Constructing VERA : completed

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Hey guys,

With my Jubel Early pistol project just about wrapped up, I've had some time to devote to Alice. Most of you will have seen the interest thread in the JY for Vera bullets (which almost ended up being done from a screen used) . Well, here's the result of a few hours fiddling:

This is just the prototype, so please ignore the sloppy paint on the slug. I'm planning to pour some silicone over it soon and cast multiples in resin (the screen used slugs are resin, not metal). Note that I'll only be casting the slug- the shells will be real 12-gauge casings like those which were probably used on the original. I also have to make a little fake primer to go on the bottom. Finally I need to find a simple way to polish them so they look "handled" but not straight out of the factory.

Now, the slug would be super-easy to do on a lathe and I do have access to one. It's just that it's a two-hour drive to get to it! So instead, I took a glob of hard metal epoxy and made a rough bullet shape with it, centered around a screw. After it had set, I fastened the screw in my drill, which then acted as a makeshift lathe while I ground it even with files and sandpaper.

(thanks to the wackychimp for the picture host)

 

[oldzey]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Shiny! :thumbsup

 

[Birdie]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Do you think that if you plant that, it will grow into a complete Vera? :lol

 

[oldzey]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Do you think that if you plant that, it will grow into a complete Vera? :lol

:lol

 

[silverskyes402]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Love the vrea bullet design, i'd be in for a set if there was a run!

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Hey all.

Time for another small update.

I've been casting bullets in resin all weekend and I've got about 30 so far. I only have 25 shells, but I need a few extras just in case. (yes, a few will be up for grabs) It's been going rather well, but since I've only got one mold it's extremely tedious. Mix up a couple thimbles of resin, pour, wait half and hour, repeat. The short time span doesn't let you get anything productive done in the meantime. Will have some pics up as soon as there's something worth looking at.

Also... spoke to the machinist today and it looks like I'll have my parts before Christmas. (*Wohoo! crosses fingers*) Some milling programs have been created and I need to drop off a shell or two so he can cut a groove into the stock shell rack, allowing the spare bullets to be removed, just like on the real Vera. (This was his idea, not mine, which is cool 'cause it means he's enthusiastic about it.) A couple parts are giving him some headache though, most notably the main stock, which need to have an enormous amount of aluminum removed if it is to be done as one piece. The material cost for that part alone will pretty high. One possibility is that it might be done in several steel pieces instead, and then welded together. We'll see.

Hmm... I think I better update the site too. :$

 

[Birdie]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

I just got my Jubal pistol from Joe today, and wanted to say:

WOW :love

This thing is a work of art. Dude, when that rifle is done I'm sure it will be a just reward for all your hard work

 

[Kadajiroth]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Before Christmas?! That's awesome! You haven't got much longer to wait, then. Can't wait to see it! :thumbsup

And Birdie; I am so jealous. I so wanted to buy one of Joe's Early pistols, just didn't have the cash.

 

[oldzey]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

I just got my Jubal pistol from Joe today, and wanted to say:

WOW :love

This thing is a work of art. Dude, when that rifle is done I'm sure it will be a just reward for all your hard work

Ditto...

I just got my Jubel pistol too and I'm just amazed at the craftsmanship that went into it - a work of art is right, Birdie! You can tell that it is one-of-a-kind and it now occupies a "front-and-center" spot in my collection!

Thanks Joe! thumbsup

-oldzey

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Thanks guys. Means a lot to me that you're happy with the Jubel pistols.

Visited the machinist today and dropped off a couple bullets... feelin' good... feelin' like it might just go my way this time. On that note:


SLUGS!

Molded, sanded and ready for primer. The grey coloring you see is actually graphite powder that is molded into the surface. I used it as a release agent with the idea that the metallic sheen would look pretty much like lead. (Same method QMX seem to be using on the Mal stunt pistols.) However, there was a little too much flash to clean, so they're gonna have to be painted (like the real deal).



(thanks to the Wackychimp for the host and his Big Damn Wackiness)

 

[whitefall]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Ho. Ley. Crap.

Nice!

 

[oldzey]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

That'd take care of a few reavers now wouldn't it? :love

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

No ruttin' way! I ain't goin' anywhere near Reaver territory!

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Ok, so I was fiddlin' around in Photoshop and started thinkin' there might be some cause to warrant a little sign or somethin' to go with the extra bullets I'll have...



Still playin' around with it.... we'll see how it turns out. Should be finishing up the shells in the next couple of days.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Bullets are almost done! Just gotta do some final tweaks and glue them properly in place. Frikken silver tips were maddening to get even. Also noticed that Hellboy's Samaritan takes the same size ammo as the Callahan, just a little shorter. :lol

(Oh, and there's a thread up in the JY for my extra shells.)

(Wackychimp does his hosting thing, to his mightyness we bow.)

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Teeny, tiny update.

I am anxiously counting down the days to go before the Xmas break, when I should have a full set of Callahan parts, unless something goes awry. I spoke to the machinist on Friday and everything was still on track... but I'm still afraid to get my hopes up too high. (Yeah... like that's even possible at this point!)

Since it's almost time for takeoff, I decided to tackle the scopes. Thanks to some research by our very own Sidewinder, they were identified as a D-LAP laser and an AN/PVS-18 night vision scope. Now, there's an exact replica of the D-LAP available from most airsoft places for about 200 bucks, but the PVS-18 is trickier. Its status as high-end military hardware, non-exportable from the US, makes it just about impossible to get hold of, and it'd cost twice as much as the rest of Vera anyway!

I gathered a bunch of reference photos and concluded that it would be possible to scratch-build a decent replica out of aluminum tube and camera parts.

However, after I got started on that, I discovered that there is a close replica available in the form of a red dot scope made by TGS, intended for airsofts. The only downer is that the scope is a replica of the PVS-14, not the 18, but they are close enough in appearance to make it an acceptable substitute. (An' shoosh, mebbe ah jus' want one o' them cheaper 14's on mah Alice so that I can spend some more money on Mudder's Milk!)

I've also decided to use metallic paint instead of anodizing on the aluminum pieces. Partly because of the cost, but also because finding someone that will do the exact colors I need will be difficult at best... and I'm not too keen on sending the parts anywhere once I get my mitts on them! Prying them from my cold dead hands springs to mind. Luckily, I've found a few auto-metallics that look near-on perfect for the job.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

Just thought I'd post a pic of the accessories I got for Alice. Total cost came in at slightly over $400 for both, with shipping.

I've also, finally, updated the site a little.

There's only about one and a half weeks to go before the deadline when I've been promised the parts. My machinist keeps assuring me that he'll have them done on time and I even double-checked with him before ordering the scope and D-LAP. (I told him I didn't want to waste $400 needlessly and he said to go for it.)

Still... I can't shake this uneasy gut feeling that I'm setting myself up for another letdown. There are a lot of parts for him to do, in very little time. Sure... in the end it's only a gorram toy, but it's been sort of a crappy year and this project has been kind of a distraction and something to focus on instead of the daily grind.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

this is such a fun project to watch!

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Re: Constructing VERA & Early's Pistol

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAJOR UPDATE TIME!!!!

Phew. Sorry. Just had to get that out.


I got an e-mail yesterday saying the first two parts were done. Naturally, I could hardly sleep last night and I dropped by the machinist on the way to work today. The first two pieces were indeed complete.... and here they are:

After all these months... this thing is finally happening. It's really hard to describe the feeling of actually holding these things after having stared at the blueprints for so long. I can hardly believe they're real! I mean, sure... I've built things by myself and all before, but I've never "designed" plans like this for someone else to do. It's an entirely different feeling.

Whoa. Gotta calm down now. I'll have another update in a few days. Honestly, I'm really not expecting to have all the parts before Xmas even though that was the arrangement, but at least I know that the parts ARE being made. And I gotta thank everyone once again for the support during this project.

More news as and when I have it.

 

[Kadajiroth]

Re: Constructing VERA : MAJOR UPDATE! FIRST PARTS!

Wooooooooooo! Now that's what you call an update!

Can't wait for this baby to be finished!