I posted this on another forum already, but since it applies here I thought I'd ask the same question.

Do you have a project that doesn't seem to end?

Be it due to the fact that you were too ambitious, or perhaps had other projects that popped up after you started the long term one?

Like most of you, I have several projects going at any time, but right now I have two that have about
the same awful amount of time investments between them. And yet, they're not done.

Project 1) My Starship Troopers Morita "Nerforita" rifle.

Started in 2007 (I think...)

Started life as a Nerf Longshot. Some adventures with a bandsaw and a dremmel later... this is where
it sits now. About the half way point. I printed a high quality side view of a screen used rifle and made
cardboard cutting templates and went from there. Still a lot left to do, but it's do-able... eventually...
when I get back to it.

Carry handle is some form of wood. Chip board I believe. Front barrel shroud is hand formed black styrene.
I have additional pieces cut to shape (the dual trigger, trigger guard and Ithica trigger cover for example)
but they're just not atttached yet.





Project 2) My last bloody airsoft Pulse Rifle.

Started this one over a year... maybe a year and a half ago. I've built 3 other airsoft rifles over the years
without as much involved as this one.





Tokyo Marui M1A1 Thompson, Tanaka M870 gas shotgun, real steel Spas cage and pump grip, metal bits, lots of other crap.

I've been hoarding the Spas cage since about... 2002 I think it was.
I'm currently at the (WTF?) stage of construction. Stuck figuring out how to attach the bloody pump grip to the M870 action.
Failed twice (once with a cast resin block, the second with a "laminated" sheet AL block) and holding on a 3rd possibility
(need a solid block of AL...) due to lack of materials. Other than that... It's mostly a simple final assembly. Mostly.

Anyone else have projects that just don't seem to get themselves done?

Share pics too!

Russ

_________________
"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

Mine's called The Wife

Oh don't get me started on half finished projects.
I have, sitting somewhere in the shop, is my half
finished Diesel Punk Star Wars costume. I made a mold
of a WW2 German Helmet (about a year and a half ago)
, cut up a Snowtrooper Commander
face, use an At-At driver box inserts, attached them, just
for a bucket. Still needs leather work though.

I then cut up a TS backpack for gas mask hose inserts,
a window with Electric Tesla Imagining (sorta) some brass
parts for bling, and some stickers.

I also intend to make a flame thrower for it, but its on the
back burner. I don't have any pictures, but I plan to go out
to the shop tomorrow and if I remember I will take some.

_________________
If you accept pocket lint as a currency well I'll take it all!

1:1 Sentry Gun.
No pics though I'm afraid......but hope to get to it sometime over the winter....fingers crossed!! The house is at a point now I can wait until next year, but the computer repairs take up my weekends and I can't say no to the money!!

_________________

At the moment?

Pyramid Head, Fury 161 Prisoner, UKCM Service C, V, Halo 3 UNSC Marine, Fremen, Sardaukar, Robert Muldoon, and finishing off my CoM soldier.

Maybe when I get my payrise I might get them all done, as it's mainly money holding me back!

Predator

I started it in 2005, did a rough-and-ready version for Halloween and then gradually picked up pieces when I could. I now have a big box full of latex and the sinking feeling of how much more money and work it will take. Seriously thinking of cutting my loses, selling and putting the funds into an ODST instead.

_________________
A11/TQ1.0.32150E1 Murphy, J - Covert recording headcam. There is no flashing red light when you are on Kona-Cam
Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!

Russ

I fitted a Tanaka 870 into a real SPAS cage, there is a really easy way to fit the pump grip to the racking system on the 870 to make it rack the shot gun using the pump grip.

1. Turn the PR so that the front of the PR faces to the left. Through the slots in the SPAS cage you should be able to see the vertical part of the racking system on the Tanaka that runs 90 degrees vertically to the slots in the SPAS cage.

2. You need to cut out 1 or 2 of the middle row of the slots in the SPAS cage to make a vent long enough to allow the racking action to go all the way back and engage fully. The vertical arm of the racking system will become more visible when you elongate the slot.

3 cut a lozenge shape piece of aluminium that fits in the elongated cut vent. Cut a slot in the back of the lozenge that fits over the exposed part of the racking system. You then drill a threaded hole in each end of the lozenge fit the lozenge over the racking arm & drill corresponding holes in the Pump grip to attach the pump grip to the lozenge through both sets of drillled holes.

When you pump the shottie the lozenge that fits over the exposed racking arm should enagage and pump the 870 using the pump grip.

NB when you attach the pump test fit it first to make sure the racking action on the 870 goes fully forward and returns fully otherwise it wont rack properly and gives the impression of a jam.

good luck

Chris (UKG)

Great idea for a thread, Russ. Boy howdy, I have a few but, ...usually get to some sort of frustration/stopping point and decide to come over here & cause trouble instead of finishing them. It's theraputic. Just trust me on this.

I like your new AEG PR. It's looks to be a little further along than my own. Don't give up on it. That is, unless you want to place it up for adoption. I drag mine out from time to time and tinker with it and still planning to install that deac. 870. Haven't done it, yet. But that may have been a good thing since it wound up at the local sheriff's office earlier this year. May not have gotten it back so easily. Dunno.

As for that block of AL, is this something I can help you with? I have access to tons of scrap and may be able to find something to the size you need. That is, unless you've already found something or someone else can knock out exactly what you need. Phil S. may actually have the part ready to go. I would check his parts list or contact him direct about it.

But yeah, I've got so many. Too many to list, actually. But the following comes to mind as one of the oldest; a 1/5 scale BTTF DeLorean. (I'm just guessing on the scale here)







Started this one around 1990... and got infected with the whole TERMINATOR/ALIENS thang.

_________________
Tom

My shoulder lamp (all original bits except lamp arm)

Apone binocs (rigging a motorized lense thingy)

Welder (why did a Hama grip have to show up on ebay)

Mainly my DS helmet. (started in 2006)

need to put on graphics,weather, and swap out 3 small bits.


I always fight myself when motion tracker parts show up on ebay...

Oh man, you're not alone! Not only do I do historical 1st century Roman reenacting, but I have two unfinished 16th century japanese samurai cuirasses at home, waiting to be finished. Now I'm considering adding a spulse rifle to the mix. Though it's nice to do something for fun after you spend years making armour and clothing lol.

Factor in my other hobbies, and yeah...they never end. Even when I say "ok, that's the last purchase/project", one invariably pops up.

Terminator "Kyle Reese" Resistance soldier uniform:





This project has been on the back burner for nearly two years now. It started out as a quick, generic T2 soldier. After some discussion I decided to go for a full, accurate, Reese T1 impression.

I pretty much have everything I need (first aid pouch, holster, pistol belt, correct microphone headset, extra padding for the flight jacket)... I just have to get around to making the leg guards (already have the pleather pre-cut), finish the gun scope, and paint most of the stuff various shades of gray.

Here's how far I got:




I just have to get my ass in gear to do it.


A couple of other half done costumes I have are a Black Hawk Down Delta soldier-





I still need to buy a four pouch chest rig, bulletproof vest, a pair of goggles (not the standard army sand/wind goggles) some M16 mag pouches, canteens and butt pack.




That will happen when some extra cashflow... flows (in other words... this one ain't gonna happen any time soon).


And finally... I have a Red Dawn Soviet Paratrooper jumpsuit that I have been (not) working on since... 2001. I'd been using fabric paints to re-create the KLMK'esque custom pattern on the jumpsuit. I got about halfway up to the waist. I have the blue beret with Soviet cap badge, Red Army belt and an airsoft AK-47. Unfortunately using fabric paints has become too tedious for me to want to finish this damn thing.


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Already way ahead of you mate. I did all the actual Spas mods last year.



See, the problem I'm running into is what to use for the "lozenge." I've made spacer blocks (as I said) out of resin and even a laminated AL plate, but what it boils down to is I'll need to fabricate a piece out of solid barstock metal.

Only problem is I can't buy barstock AL in the thickness I want locally. I can't imagine a machine shop would want to sell me 4" of barstock.

How did you attach the lozenge to the pump arms of the 870?
That's the other issue I'm having.

@Tommin: I REMEMBER that Delorean Model! Wow, been a long time now!

And as far as putting my PR up for adoption... not just no... but HELL NO!
This is the last one I'm building, so they'll probably bury it with me.

Russ

Russ

_________________
"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

Grrr. I think the rest of my USMC costume became a long term project.

Luckily I have bought my TM Thompson but some things here and there take priority.

Need some large amounts of money for fixing up the car AND my Op Rod in my M1 is worn out... and it looks like I can only score a new one by shelling out $120.

GRRRR!

_________________
"The worth and value of a man is in his heart and his will; there lies his real honor. Valor is the strength, not of legs and arms, but of heart and soul..." -Michel de Montaigne

Ive got about 20 unfinished animations. Normally they stall through lack of voice acting, lack of skill or lack of motivation

_________________
MSgt Samantha 'Boltie' Watters
Chief Medical Officer, UKCM
1st Batt. 42nd Regiment - Hadrian's Wall

Area 52 Bioweapons division - Amber T. Alien


"Harsh"

Now THIS I am interested in!!
I have several plans I'd want to use that kind of setup for, though I have no clue how to make it work.

I'll be keeping an eye out for your progress on this, Matt!!

[geek-gasm]
Speaking of the Apone binos... Anyone watched Jurassic Park recently? The 'NV' goggles Tim uses in the back of the Ford Explorer outside the T-Rex paddock look like a very similar mechanism!
[/geek-gasm]

Colonial Marine armor and uniform. Seems I've been working on this for the last ten years. I get a set of armor in one form or another, and then something better comes along and I switch it out. Along the way I've also switched out other parts slowly, like the microphone, helmet camera, should lamp, etc.

I think I've finally got to the point at which I'll actually start work on the whole thing. I've got all the "real deal" parts I think I can get, but I admit I'm probably holding myself back. I'm worried about how accurate I'll want to take this. Making it as accurate as possible could mean the difference between having it done in one year as opposed to having it done in two or three years.

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Several art projects that just seem to drag on and on. I go away, do something else then return to it. Pick at it like dead skin, rince repeat.

LOL

_________________

http://www.richarddaborn.com
Now a member of the Freebooters, another Pirate about! Aaar!
A12/TQ0.0.72138F1 ECG Daborn, R RustiSwordz South East England-UK
'In Space, there is no Horse'

Russ

Maybe I didnt' explain it very well but you dont actually have to attach the lozenge to the racking arm you just rest it over the arm so the racking arm sits in the slot you cut out of the back of the lozenge.

Leave it with me mate and try and get my contact to make you one like he did for me. Ill send it you (no charge) with a diagram of how it fits together. I would take pics of mine but i dont really want to take it apart again.

As this will be a side job for him it may take a while I will PM you when I've got it.

All the best

Chris (UKG)

Okay, so it just rides over the edge of the racking arm then? Interesting concept I'd never considered before.
Normally I see them bolted (or welded) to the M870 arm.

Russ

_________________
"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

Honestly all these years I didn't know you even owned a set!


Maybe after you finish it you'll make it to Dragon Con one more time?

Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Russ

I'd never have considered it either but my mates a metal worker and he suggested it.

The principle does lie on a couple of givens i.e the 870 is completed square in the SPAS cage and therefore racks straight and not a slight angle. The slot in the back of the lozenge is cut exactly to fit over the racking arm so there is zero play when racked. Its held taught by the fact that the lozenge is screwed to the inside of the pump grip.

Do you want to try one?

chris

That is how i did one with a deac 870, used a 'flat U' shaped small block of brass screwed to the inside of the pump grip, the recess fits over the ring that is attached to the 870's racking arms.

SAS

_________________
Alan T. Alien
1st Lt Smith, SA "Sidewinder"
A13/TQ1.4.19720EX CMA
Founder of UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
Founder of Special Armaments Section (Heavy Weapons)
"People don't understand. people like me"

ESB Boba Fett- 8 yrs into it so far- 90% finished. Mostly just need to attach chest armor, weather jumpsuit, install helmet rangefinder, padding and visor. Attach scope to bronze cast Webley.

Custom Mandalorian- got lots of parts gathered, lots! Uber cool custom helmet.

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Oh, is THAT all you have to do Rex? Thought you'd be finished by now.

@Sidewinder and UKGrunt: Thanks lads, I'm going to research this a bit more. Seems like it could work well. I don't "plan"
on taking it apart after I get it all togeather, so I'll need to see what I can figure out.

Russ

_________________
"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com