ALIENS Pulse Rifle:

[tommin]

Hi gang,
I am currently putting together a short web documentary that covers general assembly procedures that I feel may be helpful to some. Rather than spam the boards with my progress, I thought it would be a better idea to keep it in one place. You can find that here:

http://www.imperial-fleet.com/bbcforum/viewtopic.php?t=1142

Please have a look at your earliest convenience. The rifle is complete and currently listed in the sales forum of the rpf. (never liked the term 'junkyard')
All feedback is appreciated as it is helpful to perfect such a walk through.

 

[Jeeves]

I kiss your feet. I'll definitely be following your progress. I would have liked if it were a real 870 in there, but regardless, nice work so far.

-Raj

 

[Prefect42]

Tom,

You are off to a wonderful start. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the build up. I just wish you had this information available when I started my SD Studios kit 4+ years ago. As I just finished it recently, it will be quite interesting to compare components and approaches.

The rest of the site is a wealth of information. Keep it coming.

By the way, towards the end of my build-up, I decided if the Colonial Marines had been thinking, they would have given the aliens a Pulse Rifle kit to build. That would have bought the marines plenty of time for a rescue ship to arrive.

Ted.

 

[tommin]

You fellas are very kind. Thank you.

<div class='quotetop'>(Prefect42 @ Aug 6 2006, 06:57 PM) [snapback]1295183[/snapback]</div>

I just wish you had this information available when I started my SD Studios kit 4+ years ago. As I just finished it recently, it will be quite interesting to compare components and approaches.
Ted.
[/b]

A 'full blown' SD kit: Color my dreams with it. I would absolutely love to see what you have done with that one. Magnificence is the word that I am looking for.

Prefect42... Please forgive, but, as always,...


just trying to drum up more shots for the gallery.

 

[Prefect42]

Hey Tom,

I'd be honored to get a few pictures in the gallery. The M-41A is currently my avatar but I will get you some better pics in the next few days.

It is a full SD Studios kit. I even found a real SPAS cage and included some Remington parts. Well, the digital counter had to be replaced. It's a Hyperdyne one and works wonderfully. But everything else is the SD Studios offering. Phil S. was incredibly helpful with the SPAS cage and getting the bolt working on the aluminum receiver. It makes quite a solid THUD when the bolt slams home.

Anyone else? Comments on Tom's site? I know there are some PR fans here on the board. And if you haven't been to this site, you're missing some incredible information.

Ted.
Prefect42.

 

[Noeland]

Tom's got a few fans around here.

 

[tommin]

<div class='quotetop'>(Prefect42 @ Aug 6 2006, 10:53 PM) [snapback]1295309[/snapback]</div>

Hey Tom,

I'd be honored to get a few pictures in the gallery. The M-41A is currently my avatar but I will get you some better pics in the next few days.[/b]

Outstanding. Thank you.

<div class='quotetop'>(Noeland @ Aug 6 2006, 11:13 PM) [snapback]1295322[/snapback]</div>

Tom's got a few fans around here.
[/b]

Thanks, Noeland.

 

[tommin]

By request, here is a preview of the finished rifle:

 

[King of Pirates]

From Rook

 

[tommin]

That is a good looking rifle.

Here are a few more images of the rifle I've been working on (same paint) under different lighting conditions:

From the construction page listed above:

www.imperial-fleet.com/bbcforum/viewtopic.php?t=1142

 

[eltee]

Hi Tom,

BEAUTIFUL gun you are building. I admire your skills and your eye for detail.

For the gallery, here are a couple of pics of my SD version:

Of course, here is the ultimate USCM warrior and his deadly M41A Armat Pulse Rifle

 

[PHArchivist]

Sorry inadvance for this guys...

But why is a hybrid machine gun/shotgun referred to as a rifle.?

Take that wryly -- I know, you know, we all have known for years on end that it stems from the film lexicon. But is a Thompson barrel actually rifled (as say an M16)?

GREAT looking guns, BTW....

 

[Gigatron]

<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Aug 9 2006, 05:59 PM) [snapback]1297117[/snapback]</div>

Sorry inadvance for this guys...

But why is a hybrid machine gun/shotgun referred to as a rifle.?

Take that wryly -- I know, you know, we all have known for years on end that it stems from the film lexicon. But is a Thompson barrel actually rifled (as say an M16)?

GREAT looking guns, BTW....
[/b]

As far as I know, the thompson barrel is rifled. I've never seen any evidence otherwise. But realistically, that's not really a way to determine why the PR is called a rifle. Many pistols have rifled barrels (i.e. http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantr...ol/M1911A1.html ).

Or maybe I'm misintrepeting your question...

-Fred

 

[eltee]

<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Aug 9 2006, 10:59 AM) [snapback]1297117[/snapback]</div>

Sorry inadvance for this guys...

But why is a hybrid machine gun/shotgun referred to as a rifle.?

Take that wryly -- I know, you know, we all have known for years on end that it stems from the film lexicon. But is a Thompson barrel actually rifled (as say an M16)?

GREAT looking guns, BTW....
[/b]

In the world of real guns, the base weapon generally determines the name (rifle, shotgun, pistol, etc). The M16/M4, G36, L85, AUG, etc are all military combat rifles. When they attach the underslung grenade launchers the weapon is still referred to as a rifle. In the Aliens world, the upper part of the weapon was the Thompson SMG configured into a 10mm caseless ammo firing "rifle" or submachinegun or "pulse rifle" (electrical pulses used to ignite the caseless ammo similar to the HK caseless gun) and the lower was the grenade launcher. That's my 2 cents on the subject.

That being said, one of the new rifle projects for the military shares traits with the Pulse Rifle. It will have an integral grenade launcher and an automatic rifle. The project doesn't use the word rifle, it is called the "OICW Project" (Objective, Infantry Combat Weapon). So far the designs look pretty space age.

 

[OdiWan72]

Great work as usual Tom, BUT get back to your TM M1A1 based PR...NOW. :lol

I want to finish mine, asa I receive Matts new shroud (shredded the first one :cry)
BTW: Did you want to keep the TM Thompson a shooter?

Markus

 

[tommin]

You guys are amazing.. Keep those images rolling in, fellas. I love this stuff.

<div class='quotetop'>(OdiWan72 @ Aug 9 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]1297282[/snapback]</div>

Great work as usual Tom, BUT get back to your TM M1A1 based PR...NOW. :lol[/b]

Hi Markus,

:lol Will do, bud. Will do. I've got a few other items to get squared away first.

<div class='quotetop'>(OdiWan72 @ Aug 9 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]1297282[/snapback]</div>

BTW: Did you want to keep the TM Thompson a shooter?[/b]

The TM Thompson in the other will remain a shooter. Hence the battery pack concept idea outlined in the walk through for this rifle. Working through some ideas as the time permits. You know, as well as I, this is a labor of love.

 

[Kaylee]

Of course, here is the ultimate USCM warrior and his deadly M41A Armat Pulse Rifle
[/b]

Oh now THAT is just adorable.


Hey - do those faux caseless rounds extract with the Thompson's real extractor?

I'm trying to think how such a thing might actually work - perhaps a kind of shroud that went all the way into the chamber, and pulled back on the shoulders of the "caseless" block?

 

[eltee]

In the real world, of course, the back of a caseless round is burned up as the source of propulsion for the projectile so nothing is extracted. When we were brainstorming the design of those rounds, I didn't intend for it to eject so no rim or shoulder was incorporated. What I do for an ejection effect is to use dummy 12 ga. rounds or the machined grenades.

On the TSMG I think the battering of the bolt and the hardness of the extractor would damage the caseless ammo material. It's pretty tough but the propellant part is not as strong as metal although the penetrator projectiles shown are lathe turned metal.

On my pulse rifle, one of the magazines contains the battery, switch and circuitry for the counter so I usually leave that on in the gun.

 

[sirkangol]

That is one sick looking pulse rifle. :thumbsup

 

[Hitogiri]

Nice. I agree very sick looking.