ANH Hero DL-44 Discussion - Three ANH Greeblies Found

[Vanitas]

I fumbled the button on that one, been majorly kicking myself for the last few hours. Really glad it went to a good home though!

Haha, sorry! But rest assured that I'll give it a good home - apparently there's some minor damage to the barrel, so depending on how bad it is I'm going to have it zinc welded. For only $300 I can afford to fix it up and not worry about going overboard - but otherwise I won't make it into a blaster. I've been kicking myself ever since I sold my first MGC to Scott a few years ago; so I'm glad to finally get another!

 

[Vanitas]

Well, I got the MGC in mail today. It's overall in great condition actually, but there's a few signs of wear - I had to glue a crack in one of the grips (but since it's a Red 9 grip they probably won't stay on it anyways), and the internal mechanism is missing that large piece held in by the lower frame's lever (the one that fits against the upper receiver). It's still functional though, but it's a bummer that I'm one piece short of the whole thing.

EDIT: Took the whole thing apart do to an assessment. One of the tiny internal parts was already broken (the lever that holds the part I described earlier), but since I have a plastic MGC it was just as easy to swap the parts from that to it. I also had to clean out the inside of the barrel - at one point someone stuffed it entirely full of tissue paper, which was annoying to remove. I didn't even know at first, but apparently this is one of the rare 'blank firing' MGCs - it has a hollow barrel, firing pin in the bolt, etc. Cool little detail!

 

[Vanitas]

Well, disappointing update - but I think I figured out why the barrel was stuffed with glue and tissue paper

The barrel basically fell off after all the stuffing was removed; it looks like it was broken and hastily glued a long time ago with the tissue paper acting as filler/support for the hollow barrel. The barrel also looks like it has some surface cracking along the length, though it's hard to make out through the finish.

I have an idea for how to fix it, though - since this MGC has a fully hollow barrel I THINK I can get a hollow steel rod machined to the barrel's inner diameter (seems to be about 25/64), and glue/epoxy that. I think that way the length & rigidity of that inner tube will be strong enough to hold the barrel together from now on, even with some standard cycling of the bolt.

(Just to show what I mean with a drill bit representing the hypothetical inner tube that could be added.)

Still a tad disappointing that it needs fixing like this, but with how old these MGCs are I'm not too terribly surprised. I still got it at a decent deal, so hopefully this shouldn't cost more than it would be worth. Any suggestions on who might be able to machine a custom inner-sleeve for this?

 

[MastahBlastah]

Oof, somebody really hacked away at that one! Could it be that they were taking a poor approach at affixing an ANH bull barrel? Either way, still pretty cool for the price. If you did decide to convert this one, you could employ your steel rod idea, but with a bull barrel. You wouldn't have to try to blend and/or fill that break line in the barrel.

 

[Vanitas]

I guess I could, though my original idea was to leave this MGC unmolested for my collection - as a 'raw' one to keep without any changes to it.

I already have Field Marshal's all-steel Mauser and my original ANH (a modified Elite Edition), so while I could always make a third that might just be a bit much for me XD And I don't think that this was someone trying to affix a bull barrel; this particular MGC is the early blank-firing variant, and when I look carefully there are other surface cracks on the barrel. I think years of using the black powder cartridges stressed and weakened the cast zamak barrel, which eventually broke right at the junction of the chamber.

But I do think it's repairable; either with the method I'm thinking of or maybe muggyweld super alloy 1. I have no experience with welding though; especially on cast pot metal - I think I'll have to do some asking around and research to best figure out how to proceed.

 

[Dann]

Bummer. Saw that one on eBay, saw the barrel, and just knew that's EXACTLY what would've happened, had I bought it.

Had to pass.

 

[Vanitas]

I had a feeling it was damaged too, but I took a bit of a chance on it (and I still think it was worth it for the price). Of course it ended up being what I was dreading, but I think it's nothing I can't fix with a good workaround. All the other bits are good; so it's only the barrel that needs some love.

I was originally talking with Scott about a different blaster build commission, but maybe I can have him turn a custom inner-sleeve for me first. I think that'll act as a framework for the barrel and give it enough support to be usable.

Worst case scenario I make the world's first snub-nosed DL-44

EDIT: I had actually forgotten since these aren't really done anymore these days, but there are/were some bull barrels that did require you to chop off the barrel anyways. So worst case scenario I could always get something like this done and make another ANH blaster (pic by Scottjua).

 

[MastahBlastah]

I had a feeling it was damaged too, but I took a bit of a chance on it (and I still think it was worth it for the price). Of course it ended up being what I was dreading, but I think it's nothing I can't fix with a good workaround. All the other bits are good; so it's only the barrel that needs some love.

I was originally talking with Scott about a different blaster build commission, but maybe I can have him turn a custom inner-sleeve for me first. I think that'll act as a framework for the barrel and give it enough support to be usable.

Worst case scenario I make the world's first snub-nosed DL-44

EDIT: I had actually forgotten since these aren't really done anymore these days, but there are/were some bull barrels that did require you to chop off the barrel anyways. So worst case scenario I could always get something like this done and make another ANH blaster (pic by Scottjua).

View attachment 1299449

That's what I was talking about

 

[Vanitas]

That's what I was talking about

Haha yeah; that's what I realized after the fact! Though I think I'd probably choose to go with the inner-steel rod/pipe idea just so I can still chamber some dummy rounds. Adding the barrel like that would sorta kill the functionality.

I'm also going to bite the bullet and redo the finish, at least on the upper - since the whole thing'll need to be glued and/or welded the patched areas would look super obvious. So I'll sand everythng to be nice and smooth and hit it all with Aluminum Black. I wonder what they used for the original finish though.

 

[deadbolt]

AluminumBlack seems to match fairly well finish-wise to the MGC's, but of course everything where the seam/cut on your barrel is would need to be blended and smoothed to a pretty similar initial finish first.. It's a shame that happened to your MGC beforehand, definitely is a great & rare variation to hang onto.
But, with some work it can definitely be fixed with a little TLC. Maybe ask Pat (kpax) about fusing/soldering zinc? He has had a lot of great results in the past working with that sort of material.

Still a great find though, nonetheless! Always cool to see rare variation MGC's in good hands.


-Carson

 

[kpax]

Tough break Vanitas! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Yes, you can always chop the barrel and add the bull barrel end with rod. We had developed that system with the DEC its and now others are available.

You can also consider finding a thin metal tube, material doesn't matter much, that is close to the dia. to fit inside the barrel to use as a sleeve. Like you show with the drill bit.

You may be able to find an expert to braze/solder the barrel back on but they should have experience with zamac.

An easier way would be to epoxy the sleeve inside the chamber and barrel and you are done. Depending On how crazy you want to get you can fill the cracks with epoxy filler. If you use the Steel epoxy putty filler and sand smooth it will take a blueing like the rest of the Zamac. The color may not be exact but you can fuss with it and get a decent bluing. Test it first to see if you like the look. You can fine tune the colors with wax and tinted lacquer.

If you want to chamber cases , (if you have cases) you should chamber one when setting the sleeve to be sure you have clearance.

I would steer away from Muggy weld type things unless you have parts to test or loose. It is hit and miss at best unless you have some experience. Putting a torch to the Zamac if very dangerous. The stuff reaches melting point before you expect it and if you are not very careful you could end up with a melted MGC.

Something a bit safer. You "could" try using low melt solder and a high temp capable adjustable soldering iron. If is possible to add material to the Zamac by "tinning" the area. Some degree of reshaping and finishing will be needed to rescults the shapes but it will be metal if that's what you want. I think the epoxy putty is easier and will give similar results.

You can also paint the entire thing a uniform color and not worry about bluing. The MGCs weren't exactly beautifully finished with a fancy bluing after all. I would consider using a tinted lacquer rather than flat black paint or the like. You can get a nice deep blue "hard" surface that looks like bluing.


You can always put the bull barrel on and keep it as a Naked Runner version. ; )

 

[thd9791]

Todds costumes bull barrels are half inch thread just like what scott did. check with him that you cant just work with a cut barrel

 

[Vanitas]

I think I might bite the bullet and go for a Todd's Costumes Bull Barrel (once they come back in stock, of course). Perhaps like Kpax suggests I could leave it like that and have a Naked Runner version

But either way I'd rather do that and eventually hope to get another MGC to leave unmodified than go through pains to make this one look untouched when it just isn't - easier to make something out of what I have. So now comes the waiting game!

 

[kpax]

An easy fix would be to get a sleeve bull barrel from Dave, DEC, and simply epoxy the bull barrel over the broken end. Some filing needs to be done to the broken end to get a perfect fit but no more than squaring the end and tapping for a threaded barrel. I think Dave also offers a threaded version... but the sleeve is easier and looks the same. It's what I used on my blaster.

Somewhere in this thread is a diagram tutorial of how to files the receiver.

I do think you could repair the barrel and fill and damage and refinish the MGC to look original if that's what you wanted. Not sure it could fire the blanks tho.

 

[Vanitas]

I'd just prefer to go with the option that gives it more structural support - either way I'm fine with not being able to fire/cycle blanks. The only way I could see that happening would be if somebody with a lathe slightly bored out the barrel and epoxied a steel tube inside it with the same inner diameter as the original's.

I think the Todd's Costumes solid Bull Barrel with the threaded stub (or any other barrel with the same assembly) would just be the best way of not even needing the barrel, which would bypass any need to get tricky with fixing it. I've never liked the sleeve barrels much (mostly due to the gaps; even Field Marshal's has some I'm currently working on) I'll just keep an eye open on Todd's inventory for the time being and proceed from there - I'm sure someone like Scott could attach it without too much effort.

 

[H0llyw00d]

I have an extra Todd's bull barrel. PM me your deets and you can have it for shipping.

 

[MastahBlastah]

I think this will get you the most bang for your buck with that MGC. Good call!

I'd just prefer to go with the option that gives it more structural support - either way I'm fine with not being able to fire/cycle blanks. The only way I could see that happening would be if somebody with a lathe slightly bored out the barrel and epoxied a steel tube inside it with the same inner diameter as the original's.

I think the Todd's Costumes solid Bull Barrel with the threaded stub (or any other barrel with the same assembly) would just be the best way of not even needing the barrel, which would bypass any need to get tricky with fixing it. I've never liked the sleeve barrels much (mostly due to the gaps; even Field Marshal's has some I'm currently working on) I'll just keep an eye open on Todd's inventory for the time being and proceed from there - I'm sure someone like Scott could attach it without too much effort.

 

[kpax]

I'd just prefer to go with the option that gives it more structural support - either way I'm fine with not being able to fire/cycle blanks. The only way I could see that happening would be if somebody with a lathe slightly bored out the barrel and epoxied a steel tube inside it with the same inner diameter as the original's.

I think the Todd's Costumes solid Bull Barrel with the threaded stub (or any other barrel with the same assembly) would just be the best way of not even needing the barrel, which would bypass any need to get tricky with fixing it. I've never liked the sleeve barrels much (mostly due to the gaps; even Field Marshal's has some I'm currently working on) I'll just keep an eye open on Todd's inventory for the time being and proceed from there - I'm sure someone like Scott could attach it without too much effort.

Any way you feel more comfortable.

You could and should use a dowel inside the barrel tube that would support the sleeve.

For the sleeve barrel, there should be no gaps and a perfect fit if done correctly. Just a bit of finesse filing needed.
IMO, the threaded barrel is actually weaker since the threaded rod would insert into the broken receiver barrel end and any leverage on the post "could" open and stress cracks since it is a thin wall.

But work as you know and are comfortable with. Always best.

 

[thd9791]

2 things:
All Scottjua's photos
1) I noticed there's a screw in almost the same place on the dovetail in the holster in Scott's screencaps and the ST dovetail. Does anyone know if they popped off the dovetail from the M7 or they just put their screws in the same place on a new dovetail?

2) Unless I'm mistaken, the upper section of the grill has come off

 

[scottjua]

here's my caps