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Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!): Pretty much DONE
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15459		 Page 3 of 5
Author:  bigbisont [ Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built and cheats!) UPDATED w/v
It has begun!

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Using various larger size aluminum 'C' Channel as a foundation.

After some roughing out of shapes and a trip to the hardware store I am near a point where I can start test fitting.

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Lots of work to do still. I plan to rivet in the cross sections to hold the bolts after I trim them down and drill them out. The rivet plan is possibly not a great one, but fingers crossed. If it all works I will try to fabricate the screen accurate style cover over the arm. Those covers are the key to the look I think, but first things first... (an arm that wont collapse)
Author:  retrogarde [ Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Vaya con Dios!
Author:  577_ops [ Mon Mar 07, 2016 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
Great start. Good luck with the rest!
The result will surely be amazing.
Author:  bigbisont [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built and cheats!) UPDATED w/v
Well the "skeleton" is completely built. I have no idea how well it will hold up with springs and weight!

But I need to fabricate something to attach it to the vest and then do the bracket on the gun before I can truly test it.
For the gun bracket I will be trying to get screen accurate, for the attachment to the vest...not so much.


The 'arm' segments were just some 1.75" x 1" "C channel" purchased pretty cheap from amazon.
The Brackets were built from a 2"x4"x12" rectangle aluminum tube, cut up into these pieces.
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brackets were 'pop' riveted together.
Supposedly even 1/8" blind rivets have 140lb tensil strength. I used 5 rivets each segment of various thicknesses (whatever I had laying around). I think they will hold.


Old fashion angle grinder and hand drill did most of the work and now it is slapped together with some bolts.

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The middle pivot was carved out of some leftover aluminum block that I had left over from the hand guard section on the gun (see above).

Lining up all the holes was tedious and arguably not well done! It also needs a ton of spacers to get things centered and moving freely.
But hey, it feels fairly solid and I have a good range of motion.

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Author:  577_ops [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Great progress.
I like your design of the L-shaped connector to the M56A2. Looks very solid.
Author:  bigbisont [ Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
577_ops wrote:
Great progress.
I like your design of the L-shaped connector to the M56A2. Looks very solid.


Thanks, it is actually a 'gate strap' from the hardware store. Only thing I did to it was put it in a vice and hit it with a hammer until it made an 'L' shape. I then just found the biggest bolt that would fit in it. If something fails on this arm, it won't be that! Very solid, indeed.

I think I may use a larger 'strap' on the other end and figure out how to bolt that to my vest.
Author:  577_ops [ Wed Mar 09, 2016 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Quote:
it is actually a 'gate strap' from the hardware store. Only thing I did to it was put it in a vice and hit it with a hammer until it made an 'L' shape. I then just found the biggest bolt that would fit in it. If something fails on this arm, it won't be that! Very solid, indeed.


Isn't that what it is all about: creative thinking. :-)
And if it is the last part that could fail even better.
Author:  bigbisont [ Thu Mar 17, 2016 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Bit more progress. I fabbed up some "covers" (there are no external springs on mine that need to be covered, but I want to sell the look).
Made from simple $9 piece of 22g steel from the hardware store. I then bent them and hammered a bit on a vice. I like how they turned out.

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I think once I slap these bad boys on and paint it up, the arm will really evoke the feelings of the real deal, despite the halfassed foundation!
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And speaking of the halfa...er 'improvised' foundation.
Going to try this out to connect the arm to the vest.

I am using a door/gate hinge as the foundation. The hinge will wrap around the vertical post of the vest.
I then will layer sheets of steel and bolt it all together hoping the layered effect adds strength to the anchor point.

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I'll then drill a hole into the square tube at the end to run a bolt through. Then I just need to fab up one last piece that connects the bolt from the arm to the bolt of the vest, then pray!
Author:  577_ops [ Thu Mar 17, 2016 5:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Great progress.
I like your "covers".
Keeping fingers crossed that the springs work etc. when you put it on the vest. I'm sure it will work out fine.
Author:  bigbisont [ Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
As soon as I make the attachment to the gun itself, I think I will be ready to add springs and truly test her out.

The covers aren't secured here, and I may try to add a few touches for better accuracy, but the bulk of construction is now done
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Author:  retrogarde [ Mon Mar 21, 2016 5:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wow. Fingers crossed man! This looks amazing!!!
Author:  joukov [ Mon Mar 28, 2016 12:20 am ]
Post subject: 
I love the progress!! Great work, bigbisont!
Author:  schotti [ Mon Mar 28, 2016 9:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
You Never Sease to amaze me,absolutely fantastick work there :D
Author:  bigbisont [ Wed Mar 30, 2016 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Thanks everyone!

The final "full weight" test has not yet been performed, but I have finalized my setup. TONIGHT the test (if I can find a 7/16 trailer hitch pin on my way home from work).


For now, more details on the setup.

So the 'sandwich' plate idea referenced above is in full effect.
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Square tube is held suspended between 4 other layers of metal and bolted down with 5 bolts at various spots.

The base block on the arm insirts into the square tube, and 7/16 steel pin is dropped into the tube through the aluminum block to hold it in there (but can quickly be removed) *pin not pictured*
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On the other end to connect to the gun, I layered up a "C" bracket. It hugs the gun in a screen accurate location. 2 tiny screws are in the top 'legs' and one large bolt runs through the 'counterweight' cylinder and up into the barrel cover.

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Author:  bigbisont [ Wed Mar 30, 2016 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
And although it may be early for beauty shots, I did paint up the arm and install the springs.

I am going for a "Drake" look. Unlike Vaz, who's arm was almost entirely black except the base bracket, Drake's arm had the anodized look going on with his main bracket/body/arms whatever you call them.

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So my 'final' (assuming nothing breaks) arm is looking like this.

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I still need to work out the details on how the main plate and tabs attached, but I'm feeling great about this as long as testing goes well tonight.
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Author:  577_ops [ Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
What a beauty!
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
O man o man o man!
Author:  bigbisont [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Weight test complete: Half success! :lol: :?

Nothing collapsed. Nothing bent or broke. As far as I can tell from a 2 minute walk around my house it all holds.

However the springs are nowhere near strong enough. Hands free style became resting in bottom position instantly (it held suspended down there at least!) and hands-on was exhausting. Got some experimenting to do I guess.
Author:  88reaper88 [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:51 am ]
Post subject: 
You could try putting some mountain bike shocks inside, might be too strong but might be an option :)
Author:  Moosh89 [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:01 am ]
Post subject: 
So when will the kits be ready to order???

;) Looks amazing!

Semi-serious about kits by the way! LOL
Author:  mrafman [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 7:05 am ]
Post subject: 
Wow..............Just, wow...............absolutely amazing, always look forward to these updates
Author:  nick-a-tron [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Stunning work as always!
Author:  Attack2077 [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh wow, really nice work!
Author:  Osmotic [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Outstanding !
Author:  bigbisont [ Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smartgun build (w/scratch built & cheats!) UPDATED w/Arm
Thanks everyone!

Moosh89 wrote:
So when will the kits be ready to order???

;) Looks amazing!

Semi-serious about kits by the way! LOL


lol. Every time I start a project, I think "maybe if it goes well I will start making extras to sell!". And every time I finish I think "holy cow that was harder and more labor intensive than I thought. I'm never doing that again!" :lol: It's definitely on my "some day..." list of things to revisit, though.
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