M1918A1/A2 B.A.R.

[wade]

Looks cool Jer. Nice job.

[TommyGunner]

2ndbat said:

As mentioned earlier in the thread his total net cost in materials was around $200.00 but of course his investment in time constituted pretty consistent effort of his free time spread out over a couple months.

Yeah the total cost was about $200. I paid $140 shipped for the M-14 loaner gun (provided by 2ndBat) and I paid about $60shipped for the Cushman gun.

I would say I put about 40 hours of building time into this gun. Alot of it was fitting and sanding. I approached this build the measure twice cut once mentality becuase if for some reason I screwed up I would be looking at $200 worth of parts sitting on my work bench and I would be going....damn now what!!! ;D.

The work however like 2ndBat said was spread over several months. According to the thread I started work on this project November 12th of 2007. I finished it March 1st. Thats a period of about 4 months.

Dang you college and preventing me from working on my guns.

Edit: Oh and check this out, I have been in contact with Cushman on my build and he has added in progress pics and now a pic of me and the finished BAR to his site. I also like his STG-44 he built, it looks good.

www.cushmanpaintball.com/Airsoftpage.html

TommyGunner

[Capt. Zak]

I remember when a certain Mod here (not myself) that wanted to put the axe to this thread because he didn't think you could pull it off.

[2nd Bat]

I remember that too and think a comment form that certain mod is warranted. I must admit I had the same reservations about this project as well and I have found myself seriously impressed with results that greatly exceeded my expectations. Great job Jeremiah!

[TommyGunner]

Wow my first Sticky, its an honor thanks guys. And thanks to mod who stickied this.

I will probably continue to update and modify my BAR to improve upon the finish and build of it. As that happens I will update acordingly.

There were concerns fom many people that this project would be a bust and I would fall flat on my face with it. Thanks for letting me try my hand at this and thus decide to ventre out and try to build more weapons as accuratly as possible while still keeping final product cost in the range of the average airsofter.

TommyGunner

[gryphon]

That's a whole lotta gun for the money. Congratulations!

[raptor65]

I just wanted to throw a comment in and say great work there.

Couldn't one conceivably use epoxy or some other substance to get a buildup of material on the edges, and then sand it back down with a belt sander or some other tool to get nice sharp machined edges on the receiver? It would essentially take a round edge and square it off.
I wonder if the same trick would work on a concave edge in the same manner without compromising the strength of the joint as well.

[Capt. Zak]

I had the honor of holding Tommygunner's BAR last Sunday and it is FANTASTIC! I shot off a mag of ammo and the gun is sturdy, accurate, and by no means "flimsy".

It looks better in person that it does in the photos. So again...great job Jer!!!

[TommyGunner]

raptor65 said:

I just wanted to throw a comment in and say great work there.

Couldn't one conceivably use epoxy or some other substance to get a buildup of material on the edges, and then sand it back down with a belt sander or some other tool to get nice sharp machined edges on the receiver? It would essentially take a round edge and square it off.
I wonder if the same trick would work on a concave edge in the same manner without compromising the strength of the joint as well.

Thats exactly what I had done, I have a photoprogression of my steps that I took to make this further back in the thread.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Found this old thread from way back when but it deals with the Cushman BAR and if it could be built. I wanted to post this becuase I found it amazing as to how far we have all come in this hobby since even 2006, when I joined.

ww2aa.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=technical&action=display&thread=1158876350

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

I have been working on some different finishes for the metalic appearance of the BAR and since the first post with finihsed pics, the BARs apparance has greatly imporved. I will also have pics of my attempt at a wood finish on the front wood grip.

TommyGunner

[2nd Bat]

I think those finishing touches will enhance your efforts greatly. It's also something based on the model work I've seen you do, you clearly have a proclivity for. Keep us posted. There are things you can do to enhance the appearance of both the "metal" and the "wood" I'll be anxious to see them in a final finished form.

[TommyGunner]

Alright here is my first revised paint job on the BAR.

I have tried to replicate a wood grain finish on the front grip. I will be putting a satin finish down on it and a light deep red wash to give it that darkened oak look.

The gun metal finish is my own mix, I am thinking of goin a bit greyer and reducing how much blue I put into it, but Im liking my results so far. Hey its a work in progress still and its gonna take several tries on the finish to get it looking even better.







So what do you guys think???

TommyGunner

[waldo]

NICE! ;D I can't wait for that bad boy at the PTO event! One thing I'd say you should do is try to get the longer leather 1907 BAR sling for it. Other than that, great job!

Nick

[click]

Well, you want to know what we think...I personally see nothing that would make me think that there is wood grain on the gun. Plus the color is a little light but I am sure the stain will give it a nice finnish. Maybe the pic isnt clear enough? I dont know but it isnt very clear. Here is a fake wood grain techniqe (sp?) that I find interesting but have yet to try myself. But here ya go.

www.red-alliance.net/articles/customization/furniture.html

Oh and the blued finnish the rest of your gun has looks great!

Click

[2nd Bat]

Nice progression and a more finished appearance then the earlier shots. I noticed you decided to go with the black composition rear stock look and I think that was a good call. How common were the composition stocks vs the rear wood stocks? Any idea? The hand guard wood could be further enhanced I believe although it's hard to tell in the picture . Gryphon had some great tips here as does Guinness and the thread linked above. I'm not sure how well the styrene will adapt to it as it's not a medium I've worked with.

[YankeeDiv26]

turnersling.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TS&Category_Code=HRRS

Look at the Bottom of the page. Turner makes EXCELLENT leather slings of all kinds. I ordered myself one for my B.A.R. and I'll let you know how I like it when it comes in. I wouldn't suggest using an original in the field (ask sam why).

[TommyGunner]

Alright so Ill make the wood grain more defined then. Ill go over it tomarow again, this time trying a different technique. Thanks guys.

As for the composite stock, I see more composite stocks on WW2 BARs then the wood ones. Although the Marines were issued alot of WW1 BARs and I think some had the Composite stocks put on them too (apparently it reduces the weight) Plus its a safer bet simply painting it black then trying to make it look wood and not get a good finish.

How do you guys like the gun metal finish?

TommyGunner

[YankeeDiv26]

Pretty good paint. I probably couldn't do better. wood seems way to flat though as stated earlier.

Bakelite/composite stock=good idea.

Are you gonna do anything about the buttplate? or making a more proper magazine? Also, is the flash-hider the right length? It may just be me but it looks a tad bit long.

[TommyGunner]

The flash hider may be long, Im not too sure since I have no measuerments to look off of, and pics are interprative, thats an easy fix though if it is.

There will be two things I am doing for the mags. For skirmishing I will be buying low cap M-14 mags and useing them as is (way too much cash and effort and cash to make 12 M-14 mags look like BAR mags)

I do however have a reall steel BAR mag on order and I will be modifying that to hold a highcap M-14 mag. It will be used for pics and when I want to use the highcap. SO I will have a BAR mag to put in the gun. I will simply use stock low cap M-14 mags for skirmishing.

I know its not 100% correct but the butt plate is not too much of a concern, plus its not seen so much.

[binarypunisher]

If you want some M14 mags, PM me. I have about 12 Marui standards Im looking to get rid of.

[TommyGunner]

PMed on those mags!!!

TommyGunner

[mauser98k]

I have 2 TM lowcaps I don't want, hahaha. Want?

[binarypunisher]

PMd back..feel free to make a counter offer too.

[TommyGunner]

Alright I just got a reall steel BAR magazine and I decided to try and see if it will fit in the magwell I build for the BAR.

IT FITS!!!!! I was compleatly surpised at how snugly it fit into the magwell, apparently I eyeballed the size of the magwell perfectly, the width and length are spot on. Plus after examining the M-14 magazine internals and the BAR mag there will be few modifications needed to make the magazine work for airsoft. I will update on the progress as soon as I can work on it again.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Its been about a year since I finished the AEG BAR.

I have used in in many events and it has gone through countless external changes to make it an A1 intead of the A2.

It still works great! and puts fear into the Germans who come up against it. I might make another this summer for kicks and make a few changes in the way its built.

TommyGunner

[TommyGunner]

Sorry but this isnt a "For Sale Project", while made by myself at MGW and ISA its not something I actually make for sale.

TommyGunner

[pvtluke]

Beutiful piece of art you got there!
Congradulations!
I have an AK-47, would that work? How would you deal with the magazine?

~Luke

[deacon]

Dead thread.... Ak-47 = no-go.

[Guinness]

Thanks Deacon, right you are...and we should slam all these TommyGunner threads shut anyway...