gryphon
Master sergeant 
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 19, 2007 15:18:48 GMT -5
I wanted an M38 for our upcoming October skirmish, and had a $15 Double Eagle pump shotgun lying around that shoots 300 fps and has a decent hop-up, plus a nice clean 4-foot-length of pine 2x8, so I thought, "Why not?" $5 more dollars for fastenings and two weekends later, here are the results:  Before....    After! If the action breaks, I'll just slap another one in - they're cheap enough. Something like this would make a great high school wood shop project, if the teacher was of the right sort. Can't beat the price. |
|
ersatzjack2
Private 1st Class
"We can still win this thing, once the secret weapons arrive."
Posts: 612
|
Post by ersatzjack2 on Sept 19, 2007 15:26:16 GMT -5
That looks great for the money  . C'mon, really $20? You did a great job of carving the stock and adding the little extras like a bolt. I know if I was Russian, I would buy it for $20. Keep that up and you'll put all the custom guys out of work. Hey, can you make me a G43 for $20? Heck, I'll give $30  |
|
YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by YankeeDiv26 on Sept 19, 2007 15:26:30 GMT -5
wow, can't beat a gun like that for such a cheap price. I say make a couple more and get a small russian airsoft unit going (russian gear's cheap too!)
|
|
jaeger
Private 1st Class
Posts: 478
|
Post by jaeger on Sept 19, 2007 15:35:54 GMT -5
Really very impressive!!!
|
|
gryphon
Master sergeant
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 19, 2007 15:37:23 GMT -5
Thanks! $20 for real - Everything except the shottie and the fasteners was scrap and/or leftovers I had cluttering up the shop.
All the other guys in my Red Army unit want PPSh 41s. I'm about three-quarters finished making my Papasha pattern masters, so I can pull a mold set and start a production run. My Papashas will be fiberglass with a ver. 7 gearbox from a Chinese clone M14, and they may or may not be available for general sale one I've finished equipping my unit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jager.Drü on Sept 19, 2007 15:56:05 GMT -5
If they are, I would like one. Are you going to do the drum mags also, or will it take RS ones?
Also the AGM MP40 gearbox would work.
|
|
Ersatzjack
Corporal
"That silly Franz... he thinks we are winning."
Posts: 1,093
|
Post by Ersatzjack on Sept 19, 2007 16:03:40 GMT -5
That really looks excellent. Double Eagle ought to pay you because I foresee a run on shotguns. I can't wait to see your SMGs. I'll want one. Captured on the East Front. So, do you think you'll be happy with 300fps in a single shot rifle when all your men are carrying PPSh-41's? Is there anyway that the Double Eagle can be upped a bit? If you decide it won't be as competitive as you'd like you could always use it for photos or as backup. I think I'm with your squad however and would want the SMG.
Opps - there I go again with questions. Back to praising you. Very nice work. Can't wait to meet you in October. - Otto
|
|
gryphon
Master sergeant
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 19, 2007 17:22:55 GMT -5
Oh, I'm gonna have my own Papasha too! The carbine will be a backup gun in the BA-64, and my primary when I'm playing a partisan. I originally designed a PPSh41 around the AGM MP40 gearbox, (which is a reconfigured ver. 3) but the MP40 'box is actually about 1/4" too tall to fit in the Russian SMG's silhouette. My friend Jason at www.airsoftbattlezone.com turned me onto the reasonably-priced Chinese ver. 7s, which fit almost perfectly. The plan is that the gun will come with one hi-cap drum mag, and one to three mid-cap stick mags. I have originals of each mag type from which to pull my molds. I'll post pics once I have something worth lookin' at.... |
|
YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by YankeeDiv26 on Sept 19, 2007 17:28:16 GMT -5
Sorry for my "make a unit" suggestion, I forgot you already have one  ;D I think any way you look at it, $20 a custom m38 is an awesome deal. Awesome idea for the m38, and soon-to-be awesome PPSh41, I'd buy both. |
|
Russian
Corporal
Magician
Posts: 923
|
Post by Russian on Sept 19, 2007 17:57:48 GMT -5
I want one now! Any chance I can get one, or buy it from you at Patton Unleashed? |
|
KRaddatz
Private 1st Class
505th
Posts: 589
|
Post by KRaddatz on Sept 19, 2007 18:00:09 GMT -5
simply amazing, thats ingenious.
great work!
|
|
|
|
Post by wade on Sept 19, 2007 18:19:21 GMT -5
Incredible! I wonder if the same could be done with for springfield?
|
|
|
|
Post by 101steasykid on Sept 19, 2007 19:13:31 GMT -5
Wow. Good idea for a highschool wood shop project. It seems (I said seems) easy enough if you have the time and effort. I think I found an option for my senior project, thanks!
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 19, 2007 20:29:42 GMT -5
Very very clever! Impressive concept and execution. I agree that 300 FPS in a single shot gun isn't going to be skirmishable but what a cool plinker and a great prop. Thank you for sharing. I expect to see more cool things come from your little shop of delights.
How sturdy do you expect your bolt extension to be? Very very clever. Nice finish job on the stock.
|
|
gryphon
Master sergeant
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 19, 2007 21:42:40 GMT -5
I welded up the bolt extension from steel strap and a cut-off 5/16" bolt shaft - it should be strong enough. The attaching block is solid rock maple epoxied and screwed onto the end of the original cocking arm. The bolt ball is a 20mm maple bead from a craft store, epoxied on the shaft. The real trick is to get the arm to travel straight back on the cocking stroke, without any tendency to lift at the end of the stroke and torque the cocking arm. I'm looking forward to skirmishing with it. I will be at a distinct disadvantage across the open areas and in the big trees, but not otherwise. Actually, I think 300fps with hop-up will be perfect for the kind of CQB action we tend to get in the village area, and in the brush on the east side of the field. Those little shotties are surprisingly accurate. I should have no problems picking off Fritz by closing aggressively, Russian-style - Da, comrades?  |
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 19, 2007 22:21:04 GMT -5
Good for you. Everyome in the world of course is going to want you to build one now. It really came out looking very very nice. Let's see two weeks worth of labor and 20.00 worth of materials hmmmmmm. I guess it's the two weeks of effort and hard work that's the sticky part.
I'm still extremely impressed with the clever way you somehow visualized the shotgun transitioning into the Mosin Nagant and then executed it so well. Very very cool!
What's next in your kitchen of ideas?
|
|
|
|
Post by 101steasykid on Sept 19, 2007 22:25:20 GMT -5
Nice work. If I had a russian impression I would be sure to make myself one. I think I would break the bolt though, as I wouldn't be used to just having to pull it straight back, over lifting up and back. Again, great job and I hope it does well in skirmishes.
Can you make me a BAR using a AGM m14, a few rubber bands, and $6.72? Let me know, haha!
|
|
gryphon
Master sergeant
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 20, 2007 8:04:57 GMT -5
Well, next will be the fiberglass PPSh41 housing, because I and everyone I know wants one, then I'll probably do a M1910 Maxim for our unit. I have a mold for making WWI Gew98 theatrical props that I pulled off a Czech Mauser which could probably be retrofitted to manufacture fiberglass housings, but I doubt there's enough of a market to make it worthwhile. I also have molds for making fiberglass Pickelhauben, M1916 stahlhelmen, and French Adrians.
I am a professional mold- and prop-maker, and could produce short runs of virtually any small arm that could be replicated in fiberglass - given enough demand. I'm not hugely into fiddling with gearboxes, but I LOVE making convincing replica housings.
So, what do you guys want to see? BARs? FG42s? MP43s? MG42s? Brens? Would $200-$300 seem an unreasonable price for an empty fiberglass shell that you could drop your own gearbox and barrel into without any need for inletting?
|
|
|
|
Post by CharleyNovember on Sept 20, 2007 8:07:26 GMT -5
Oh I really really like that! I am impressed and envious of your woodworking skills I have to actually buy a stock for my conversions. While it has been said before I don't care for the FPS limitations I am extremely impressed by how it looks and the price it cost. Excellent sir. I think a Papa would be a hot item if you came out with a decent one. The fellows over on RedAlliance would really dig it and well really world wide I think it would be popular.
|
|
gryphon
Master sergeant
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 20, 2007 8:41:27 GMT -5
Finish details: The stock finish is Minwax sanding sealer followed by sanding with 220 grit then two fairly aggressive coats of the new Minwax stain color "Gun Stock," with one coat of Minwax stain color "Jacobean" brushed on then QUICKLY wiped back off in the areas you want to stay lighter - the "Jacobean" can only go on AFTER the "Gun Stock" coats have had an adequate time to dry, or you run the risk of lifting the previous stain coats. Over pine, birch or maple, this combo gives a look that almost exactly matches the finish on my real steel Mosin Nagant stocks. You can oil it, wax it, or varnish it after it's good and dry. I'm just gonna give mine three coats of Helmsman Satin Spray Spar Varnish and call it good.
I planed the 2x8 down to just a little over 1 inch thick, buzzed out two stock blank panels on the bandsaw (a good sabersaw would have worked just as well, ) carved out the inlets on each panel wiht a sharp knife and chisel, drilled pilot holes in one side for the two action mount pins, then laminated the two stock halves together with Gorilla Glue. After the glue dried, I attacked the stock blank with a drawshave and wood rasps.
The "barrel bands" are wraps of trimmed-down black hockey tape ("yah, der, I'm frum da Nort'woods, you betcha") covered over with a single layer of black electrical tape. They look much better than they deserve to, once they are sponged with a little Testor's "Flat Black" and "Steel" enamel, then given a couple of coats of Satin Spar Varnish to take the gloss off.
To fill the grain in the faux metal end caps, I used three coats of Rustoleum black Automotive Primer, sanding between coats and finishing with Ultraflat black Camouflage spray enamel. Use a cotton ball and sponge with Testor's "Steel" for an aged look.
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 20, 2007 12:35:47 GMT -5
I think a gewere 43 would be a very popular and great selling replica and an affordable BAR would clearly sell well. (Both are fairly large guns however) The M-14 gearbox housing fits very nicely and aligns perfectly with the barrel. The magazine aligns properly as well and the magazine inner action slides quite well into the outer mettal shell of a real BAR magazine which can be purchased for $20.00 or so.
The Gewere will be a bit more challenging as the barrel is lower then your gear box would need to be.
|
|
|
|
Post by jd7 on Sept 20, 2007 14:42:57 GMT -5
Salute to a nice custom piece. Would love PPSh kit also |
|
|
|
Post by Tough Ombre on Sept 20, 2007 18:15:38 GMT -5
I want one! I will pay you for one at the Patton event, or i can even pay you next week!!! Its awsome! and i would love it just to go out an airsoft with my buddies to awe them! haha I would also be interested in a Gewehr 43!!
-Cary
|
|
|
|
Post by Guinness on Sept 20, 2007 18:40:36 GMT -5
I am a professional mold- and prop-maker, and could produce short runs of virtually any small arm that could be replicated in fiberglass - given enough demand. I'm not hugely into fiddling with gearboxes, but I LOVE making convincing replica housings. So, what do you guys want to see? BARs? FG42s? MP43s? MG42s? Brens? Would $200-$300 seem an unreasonable price for an empty fiberglass shell that you could drop your own gearbox and barrel into without any need for inletting? Outstanding work gryphon! very impressive and inspiring Here are a couple images off a UK WWII Airsoft site that a couple of us are also members of:    These are apparently made by Warren, the owner of shoot-n-scoot in England, but I cant find this as a product on his site. Here are the threads over on that site that mention this conversion: www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/php/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=258 www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/php/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=723Anyway, I never realized how similer the H&K G3 family is to the STG's but it makes sense, and they certainly show the 'family resemblance' more than the Kalashnikov does But maybe this would be something you could do? BTW, someone has posted your pics over on that site as well, so expect some inquiries! -G |
|
gryphon
Master sergeant
shchi e kasha, pisha nasha.
Posts: 250
|
Post by gryphon on Sept 20, 2007 21:18:26 GMT -5
Wow, what a great idea for a quick-and-dirty MP44! They start with a Classic Army CA33, but any HK33 clone should work. This conversion would be perfect for fiberglass - easyeasyeasy once the mold was made. This one definitely goes on the "to do" list. Thanks for the links!
|
|
|
|
Post by CharleyNovember on Sept 20, 2007 21:28:13 GMT -5
I would certainly be willing to pay for a front end mold from you should you decide to produce one Gryphon. I have a CA33 just waiting for it ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by jd7 on Sept 21, 2007 6:06:45 GMT -5
I have one of the Scoot & Shoot StG-44 Resin front-end's for my CA-33. I've got a few projects on the go at the moment(M14-M1 Garand, custom MP40) so it's on the back burner - awaiting funds lol
Old 'Un from the same UK WW2 Airsoft site has converted Real Steel HK-33 long mags for the CA-33/StG-44 custom gun.
|
|
|
|
Post by fadedcorona on Sept 21, 2007 12:05:29 GMT -5
really nice on the 44 and really nice Nagant for the price.
|
|
|
|
Post by ck on Sept 26, 2007 8:46:38 GMT -5
I would definitely be interested in a G43 or Stg44!
I don't think there's a good Stg44 conversion out there yet. On the Stg44-conversions I've seen it's usually the lower reciever (handle, trigger, magwell) that comes out looking very FARB/weird without it's distinct grooves and shape.
Also, one might want to remember the bolt handle and groove which is located waaay back compared to the G3 rifles. Shouldn't be too hard to make a new one though with some cutting!
|
|
|
|
Post by baconandeggs on Sept 26, 2007 12:44:33 GMT -5
Really nice work, gryphon!
|
|
. C'mon, really $20? You did a great job of carving the stock and adding the little extras like a bolt. I know if I was Russian, I would buy it for $20. Keep that up and you'll put all the custom guys out of work. Hey, can you make me a G43 for $20? Heck, I'll give $30 
;D I think any way you look at it, $20 a custom m38 is an awesome deal. Awesome idea for the m38, and soon-to-be awesome PPSh41, I'd buy both.
