If you've been following my EU aircrew/loadmaster thread you'll have seen some hints at my plans for a custom sub machine gun/carbine/PDW of some sort.

I decided it warranted it's own thread.

Inspired by the M39 SMG from whichever game it is...

...and also heavily influenced by the B&T Advanced Police Carbine:


My plan was to retain the standard pulse rifle magazine (possibly a shorter, lower-capacity) giving an obvious link to the Aliens universe, whilst also attempting to bring a little of the 'futuristic' H&K style seen in the VP70 to the build.

Here's the first stage - a rough conceptual drawing.



I've opted for rails under the barrel with the intention of fitting a fold-away vertical foregrip.

I've drafted two different barrel vent configurations. The standard SPAS cage type - which again hints heavily at the PR, and a more futuristic set of 4 holes. I'm undecided which I prefer yet.

The stock will be extendable on rails in the same way the H&K MP5/MP7 stocks are.

My thoughts at this stage are that it's a little too long for my liking and (ironically) looks a bit too much like a pulse rifle. So now I'm considering narrowing the magazine housing. This will shorten the overall length and also give the weapon it's own distinct style.

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"The other Gareth"

Here's a couple of options now coloured. Showing the extending stock and the different barrel vents.

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"The other Gareth"

Yes. I'm liking the simplicity. What are you going to end up using as a base model?

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Cpl Damon "Bombs Away" LeMay
-"Feelin' good's good enough"

Thanks very much!

It'll be a complete scratch build.

The main block will be MDF with steel or acrylic for the upper body.
The only parts I intend to buy (at the moment anyway) are the rails because I can't be bothered with all that filing. I may later purchase a pistol grip (depending how well mine turns out).

I'm intending to have a movable bolt carrier assembly with the cocking handle and cocking tube (as the MP5) connected so that cocking the weapon will open the 'breech' for effect.

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"The other Gareth"

Now with a much shorter magazine with I think balances much better aesthetically, and with the folding foregrip added.




Hmmm, but here's the debate.

Initial concept (top left), shorter magazine (middle left), narrower magazine (top right), or shorter and narrower magazine (middle right).
Then of course there's the possibility of a slanted magazine...

What do you guys think?

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"The other Gareth"

I like that slanted design, but i guess it would come down to how much more difficult it would be to replicate it

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Cpl Damon "Bombs Away" LeMay
-"Feelin' good's good enough"

Time for an update.

I finally decided that I need to start making this, or I simply won't have it in time for LFCC.

I was hoping to use mild steel for the upper but my shears have broken, I have no hacksaw blades, and I also don't have a metal brake which I would have liked to use.
So the Mk1 prototype will be plastic.

Test template:



Marking, cutting & filing finished:


Bending did not go so well. Some warping and a little damage to fix later.
That'll teach me to rush!



I'm running so short of time with 5 days at the Glastonbury festival between now and then; I'm thinking I might go without the moving parts on this one. I can make the Mk2 a bit more the way I want it when I've got the right tooling.

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"The other Gareth"

Its looking good so far mate.
The warping doesn't look too bad

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AKA: Simon

Thank you.

You'd be surprised how curved the damn thing is...I designed it to pretty close tolerances (being used to working with steel). There's some definite tweaking needed to make it fit.

It's quite elastic when soft. Direct heat clearly hasn't been so easy to control so I'm planning to sit it in a boiling water bath for a while and try to work it from there.

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"The other Gareth"

Well it's got quite a memory. Boiling water instantly softened it and it started to flatten out again.
Unfortunately, the moment it's taken out of the water it stops being pliable. As it does after a couple of minutes when the water has cooled just a little.

Clearly that made it impossible to work. So I clamped it up around a rough form and took out the blow lamp again...It's now nearer to the right shape and size. Unfortunately there's been further shrinkage around the ejection opening. Never mind.

This model is definitely going to be static because it's quicker to put together. Next time I might machine it from aluminimum and sheet steel and make it a working replica.

So...updates!

Upper attached to the body with barrel and cocking piece fitted to the barrel extension block:


Mock up of the next stage with foregrip folded up:


...and folded down:

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"The other Gareth"

Good work, it's coming along nicely.

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AKA: Simon

Yeah, that's looking really cool!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

To be honest, I think it'd look good in the yellow with some Weyland Yutani logos on it

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

The way things are going that might be the case
Not sure I've got enough time and money to get a suitable brown.

We'll see.

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"The other Gareth"

There is no suitable brown.

Lol

I don't know. I'm very pleased with the brown I mixed up for my headset.

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"The other Gareth"

She's taking shape!

Pistol grip roughed out:


Pistol grip shaped and trigger guard added:


With the upper off:

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"The other Gareth"

Verrrry nice mate!

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AKA: Simon

Thank you!

Got a few more bits done today but no photos yet.

I reckon I'm going to be out of luck with the colour scheme for the moment though. I don't think I'll get a suitable brown in time so it might be all back, at least for LFCC.

With that in mind I mocked up a couple of options.

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"The other Gareth"

The OD one gets my vote, looks more 'Aliens-y'.

If you added a bit more black to yellow one I could really see it in the hands of a WY security officer or someone similar.

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AKA: Simon

That's interesting. I really don't like the olive green.

The brown is definitely my favourite. Especially having seen my own 'brown bess esque' mix on my headset. It definitely has the "is it brown or is it green?" quality.

The yellow is a novel idea. Perhaphs just the upper in yellow...

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"The other Gareth"

I liked the upper and mag base all one colour...goes along with the PR scheme...and yeah, I like the brown too.

Keep it Brown Bess!

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Cpl Damon "Bombs Away" LeMay
-"Feelin' good's good enough"

The last two days:

A bit of a bodge here and there but I'm not fussed on this one. The steel version will be far more accurately machined.

Trigger sorted.


A little look at the construction:


Fitted the rails and foregrip:


Rails added for the extendable stock:


I'm part-way through making the end cap and stock lock but I'll probably have to finish that sharpish after Glastonbury. That and the butt plate are the last parts to make.
So my plan is: starting Tuesday the week after next - finish those bits; size and seal the wood; primer; paint; make the sling.
Hopefully done for LFCC on Friday.

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"The other Gareth"

Very impressed mate looking good. I look forward to seeing the finish thing at LFCC

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CPL
AJ "Gunner" Martin
A06/TQ0.0.42145E1




"I'm ready, man check it out. I am the ultimate badass! state of the badass art! You do not want to frak with me."