(if you already saw this on the rpf a while back im afraid there is no 'new' progress yet. but figured I would post here where the hard core live)
I have long wanted to make my pulse, and finally got off my butt a few months back. Due to my cheap-skateness I, of course, created a lot more work for myself. The cheapo ebay resin pulse that I planned to hollow out for the shrouds was too short, too angular, and had a magazine portion that was too small (at least in my opinion). Not to mention the pockets of poorly mixed resin I kept cutting into and having goo drip all over me...
-So I started with a 'cybergun' thompson off Amazon and got to hacking up the clip (shortened it), and grinding down the handle. I used a hacksaw to cut the verticle lines in it. Def not as clean as the handle options members sell here, but I can live with it.
-I used a 16 guage steel plate, an angle grinder, a drill and a dremel to rough out my barrel vents and stock. They, too, look a little raggedy, but again, I can def live it for now.
-For the shrouds, as I said, the resin was a disaster. Even if the magazine portion wasnt too small, the grenade launcher/cage was too short. So I decided to cut the grenade launcher out +2" into the magazine area essentially lengthening the launcher, and necessitating a scratch- re-build of the magazine shroud area.
To rebuild the magazine portion, i used this trim stuff I found to rough out the shape, then bondo over. Then constant 'bondo, sand, bondo, sand' until i was happy.
-The carry handles were also too short, and too angular in my opinion. I cut them, and epoxied in a spacer to lengthen them. I then found some type of chanel (no idea what it was really for) to reinforce the carry handle. The chanel actually accomplished 3 things; 1-It provided the ridge/groove for the shroud to hug the thompson on the lower area, 2-It provided support/regidity to the hacked up frame, and 3-when I put a chanel upside down on the top handle, it created a clean line for the sight while reinforcing the top carry handle. I was pleased with that part.
Attachment:
AL post compilation 1.jpg [ 472.28 KiB | Viewed 4531 times ]
Attachment:
AL post compilation 2.jpg [ 363.93 KiB | Viewed 4531 times ]
Now lots of bondo to clean up the gaps and bulk up the rear pillar of the carry handle.
Also the grenade launcher was too thin. I epoxied bits of stuff to act as spacers. This sort of worked out as well. I positioned the spacers to allowe a bolt to pass through the grenade launcher into the area of the thompson barrel that I drilled out. I cut the hole in the barrel support big enough to wedge a nut into, so the grenade launcher bolts would pass right through and secure everything.
Attachment:
AL post compilation 2a.jpg [ 338.25 KiB | Viewed 4531 times ]
Epoxy my scratch-magazine portion to the modified carry handle. Then bondo-sand-repeat.
Cut more bits and pieces from scrap aluminum and the leftover 16 guage steel. Few bolts, screws and drilled stuff and primed the lot and painted
Attachment:
20120525_205019.jpg [ 214.12 KiB | Viewed 4531 times ]
One 'firing' (airsoft) M41A = ready to roll.
Attachment:
AL post compilation 3.jpg [ 501.34 KiB | Viewed 4531 times ]
Disclaimers:
-Now I purposefully left off the ammo counter. I WILL add one, but I wasnt sure how intense i wanted to get with it just yet.
-Also I'm not sold on the paint. After mulling it over and seeing it every day, i have pretty much decided the Olive drab is OUT. The instant I can get my hands on some Aervoe 999 im re-painting it.
-Of course I'd love a better sling than the one that came with the thompson. Eyes are pealed.
-When I repaint, ill weather it just a tiny, tiny amount.
-If/when i pull the trigger on a real SPAS cage, I can easily remove the resin grenade launcher.
Anyways, thats it for now. Hope my hacky, short-cut riddled project isnt an embarassment to the board!
