|
Post by schmitty on Jan 20, 2006 23:34:10 GMT -5
Latest finished project is oddly enough the first deactivated parts gun I owned. I gave up on the idea of converting a MKII sten into an airsoft AEG years ago due to the small size, lack of space for a battery and lack of any gearbox that would fit, Instead I built a MkV sten (my first custom AEG). Its wood furniture allowed room for the motor and battery. But advances in my knowledge and my love for all things British compelled me to keep looking for ways to make it work. Sten guns hold a strange fascination for me. They are very distinctive and theire crude construction born out of necessity has a funny charm. And above all others the MkII is the epitome of what a sten was meant to be. The mark II AEG is based on a TM VerIII (AK) gearbox with the motor, bevel gear and anti-reversal latch relocated and a lot of the gearbox cut away. The tappet plate is also modified in order for the gearbox to fit in the narrow confines of the stens 1.5" tube. The trigger hinges from the back of the motor mount. and a tiny electrical switch is located inside the trigger. It is full auto only, the fire selector switch is permanently in the auto position. The MkV has a working fire selector but there was no room in the MkII. The MkII uses a 2 cell 1350mah li-poly battery. This gives it a realistic rate of fire and should be plenty of capacity to last a day of use. The batteries small size fits perfectly in the area left behind the gearbox. The T-stock removes quickly for battery charging or changing. In fact the whole gun can be field stripped in about 1 minute. The hop up is a modified ak unit (modded to feed from side) The magazines are real sten mags with marui Thompson internals (and I have a couple 100 round mid caps) The mags work with both the MkII and MkV. Schmitty
|
|
|
Post by Guinness on Jan 21, 2006 0:24:40 GMT -5
Jeez louise!
You never cease to amaze and inspire me there Schmitty!
Well done again mate!!
Great pics and layout too!
BTW, the Grease Gun is leaving in your direction tomorrow! I am throwing an Osprey publishing book on Arnhem in the box that I got by mistake- hopefully you don't already have this one- it has a lot of good Brit uniform detail and weapons detail in it.
-G
|
|
silencer
Private 1st Class
Spartan by blood
Posts: 407
|
Post by silencer on Jan 21, 2006 1:01:27 GMT -5
Nice job! How long have you been working on it?
|
|
|
Post by schmitty on Jan 21, 2006 11:39:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments guys, This one took me about a month. Like most projects, I start out a little slow working an hour or two here and there and as it gets closer to finished I spend more and more time on it untill the last couple nights I get so determined I stay up till 4:00 in the morning pounding and grinding untill I can't keep my eyes open anymore.
The Fastest project I ever did was the PPSH41, just under two weeks from start to finish working nearly every evening and every day off. I was determined to have it done for my wife by next game day.
Guinness: Thanks for the book. I don't have that one (those Osprey books are great referance material) I feel like the scales are tipping too far my way though.
Schmitty
|
|
|
Post by Guinness on Jan 21, 2006 11:46:48 GMT -5
ohh never you mind my friend ;D It's all part of my evil plan to ask for your assistance someday ....cough- m1919-a6 parts kit- -cough- -G
|
|
silencer
Private 1st Class
Spartan by blood
Posts: 407
|
Post by silencer on Jan 21, 2006 15:24:52 GMT -5
Where do you get the gun parts - assuming thats what you use?
|
|
|
Post by Gordak on Jan 21, 2006 19:20:14 GMT -5
Stens and 30$
WOW WOWO WOWO OWOWOOW SO GREAT, Im in shock as usual,
Ammazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Gordak
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 21, 2006 21:17:17 GMT -5
The two cell Li Poly battery sounds like a real find. Where do you source those? With there small size and apparent effectiveness they open up all kinds of possibilities.
|
|
|
Post by schmitty on Jan 21, 2006 21:58:26 GMT -5
The Li-polys are realy what made this gun feasable. I Fly rc model planes (as you (2nd bat) probably noticed when you where over) There are some pros and cons,
Pros: They have a lot of capacity for their size and weight (weight being the key thing for model aircraft) They don't have a memmory like Nicads or Nimh, so don't require discharging before charging. They hold a charge for a long period of time (Nicads and Nimhs self discharge at about 2% per day. They have a low internal resistance which means less voltage drop under load than Nicads or Nimhs.
Cons: They are expensive, the one you see in the picture above is around $55. You really need a good charger (around $100) They are pretty particular when it comes to charging, there are cheap chargers out there but they are not recommended. They have a reputation for exploding or catching on fire, This has not been my experience and may just be urban myth (nicads and Nimh can do the same under the right conditions). Li-polys are common in cell phones, laptops and other portable devices with a great safety record. If you discharge them below 3v per cell they may not charge again, For an airsoft gun this means when the ROF suddenly drops off stop firing and change the pack or you may ruin it.
The only other problem is they are about 3.7v per cell. So a 2 cell pack is 7.4v and a 3 cell pack is 11.1v Which is either to low or 2 high for an airsoft gun, But due to the low internal resistance you will get roughly the same ROF from a 2 cell li-poly as you would from an 8.4v small Nicad or Nimh pack. And a 3 cell will give you a hell of a ROF but may cause your semi-auto setting to malfunction, I use 3 cell packs in my MG-42 and PPSH41 since both guns where known for high ROF and both are full auto only.
Schmitty
|
|
|
Post by schmitty on Jan 21, 2006 22:00:00 GMT -5
Forgot to mention, you can buy Li-polys at most hobby shops.
Schmitty
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 22, 2006 1:28:03 GMT -5
Thanks Schmitty, You probably know this but Sportsmans Guide has Sten guns MK? ? on sale for $49.95! Find them there under a WW2 search. I must say your adaptations are awesome and with your British airborne impression seems most appropriate. Okay along with your Bren and Vickers!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by mauser98k on Jan 22, 2006 14:19:30 GMT -5
So on a scale of 1-10 how hard was this to make. I am really interested in stens too and wondered if it was ever possible for me to make one. *Yes I know these can't just be made but you know what I mean*
Edit: Nevermind, I cant get sten parts shipped to california because of the gun laws.
|
|
|
Post by Rainer Schmidt on Jan 22, 2006 15:25:02 GMT -5
*gurgle* Sounds like a plan Give me a couple of months, I will report back on my success. I have some good machinists and gun techs as friends so I should be good to go
|
|
|
Post by mikkel on Jan 22, 2006 19:20:31 GMT -5
You never cease to amaze me! Simply beautiful!
What about making an webpage with all your custom projects to see?
|
|
|
Post by mauser98k on Jan 22, 2006 19:25:41 GMT -5
Can deactivated parts be shipped to california, and will they work??
|
|
|
Post by johnyopportunity on Jan 22, 2006 20:49:38 GMT -5
What makes a deactivated gun deactivated? Great Job by the way!
|
|
|
Post by AADan on Jan 22, 2006 22:10:27 GMT -5
They cut up the reciever so you can't weld it back together and use it as a firearm anymore and I ahve heard of them giving solid aluminum chunk recievers.
|
|
|
Post by schmitty on Jan 23, 2006 11:39:33 GMT -5
Mauser98k: Yes this was made from a deactivated parts kit. Some dealers will probably ship to CA, depends who you buy from, Some won't ship to WA either and some do. If not you can buy a sten replica from sportsmans guide (not made from real parts) for $160. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being most difficult) I would give this a 6. Gordak: "Stens and 30$" Thanks but, I don't get it Guinness: M1919a6 is next on the chopping block, and of course I will help in anyway possible. Rainer: "Give me a couple of months, I will report back on my success. I have some good machinists and gun techs as friends so I should be good to go" What you talkin bout rainer 2ndbat: The stens at sportmans guide are MkIII's Back when I bought this MKII they where only about $40. Now MkII's are $200+ Schmitty
|
|
silencer
Private 1st Class
Spartan by blood
Posts: 407
|
Post by silencer on Jan 23, 2006 11:50:15 GMT -5
They sell 5 sten mags for like 30 bucks - might be worthwhile for you to convert and use on yours.
|
|
|
Post by Rainer Schmidt on Jan 23, 2006 12:00:33 GMT -5
Schmitty, just sayin' that I will be attempting this shortly. Always loved the look of the Sten, not so much the real steel's performance :S
|
|
|
Post by Gordak on Jan 23, 2006 12:15:08 GMT -5
"Stens and 30$"
Lol i meant to say stens ARE 30 dollars, its always 60 degrees in my office. fingers get cold and type weird. what a pain in the ass. I wont be posting for awhile.
- Gordak
|
|
|
Post by johnyopportunity on Jan 23, 2006 15:53:07 GMT -5
They cut up the reciever so you can't weld it back together and use it as a firearm anymore and I ahve heard of them giving solid aluminum chunk recievers. It does not look cut up. So how did you do it? Thanks
|
|
|
Post by Rainer Schmidt on Jan 23, 2006 17:34:32 GMT -5
Some barrels are pegged or completely blocked off. THen the bolt is sometimes welded so it cannot cycle. There are a few different ways to skin a cat
|
|
|
Post by schmitty44 on Jan 23, 2006 18:16:53 GMT -5
Here in the US there are specific rules set by the BATF as to what needs to be done in order for a gun to be considered de-activated. It varies from one gun to another, and some dealers may sell guns that are not legally deactivated (be warned, you don't want to get caught with those). Most of the time it requires recievers to be cut into pieces or completely removed from the gun and not included in the parts kit. I have not seen any with welded barrels or bolts (not saying there isn't but I have not seen any like that in the US)
Sten gun parts kits do not include a reciever at all. Some dealers sell them with solid aluminum recievers as "dummy" or "display" guns but these are always more money and no good if you want to make an airsoft gun out of it.
You can buy recievers (just 1.5" tube) with a template bonded to it showing where to cut for about $40. (www.stenparts.com) Or you can buy 1.5" tubing from a metal supply dealer for just a few dollars and mark and cut it yourself, Or you can buy a sten replica from sportsmans guide for about $150 (not made from real parts).
Of the two stens shown, the MkII is made using a stenparts.com tube that came with a template. The MkV was made from some tubing I had laying around.
Schmitty
|
|
YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by YankeeDiv26 on Feb 3, 2006 16:32:23 GMT -5
A freakin Mazing. i've seen a lot of conversions done but this one is the best. The overall quality and difficluty of this project is awesome.
|
|
|
Post by [NCDU]Frogman on Feb 6, 2006 1:34:22 GMT -5
So what does it take to create these customs? (M3a1/PPSH41/StenMKII AEGS) it sounds really interesting the things u guys are doing I would really like to know what equipment u guys use.
Mayo :+:
|
|
|
Post by Stan on Feb 6, 2006 16:13:39 GMT -5
All I got to say is freakin a man!
|
|
|
Post by schmitty on Feb 8, 2006 17:39:33 GMT -5
Thanks again for the kind remarks. Frogman: I assume you are asking what tools are needed to make the custom guns you mentioned? The most usefull tool I own is a Dremel. I use it all the time for all kinds of projects. Some welding is usually required when dealing with guns that have been de-activated. I have a fairly cheap wire feed welder that has served me extremely well. I believe anyone with fair DIY skills can learn to weld with a wire feed pretty quickly (it's very easy).
Other power tools that are helpfull (but not always neccesary) are: Electric drill, Drill press, belt sander, angle grinder, Laith, bench grinder.
Keep in mind that all jobs that can be done with power tools can also be done by hand with hacksaws, files etc..
You don't need a degree in enginering or a machine shop to make custom weapons.
Schmitty
|
|
|
Post by Guinness on Feb 8, 2006 19:09:41 GMT -5
How 'bout Beer? is Beer required? cuz I have that part covered -G
|
|
|
Post by Rainer Schmidt on Feb 8, 2006 20:26:01 GMT -5
Not for long, lol. Party at Guinness's.
|
|