ANH Hero DL-44 Discussion - Three ANH Greeblies Found

[maxspr1]

I"m hoping someone can help me with this:

I have a replica set of wooden Mauser grips with the correct number of grooves for the Han blasters. The grips look great and I'm hoping to use them on a blaster build. My only problem is that the wood grips didn't come with a screw and the escutcheons seem ridiculously tiny compared to all the photos I've seen. So tiny that I think they're inaccurate...

Can anyone tell me what the diameter of the escutcheons for both an MGC and original set of grips are? Are they the same? Also, any concrete info on the screw (length, width and diameter of cap) would help enormously with finding a replacement screw. Thanks!

 

[deadbolt]

The escutcheons on a real Mauser are about 9.15mm in diameter, and the escutcheons on an MGC are closer to 7.95mm. The screw length is around 31mm or so but may vary depending on the Mauser. Here's a photo of some of the Mauser screw's dimensions:

There's replacement grip screw sets around in a few places on the internet but they vary in accuracy. There might possibly be some newer accurate grips and screws coming relatively soon though! :thumbsup


-Carson

 

[Lichtbringer]

And you should always take into consideration which blaster you gonna build - as wooden grips and Mauser sized escutcheons are only accurate on a few DL-44 versions (ANH-Hero, Lukes ESB), which were build on a live firing Mauser.

For all the others the MGC sized escutcheons and plastic grips are the accurate way, as they were build from MGCs.

 

[maxspr1]

Deadbolt: thanks so much--that's exactly what I needed!
Lichtbringer: I'm working on a Luke ESB replica, so I wanted the wood grips. I'm gathering the real parts now. So far I have the grips, a real M19 scope, and am planning on using the flashhider and other bits from a MR Luke blaster I bought here a year or so ago. It was loose (no box/case/stand/etc.) and inexpensive, so it seems perfect for tinkering. If I could figure out how to get the darned body cleanly disassembled, I would just add the real parts to the MR body. I would need to upgrade the rear sight, strip the paint and re-blue the pistol, if I could only get it apart without damaging it. The MR Luke blaster body was actually very good, not based on a Denix body, but either a real Mauser or an MGC from what I can tell. I've removed both the pins I can see and still nothing budges...

Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack this Han ANH blaster thread, but I knew that the people commenting here might know the info I was after, and that info could be helpful to other builders.

I'm very curious about the grips you hinted about above...

Thanks again!

 

[mgoob]

"The MR Luke blaster body was actually very good, not based on a Denix body, but either a real Mauser or an MGC from what I can tell"

The MR ANHEE Solo based off a Mauser C-96.
The MR ESB Solo was based off a MGC C-96
The MR ESB Skywalker was based off the same C-96 as the EE Solo
Visible V-8 Engine model kit parts were scanned.


I sourced them all inkling: the ANH Stormtrooper Sterling; the ROTJ Boba Fett Webley; the ANH/ ROTJ Leia Margolin Vostok; the M-32 MHR scope; and the MHR scope used on the Stormtrooper blaster.

 

[Clutch]

I think if the MR ESB had numbers on the sight, it'd be near perfect.

 

[Clutch]

Got the scope and barrel back. Now I need to decide how to weather it. It seems a shame to muck up such a flawless finish. Another thing now is the scope rings really stand out. I could kick myself in the ass for not going all steel from the start. I almost want to get the upper scope mount in steel and give it the same finish as the scope. However, I'm not made out of $$$. Thoughts? Suggestions?

The bull barrel is beautiful as well, but almost too glossy. I'm gonna end up with a mis-mash of weathered and pristine parts. Should I go over the finish with some very fine sandpaper to take the shine off?

 

[kpax]

...nice.

Just keep in mind that the scope and mount were not the same manufacture so the finish was prob different anyway. The barrel looks great. I think a coat of semi gloss clear coat over the entire model when you're done will homogenize the look. and protect the finishes.

 

[mgoob]

LFL didn't want any font that would link it to earth.
Hence, the Aurbesh writing in the scope, and lack of text on any other blasters.

 

[Clutch]

LFL didn't want any font that would link it to earth.
Hence, the Aurbesh writing in the scope, and lack of text on any other blasters.

I know. I was just speaking from a hardcore prop replica collector perspective.

 

[Clutch]

...nice.

Just keep in mind that the scope and mount were not the same manufacture so the finish was prob different anyway. The barrel looks great. I think a coat of semi gloss clear coat over the entire model when you're done will homogenize the look. and protect the finishes.

Thanks. I'm painting all the scope 'bits' flat black right now. I'm toying with the idea of throwing the scope in a bag full of tools and rattling it around like I did with my E-11.

 

[deadbolt]

Wow, beautiful finish on your scope Clutch! That thing looks perfect..Not to dark, not too light. :thumbsup

like Pat said you can dull down the sheen on your barrel with some clear coat. I'm not sure if you can dull the texture of the steel with an abrasive without loosing the bluing though. Rough steel wool might even be too rough on the bluing..

I recently found out about Rust Bluing and I've been fascinated by it ever since. I haven't had a chance to give it a try yet but it looks so promising that I'm surprised I've never heard of it before. It's a slow process but supposedly it's better than hot bluing in some ways, and it can be done pretty cheaply at home!

But basing on the Rust bluing process you might be able to degrease your blued Barrel so that it's bone dry, leaving the existing bluing intact use a light amount of rust bluing acid to promote rust and then expose your barrel to humidity and let the barrel form a decent layer of rust over the whole barrel's surface for a few days at most. Then you just boil the rusted barrel in de-ionized water for 5-10 minutes to convert the rust, let it cool and then wipe the excess buildup off with paper towels rather than steel wool so you end up with more of a matte finish. Then repeat as many times as necessary, or until the barrel won't rust anymore. This could be a more permanent way to dull the existing surface of parts while also adding a bit more corrosion resistance to the finish along with it.


-Carson

 

[kpax]

I just noticed something we can muse over while our builds go on and we await the second run (coming very soon !)

Note the image below and see what you think...

Another monkey in the wrench...

If this was a cast off the ANH/NR upper, why the taper barrel end sticking out the FH?

Now, I know the ser #s are the same and all the other details... just another strange mystery detail of this history of this prop.

None of the Han Solo images show this so...

...have fun...

 

[Lichtbringer]

ANH flashhider, ESB scope, ROTJ gun and bracket - they probably needed more stuntguns, and cobbled every cast and found parts together they had in the parts bin.

 

[kpax]

yes but I think Lonepigeon said that the base gun was definitely the ANH receiver(s) since the serial numbers are the same (you can read it on both the ANH production blaster and the stunt) so the bull barrel would have been attached and if they took the FH off it would still be the bull barrel... but the FH is the same as well and not turned like the MerrSonns...

interestingly, the ESB Luke blaster(s) show the end of the Mauser barrel... but have no bull barrel!

 

[Lichtbringer]

It´s no real fh, it´s a cast - could be drilled and used on every gun.

Except the ANH-Hero and the casts (MerrSonn) mostly all were thin barreled. All ESB i remember of, and as far as i know on ROTJ only the ugly blaster with the extralong bullbarrel and the reversed Hensold(cast?) had a bullbarrel.

 

[kpax]

exactly, but my point is that the Gun/receivers and the bull barrel are the same as the ANH... why would they cast it without the FH then add the same FH with the Mauser barrel sticking out? The MG81 FH was only used on the ANH and MerSonns as far as I know...

The Merrson seems only to have a hole drilled in the end... no tapered barrel showing

The area around the hole is solid, not like the ESB stunt.

 

[lonepigeon]

If this was a cast off the ANH/NR upper, why the taper barrel end sticking out the FH?

It was cast from the ANH upper, but the flash hider was obviously filled in for casting. It's possible that the muzzle interior was really rough and it was cleaned up to look like the ESB Hero blaster.

ANH flashhider, ESB scope, ROTJ gun and bracket - they probably needed more stuntguns, and cobbled every cast and found parts together they had in the parts bin.

This is an ESB stunt gun. The ROTJ Hero blasters were based on it.

 

[kpax]

I suppose you are right. I'm sure they never expected anyone to be studying these images so close and wondering about them 30+ years later.

They filled the cone holes and the rear bullet knurls are similar to the knotched ones on the ROTJ FH... if you look quick.

Ever notice the rear sight on the ROTJ is raised like the cast of the ESB Stunt..but the stunt has the bull barrel.

Wonder why they cast it up like that...

 

[OdiWan72]

I just noticed something we can muse over while our builds go on and we await the second run (coming very soon !)

Note the image below and see what you think...

Another monkey in the wrench...

If this was a cast off the ANH/NR upper, why the taper barrel end sticking out the FH?

Now, I know the ser #s are the same and all the other details... just another strange mystery detail of this history of this prop.

None of the Han Solo images show this so...

...have fun...

Thanks for these pics!

So that´s the "master", which the ESB stunt blaster/ "Muppet" blaster was molded from!? very cool....thanks for giving me the idea what to do with the extra C96´s I have

Clutch:
You stuff looks beautiful so far.
Can´t wait to work on my own blaster asa the replacement barrel arrives.

Markus