Now that I'm getting into it, I wanted to start writing up my Greedo DT-12 build. I was fortunate enough to pick up a run of parts from Corellianexports that fit the KJW MK1 airsoft pistol. I already had some Reade tomtit parts, and also picked up some machined tone arm greeblies from Field Marshall, Imperial disks from etsy, and Ruger grips from eBay.
I always struggle to strike the balance between the practical and "ideal" ways to build something. I basically guilt myself into doing things a more difficult way, leading to a lot of started but unfinished projects, and the ones that I do finish frequently aren't more satisfying than if I had done them more simply. That being said, I decided to use aluminum black to blacken the barrel and sight rather than painting. The finish isn't as consistent as I'd like, but it is better than it appears in this picture. It looks a bit better oiled, and in the context of the blaster itself it ends up working alright.
Most of the Ruger Mk I pictures I found had silver triggers, so I pulled the trigger assembly and sanded it to smooth it out, finished off with some 0000 steel wool. If nothing else, it feels better than the painted trigger.
Next came attaching the really nice trigger guard extension from CorellianExports using some 5 minute epoxy.
I shot the tone arm greeblies, coax reducers, sight rod, and sight rod mount with some satin black Rustoleum yesterday. I also filled some seams and the gaps around the trigger guard. Once I sand those, I'll hit the plastic parts with some primer and eventually more satin black Rustoleum. The plan is to buff in some graphite to get a more metallic finish on the base gun. I'm leaving my Reade pontoons, antenna greeblies, and tomtit cylinder unpainted. I want a variety of black finishes on this thing instead of a consistent satin black. I'm hoping that the variet plus some weathering will make this thing pop.
I don't work real fast, but I'm going to try to keep making progress on this over the next week or two. I have a few more pictures to take when I'm back in town either this evening or tomorrow.
I always struggle to strike the balance between the practical and "ideal" ways to build something. I basically guilt myself into doing things a more difficult way, leading to a lot of started but unfinished projects, and the ones that I do finish frequently aren't more satisfying than if I had done them more simply. That being said, I decided to use aluminum black to blacken the barrel and sight rather than painting. The finish isn't as consistent as I'd like, but it is better than it appears in this picture. It looks a bit better oiled, and in the context of the blaster itself it ends up working alright.
Most of the Ruger Mk I pictures I found had silver triggers, so I pulled the trigger assembly and sanded it to smooth it out, finished off with some 0000 steel wool. If nothing else, it feels better than the painted trigger.
Next came attaching the really nice trigger guard extension from CorellianExports using some 5 minute epoxy.
I shot the tone arm greeblies, coax reducers, sight rod, and sight rod mount with some satin black Rustoleum yesterday. I also filled some seams and the gaps around the trigger guard. Once I sand those, I'll hit the plastic parts with some primer and eventually more satin black Rustoleum. The plan is to buff in some graphite to get a more metallic finish on the base gun. I'm leaving my Reade pontoons, antenna greeblies, and tomtit cylinder unpainted. I want a variety of black finishes on this thing instead of a consistent satin black. I'm hoping that the variet plus some weathering will make this thing pop.
I don't work real fast, but I'm going to try to keep making progress on this over the next week or two. I have a few more pictures to take when I'm back in town either this evening or tomorrow.