hollowed out and used. Things like the barrel, motor mount, hop up, trigger and magazine well lined up very very closely. You of course have to remove the M-14 bolt and charging handle, M14 receiver group housing and trim away some of the outer protrusions. (Bolt catch etc. ) I hid the mag release with a non functional outer BAR mag release.

I am extremely impressed with the cosmetic work you've done and think you're well on the way to an outstanding custom replica.

[TommyGunner]

Well I have come to a slightly heartbreaking conclusion. I do not belive I can make my BAR Charign handle work. Damn......but thats alright I was worried about the durability of a workable chargin handle anyway and Im kinda leaning twords the, (more parts glued with more glue per part aproach) soooo.

But Im kinda grinding to a halt as to what I am able to do on the BAR now becuase I have done about 90% of all the work I can do prior to installing the internals and securing the BAR body to the AGM M-14 parts.

So the next step to my BAR project is to install the internals. Again I have 2ndBat to thank for the M-14, I cant wait for it.

TommyGunner

[schmitty]

The sight looks very impressive indeed. Glad to see you putting so much attention to detail into it, It will be worth it in the end.

Schmitty