Wow this is starting to come along rather quickly. The glowing BB's idea is a really nice trick. During night games it will have a very cool 'lazer' effect going on.
Thank you. I hope it is a cool effect.
Unique idea, pro execution... what an engrossing build! I mulled over every picture... which means I've been picking this build apart for the past hour. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! I've tried to make the pictures illustrate how I do things since I'm making up the methods as I go along.
I can't tell you how stoked I am to see video of this thing firing in the dark
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
or just firing in general.
You and me both! This past week has been some housekeeping picking up some loose ends on the fiberglass and metal that can only be done while the exterior components are assembled. Now I can strip it back down to focus on the final development of the airsoft bits culminating in the first test firing very soon.
While I'm really stoked to be working on the last major engineering for the airsoft system, I had to give a nod to efficiency. Currently, all the major external components are screwed together for final adjustments to the fit between between all the fiberglass components and the metal. As the whole thing is a PITA to disassemble (someday I'll count up the number of components and screws involved), I needed to finish cleaning up panel lines and alignment before I could free up the lower receiver to build up the airsoft system. I'm happy to report that work is done, paving the way to make the final push on the airsoft components. Let's take a look:
This is the start of the details that are on the hinge area of the front grip. If you look at the game model, you'll see that it wouldn't be able to pivot at the drawn pivot pin. As shown much earlier in the build, I had to relocate the point of rotation lower and further aft to make this part functional. It works great with little compromise to the aesthetics. Even so, I needed to add the original details.
I decided to use part of two giant pop rivets.
I used a hollow gasket punch to grab the rivet and hammer loose the stud.
I'll grind these down later, but for now they will align align other parts.
Here are the parts for the hinge details. Up on the frame, the left hole is for the rivet and locating these details. The hole on the right is the actual pivot point of the front grip.
Here are the details JB Welded into place. At this point they are only cosmetic, but I'm going to drill all the way through the solid billet front grip and use this detail to install a safety locking pin. Remember, rotating the grip from the stowed position turns on the master power switch and activates the weapon. A locking pin here holding the grip stowed will serve as the master safety.
Mission complete. Here is everything temporarily assembled in the stowed (safe) position with the allen wrench serving as the safety pin. Later, I'll come up with a more pro-looking pin and 'Remove before firing' streamer.
Here's some of the final Bondo work on the upper receiver assembly. This area is where two major fiberglass pieces mate up and has resulted in significant hair loss trying to get just right.
Same work on the front.
Here's a pair of the 'switches' shown on the side of the lower receiver. I've waited to build these until I decided if they needed any functionality. There are two of these on each side. I may make one on each side functional. One would dim the external LEDs and the other would be a momentary on switch to actuate the BB feed winder mechanism. We'll see if there's room on the inside for the switches.
Here's how they look in place.
Finally, I added the details above the switches. No functionality. I waited to add these until I was done reshaping the fiberglass. The black Sharpie line shows how crooked this are used to be.
Today I'll disassemble the whole thing and start reinstalling the airsoft components that are finished so I can finish the feed system and hop-up systems. Unfortunately, I'll need to make time to overhaul the brand new gear boxes as they have accumulated a lot of shop dust and metal flakes while waiting their turn to shine during countless test fittings and just knocking about on my bench.
Redshirt